Lawrence County, PA

Where Progress Meets Community Well Being

Resident First and a Great Place to Live, Work and Play

In western Pennsylvania, just an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh, Lawrence County is a community where the slow rhythm of a small town lifestyle is balanced with convenience and opportunity. With a low cost of living, a high quality of life, and a vibrant array of recreational options, the county offers something for everyone, from visitors to the 84,000 residents who call one of its 27 unique communities home.

“This is a great place to live, work and play,” says Benjamin Bush, Executive Director of Forward Lawrence, the organization overseeing both the Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation. “We are well positioned to anybody who wants to be within a short drive to Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Akron, Cleveland, Erie. There’s plenty to do on the weekends, if you stretch out and get out to some of those areas, and there is plenty to do if you just want to stay around here.”

Industry and Investment

Lawrence County’s economic roots are tied to industrial manufacturing, and while times have changed, that foundation remains strong. Alongside manufacturing, Bush says the county’s economy thrives on agriculture, tourism, and healthcare. “The great thing about Lawrence County is there’s a lot of high paying wages in the sectors that we do have, and with a lower cost of living, you can have a better quality of life,” he stresses.

On the business development front, Forward Lawrence is collaborating with La Carte Development on Stonecrest Business Park, in the community of New Beaver Borough. The park includes four lots and the potential for approximately 1.5 million square feet of industrial space. Lot sizes range from 80,000 square feet to a million. “There is a 10-year 100 percent LERTA, which is significant,” Bush adds. “Even if you’re not going to own the building, you still don’t have to worry about the tax portion of a triple net lease. So that is a significant incentive to help draw in business from throughout the region or help our local folks be able to expand.”

Tourism, Trails, and Travel Sports

Tourism is another primary part of Lawrence County’s economy, from indoor sports to agritourism. “We have a facility here in the western part of the county called RAW,” says Bush. “It’s an indoor sports complex that definitely draws sports tourism to the county.” The area also offers natural assets like McConnells Mill State Park, the Stavich Bike Trail and access to the North Country Trail, a designated National Scenic Trail. The Lawrence County Fairgrounds hosts a range of popular events, including one of the largest dog shows in the country, and is currently planning for expansion.

Lawrence County also benefits from its connection to the region’s Old Order Amish community. “There’s a woman who started a business giving tours to people from all over the world that are interested in the Amish culture and the Amish lifestyle,” Bush explains. “There is tons of tourism as far as Lawrence County is concerned.”

The downtowns in communities across Lawrence County are also a part of the appeal. Ellwood City,  a quaint community with a bustling core, is one example. “Everybody wants to be on the main street, and sometimes it’s hard to even find open space to be able to move businesses into,” Bush outlines. “They have a very engaged chamber down there. They’re constantly holding events such as Wander Elwood in the summertime, during which they bring street vendors out and they just walk around the street.”

In New Wilmington, home to Westminster College, the borough and the college have teamed up to revitalize the area, investing in beautification and facades. The main street now boasts several small boutiques and shops, and the Tavern on the Square restaurant, with a legacy dating back to 1931, has been restored to its former glory.

The small rural borough of Volant is another Lawrence County gem. “It’s right on Neshannock Creek. They get a lot of fly fishermen,”  Bush recounts. “There’s a fly shop up there. There’s a cidery. There’s a bunch of little quaint shops.” This community is known for its seasonal celebrations, including the  much-anticipated Witches Night Out, which draws visitors from around the region.

Looking ahead, Bush hopes to continue this revitalization. “The downtowns throughout the community are starting to see some resurgence,” he expands. “I’d love to work with some of them to become what the state calls Main Street Communities, so we can continue to see that investment moving in and see these improvements.”

Building for the Future

Infrastructure is a priority for Lawrence County, as it plans for future growth. Bush elaborates, “We need water, we need sewer in areas so that we can have housing developments primed for development.”  Working closely with county commissioners and local authorities, two areas where infrastructure expansion can support broader growth have been identified.

In Neshannock Township an underutilized industrial site is being transformed, bringing a major economic win for the community. “The Neshannock Township supervisors just made a big investment in a piece of property that sat idle for many years,” says Bush. “They did some due diligence work and made some investments so that specific pieces of industrial property could be brought to a higher, better use.” The result is a $50 million commitment from Steelite International to build its U.S. distribution center. “A large part of that was the effort between our organization, as well as the Neshannock Township supervisors, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the county. Everybody came together to get this project across the finish line,” Bush asserts.

A renewed vision for the Lawrence Village Plaza in Shenango Township is helping to breathe new life into that community. Working with a developer, township supervisors not only helped to rejuvenate the property but also connected it by a trail to a park and the local high school, as well as a potential future housing development.

“Oftentimes it’s hard to get a developer to make an investment in expanding infrastructure when they just want to be able to make the investment in the development,” Bush remarks. “So for the communities to recognize the need to move forward and make those investments, that’s when you know you’re working with municipal leaders that are willing to do what it takes to make sure that their communities grow and thrive. And here in Lawrence County, I believe you’ll find that in most areas.”

Housing is top of mind in the county, and the focus is on affordable housing that will attract younger families. “We want productive citizens that are going to be working, that are going to be contributing to the community as well as having kids supporting the school districts,” conveys Bush. “They don’t want that 3000 square foot, four bedroom, two bath house on two acre lots anymore. The younger generation wants more walkable communities. They’re okay with density. They want to see town homes. They want to see some apartment complexes.”

The county is also working to ensure spaces such as patio homes for its aging residents, in turn opening up some of the existing family housing. “It really runs the gamut of needs, but I think the most important need and the most important conversation to have here is density,” acknowledges Bush.

What’s Next?

For Bush, the path forward for Lawrence County is clear. “At the end of the day, if we are able to continue to expand and focus on infrastructure expansion throughout the county, we will be able to tackle some of these other problems, like housing development, and industrial development. I think infrastructure is  the first step of taking care of a lot of those problems and helping to see the community continue to expand.”

He says the project with La Carte development to build out the industrial park is a priority. “So we can ensure that when that park is at full capacity, we have 1000 new jobs in the community. When we’ve got the infrastructure built out, the  jobs coming in, then it will definitely make housing that much easier,” he continues. With a strong foundation and a commitment to smart growth, Lawrence County is preparing for a future full of possibility and success.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Lawrence County, PA

What: A vibrant and growing county one hour from Pittsburgh

Where: Western Pennsylvania

Website: www.lawrencecountypa.gov