Dec 23, 2022 7 min read

Roll ‘R’ Way Skating Center brings roller skating back to Donora

Roller skating returned to Donora in a big way.

Roll ‘R’ Way Skating Center opened Nov. 4 and was greeted by long lines of people waiting to get in each of the first two nights. Steady crowds continue to the rink at 590 Galiffa Drive. 

“It’s been good,” said Frank Quintin, owner of Roll ‘R’ Way. “Things are moving.” 

Quintin purchased the former Valley Skating Center, which was built in 1983 by the Shoup Family and remained open until August of this year. Linda Shoup Miner, the facility’s owner, said none of her offspring was interested in operating the business, so it was sold. 

While the skating center’s early days have featured mainly skating and an arcade, there are big plans in its future. Pickleball is expected to start in the beginning of the new year and two concerts already are scheduled. Nickelodeon star That Girl Lay Lay is set to appear Jan. 21 and NLE Choppa is scheduled for Feb. 21.

The Ignite Business Incubator celebrated its first anniversary at its location at 57 Chestnut St, Washington on June 1.

During its first year, Ignite provided more than 700 hours of consultative support. Another service provided by Ignite are the Ideas 2 Enterprise (I2E) Business Planning Workshop Cohorts, which offer courses for local entrepreneurs to assist in the creation of a formal business plan. The next cohort is scheduled for February.

Some businesses have been able to expand while others that may have just had a mobile operation have been able to open up a brick-and-mortar facility.

“Seeing businesses succeed and expand their business model or open up a brick and mortar reaffirms that there is something special happening here in Washington County,” said Lauren LaGreca, Ignite manager. “Intentional actions create sustainable paths forward we’re continuing to grow and do well and that’s just a testament to what we have here in Washington with these entrepreneurs and these small business owners.” 

Ignite evolved out of the Greater Washington Area Business Incubator. It connects, supports, educates and empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses by offering services such as consulting, advice or networking.

Ignite is supported through partnerships with Washington & Jefferson College, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the city of Washington, Washington County and the Observer-Reporter.  

Economic development is back on the upswing in the 10-county region.

That was a very important takeaway from the 15th annual Pittsburgh Region Business Investment Scorecard released in in June by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliate, the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.

That scorecard detailed business investment activity that was announced in 2021 – including capital investment and new and retained jobs,

Washington, Greene and Fayette counties all reported good numbers on the score card.

Washington County listed 18 investment projects, including Innovative Electronics developing a developing a 50,000 square foot building at the Starpointe Business Park in Burgettstown. The county’s score card also listed 10 development projects.

Greene County listed three investment projects and one development project. Fayette County listed two development projects.

“Washington always tends to be among the more active counties,” said Jim Futrell, vice president of market research for the Allegheny Conference. “Greene tends to be a little quieter, although the announcements there doubled from two to four and Fayette remains steady at two. It’s a nice rebound within those three counties.” 

Across the 10-county region, the average number of new jobs per investment project was 56.3. That was driven by at least 500 new jobs at four projects, including Iron Senergy in Waynesburg. There were 8,405 new jobs created, the highest number since 2011.

It a big year for the Mon Valley Alliance.

A new CEO was named as Jamie Colecchi was tabbed to lead the agency in April. 

Colecchi replaced Ben Brown, who resigned as CEO to be the new director of client experience and innovation for Community Bank. 

At that time, Mary Stollar was named the new director of real estate and economic development for the organization.

Also, Colecchi and his three staffers moved into the former Community Bank branch building in the center of Monongahela’s business district in September.