When Slippery Rock and Grove City boroughs embarked on their downtown revitalization projects, they were intent on improving themselves.

Now their positive experiences and results are having a spillover effect in terms of encouraging improvements elsewhere. Zelienople is now giving serious thought to embarking on a similar venture.

Zelienople officials should not hesitate to proceed with planning an energetic undertaking, even if financial resources might not be immediately available.

Having a plan in hand to build the community's case for state and/or federal funds improves chances for obtaining needed money.

As part of the beginning efforts tied to the proposed project, borough officials should make known their plans to state lawmakers who might be able to assist the community in obtaining funds for the work that eventually is sought to be undertaken.

The borough is correct in having appointed an ad-hoc committee to help guide the effort forward. Meanwhile, the borough council already has received from consulting companies information on similar projects that those companies have completed.

Council members should not hesitate to get in touch with Slippery Rock and Grove City officials to discuss their experiences, including problems that Zelienople should try to avoid.

The thinking behind Zelienople's effort is sound: to prevent a vacant, deteriorated downtown from evolving.

"You want to try to do something before that happens," said Don Pepe, borough manager.

If the borough council does in fact give the go-ahead for the project, and it should, the council will have to select a consultant company to guide the effort. Pepe said the consultant's role would be to guide the community in what issues to address as well as how best to obtain grants and other funds to help pay for the revitalization.

Slippery Rock's project carried a $5.3 million price tag, while Grove City's, which still is in progress, will cost about $3.5 million.

It's premature for Zelienople officials to estimate the cost of a project in that town, but they should not shy away from being aggressive in their approach. Borough leaders should commit themselves to pursuing the long-term good of the borough and making the most of whatever project is undertaken.

Grove City is hoping to embark on a marketing campaign aimed at attracting more businesses to the downtown. No doubt that also will be a facet of any project on which Zelienople decides to embark.

Every community should periodically make a thorough evaluation of itself — what it is now and what it would like to be.

That Zelienople is now doing that is indicative of a mind-set that isn't content to live in the past. Community residents should encourage their leaders to move forward, while at the same time watching to ensure that the project remains in line with their overall best interests.