Bill Charlesworth, Apollo, Mary Bowlin, Freeport and Senator Jim Ferlo with FLAG's new logo.

Bill Charlesworth has lived in Apollo for 14 years. Although working long hours each day, he volunteered to be Apollo’s citizen representative to FLAG (Freeport Leechburg Apollo Group). It is one of his first ventures in community service. He realizes Apollo’s needs and is very excited about the opportunity to help. He was elected Vice President of FLAG; a non-profit group dedicated to assisting Freeport, Leechburg and Apollo revitalize their communities.

Vicki Beuth of Leechburg is a business owner and strong community advocate that firmly believes in her home town. She is President of Leechburg Area Community Association and has worked for years to continually improve Leechburg. She is now Leechburg’s business representative to FLAG and sees a great opportunity to help Leechburg move ahead.

Mary Bowlin of Freeport is also another community minded person who keeps a busy schedule involving several organizations she has committed to serve. One vital group for her is the Freeport Renaissance Association, a group dedicated to promoting pride in Freeport through the enhancement, safety, participation, and development of the community by preserving and blending its remarkable history with the prospect of the future. In spite of her busy schedule, she volunteered for FLAG because she sees the organization as a catalyst to helping not only her community, but others as well.

These citizens are representing communities struggling to revitalize themselves. They are one of three members from each borough, representing the borough council, businesses and borough citizens. Each of these communities has its unique and distinct problems and the members each bring a different perspective.

One problem the three communities face is financing revitalization. By themselves these communities do not even qualify for Pennsylvania’s Main Street Program, a grant program to assist in a comprehensive, community-based revitalization approach. The Program offers a four point approach that enhances the physical appearance of the business district, market the community unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses, tourist and others, build consensus and cooperation and carry out economic restructuring. But, together, under FLAG, there is new hope these communities.

FLAG members and government officials accept seed money check.

State Senator Jim Ferlo (D-Pittsburgh) is responsible for encouraging the three communities to collaborate co-operatively to secure the necessary funds. He said, “I know that to be successful, they would need to set aside their municipal boundaries and pursue a regional economic revitalization strategy.” National City Bank donated $7,500.00 as a seed grant for FLAG to conduct the visioning process that will identify each community’s assets and weaknesses. This process is part of the Department of Community & Economic Development’s Main Street Program requirements.

Dedicating the time and labor to achieve the necessary help is what drives these persons to help. Vicki Beuth says Leechburg is “A town to come home to.” She is very proud of what they have achieved locally such as 75 businesses with only two empty storefronts. “We have a people who care,” she said. She sees the means to now revitalize downtown further with façade improvements, new sidewalk and a face lift in general. Bill Charlesworth said that Apollo faces some unique problems and he is interested in how to benefit the community. His wife Christine is the Borough Secretary and through her he has learned more about the community needs. He is thankful for the “lots of support from Senator Ferlo.”

Mary Bowlin is President of the Allegheny Valley Chamber of Commerce. Living in Freeport she has become involved in several community organizations and is bringing her skills to not only help her own community, but the collaborative effort as a whole. She was elected President of the Group. Mary grew up on a farm and has lived in small communities all her life and has an appreciation for the quality of life in these communities. Her Chamber experience will bring many resources to the table.

More than anything, though, is the fact that community citizens are willing to dedicate themselves to programs such as FLAG that in the end will help their communities.

FLAG Board members are Bill Charles worth, Rich Dixon and David Hefferman from Apollo; Vicki Beuth, Mary Beth Girardi and Chuck Pascal from Leechburg; and Jim Seagriff, Jr., Ryan Redmond, Bob Hallman and Mary Bowlin from Freeport. Freeport has one extra business member (because one could not make all the meetings), but only one vote between them. Two at-large Board members are Adrienne Commodore, Armstrong County Department of Planning & Development and Allan Walzak, President of the StrongLand Chamber of Commerce.