Mars mayor conducts tour with dignitaries
MARS — The borough applied for $2.25 million through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program this spring for its Mars Discovery Center and Downtown Destination Project.
Mayor Gregg Hartung toured the borough Wednesday with local and regional dignitaries — including directors from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development — to review the opportunities the grant would provide.
Rick Vilello, DCED's deputy secretary for community affairs and development, voiced his support of the borough's pursuit of RCAP money for the Mars Discovery Center.
“My role is to be helpful,” said Vilello. “Our role is truly to just find ways to help.”
The center would be a NASA and Mars education facility along Crowe Avenue in the building currently housing Woodland Valley Church. With opportunities for adults and children to learn about the planet, the center would be open to the public. RCAP funding would allow plans to move ahead.
“It will help to relocate the church,” said Hartung.
It will also establish avenues for NASA to provide speakers, instruments and displays for the center. The borough is hoping to work with SpaceX, Carnegie Mellon and other organizations interested in educating the public about Mars. Collaboration is key.
“That's the big word NASA likes to use,” added Hartung. “'Collaborate.'”
State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, said he was “thoroughly impressed” by the idea of the discovery center. He recalled having the opportunity to hear a chief NASA scientist speak at the Mars New Years dinner this year.“It's very unique,” said Hutchinson. “And it's something I think is a brilliant way to capitalize (on Mars Borough).”Ben Levenger, president of Downtown Redevelopment Services, was consulted on the project. He noted that bringing a NASA STEAM center to the borough will make Mars a “destination.”“And give kids the ability to learn,” Levenger added.Some of the RCAP grant would go toward the revitalization of downtown Mars. Hartung told visitors that seven new businesses have opened in town. The tour recognized two of them: the architectural salvaging company Salvaged PGH and Stick City Brewing Company.Salvaged PGH owner Brian Cooper is preparing to open a warehouse on Grand Avenue. Cooper, who repurposes old homes or industrial products, needs plenty of space to display and design his products. He found that in Mars.“It's a booming area,” he said. “We felt that this was going to be (of) the best benefit to us.”Cooper noted that although municipalities say they want small businesses, most make it difficult for small businesses to succeed. Applications, permits and ordinances get in the way.Nick Salkeld and his family opened Stick City Brewing Company on Irvine Street in 2018. The location is equidistant from Salkeld's siblings in northern Butler County and near Pittsburgh. It also has good drainage, which is good for the bed of Cascade hops in front of the building. Salkeld noted that because the area is well-traveled, Stick City has been able to host food trucks and events that draw large crowds.“Mars is just a great town,” Salkeld said.Part of revitalizing downtown, Hartung explained, is generating more foot traffic. Sidewalks will be upgraded. Storefronts will get face lifts. ADA ramps will be installed. The grant would bring an estimated 95 jobs to the borough within two years of the project's completion. Hartung doesn't know when the RCAP awards will be announced, but winning the full grant amount would move the plans along considerably. Still, the borough is “$30,000 to $40,000 in the black” for the project as of this year, according to Hartung.“We just need to take it up a couple notches,” Hartung said.
