About

About the Redevelopment Authority for the City of Uniontown, Pennsylvania

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Uniontown (RACU) was incorporated in August 1969. The impetus for the creation of this Authority was the need for a full-time staff to plan and oversee the future development of Uniontown, and the additional need to eliminate and/or restore certain blighted areas within the City.

The fundamental approach behind RACU is to identify and clear slums and blighted areas and to redevelop them in a manner consistent with the needs of the community. To accomplish the clearance, replanning, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of such blighted areas the Authority partners with community agencies with similar program goals and objectives.

RACU developed and works in conjunction with the Uniontown Property Development Corporation, a nonprofit that will help further the overall initiatives of the board. In addition to these local partnerships RACU is a qualified agency for state and federal grant programs for community development, commercial, industrial, residential and recreation projects. RACU in cooperation with the City of Uniontown administers the Community Development Block Grant Program. A program funding approximately $300,000 -400,000 annually for community development projects.

RACU is an entity that can serve its community and operate at a much larger capacity. The ultimate goal of the Authority is to strengthen its existing programs, pursue new programs, and expand capacity to better service the underlying goals of the Authority.

The board that serves RACU is very ambitious and focused on achieving great things beginning with restructuring its programs and procedures. This will launch with the oversight of a newly hired Executive Director. This Director comes to the Authority with extensive experience in planning and community development and is prepared to pursue additional programs and partnerships throughout the City of Uniontown.

Over the next three to five years, it is anticipated that several programs and projects related to recreational areas, blight removal and housing needs will be pursued and developed.

Mission statement

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Uniontown (RACU) aims to improve the recreational, residential, and commercial areas within the city of Uniontown and is committed to redevelopment, replanning, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of blighted areas consistent with the needs of the community while promoting health, safety, and affordable housing for residents of the City of Uniontown.

Members

Paul Palya
Term to expire July 1, 2027

Kurt Sturdevant
Term to expire: July 1, 2024

Andrea Myers, Executive Assistant
Employee

Mark Rafail, Vice Chairman
Term to Expire: July 1, 2028

Matthew George, Chairman
Term to Expire July 1, 2025

Brad Trott, Secretary
Term to expire: July 1, 2026

Crystal Simmons, Executive Director
Employee

Jeremy Davis, Legal Counsel
Appointed

RACU member updates