EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) – Earlier this year, East Palestine businesses created their own Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to help with economic development.
Friday, the organization approved its very first property acquisition. The CIC will pay about $100,000 to buy the old PNC Bank on North Market Street.
The money for the purchase came from local fundraising efforts. The next step will be finding revenue sources to develop the site.
“There have been a number of people who have been working together very positively for a long time. We’re super excited that this is the first deal for the CIC,” said Chris Page, with CIC. “We really are a group about change and action and hopeful this can be the start of something great.”
Leaders of CIC say they would eventually like to see an open-air plaza developed to help attract visitors to the community and business.
