Jun 12, 2015 2 min read

CHARLEROI – Charleroi holds the key to a craft beer brewer looking for cheap real estate and some seed money to start up a brewery in its historic downtown.

The borough is hosting a small business development contest for three $10,000 grants to be awarded to entrepreneurs with a good idea and an intelligent plan for opening a new company, borough Manager Donn Henderson said.

“It could be a catalyst for the entire community,” Henderson said of a prospective craft beer brewery that could be established in one of Charleroi’s empty storefronts if it secures one of the grants.

The contest is being administered by National Road Heritage Corridor, which directs the River Towns Program that encourages Mon Valley communities to focus on the Monongahela River and tourism promotion. Two of the new businesses must locate in Charleroi, and the winner of the third grant can locate in any of the program’s other river towns, which include Monongahela, Brownsville, Fredericktown, California, Coal Center, Rices Landing, Greensboro and Point Marion.

“We were the launch community because it was our idea,” Henderson said of the Sustainable Marketplace for Arts, Artisans, Recreation and Trending contest, which is funded by the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

“We probably have the largest number of empty storefronts,” he said. “It’s a pilot project to see how it can impact a community.”

Grant applicants are encouraged to attend six workshops in the borough building because they will receive bonus points as attendees. The finalists will be announced Dec. 1.

“The goal is to develop the spirit of entrepreneurship in the Mon Valley, which has seen its share of downturn,” said Donna Holdorf, executive director of the National Road group.

A large crowd turned out for a meeting Tuesday that was the first step in building interest for the contest, Henderson said.

The next seminar, which will be hosted by the Small Business Development Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 23, will focus on creating a business plan.

Henderson said the Charleroi winners also can qualify for grants to improve building facades and assistance with marketing their companies.

For information, call 724-229-8078 or visit http://monrivertowns.com