Downtown Shenandoah, Inc. celebrated a significant milestone on Thursday, April 18, 2024 with the groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited Center for Education, Business, & the Arts (CEBA). The event was held at the rear of the future site of the center, an empty lot at 113 -125 N Main St., the former sites of Davison’s Furniture Store and the Thunder Road Nightclub. More than 100 community members, DSI Board of Directors, Shenanaodh Borough, state, and county dignitaries gathered together for the event. Veterans representing the Damato Post, opened the occasion by leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
DSI Grateful for Donations
Karen Kenderdine, President and Treasurer of Downtown Shenandoah, Inc. Board, led the ceremony, expressing gratitude to all contributors. Kenderdine stated that 40 percent of funding was through private donations. Downtown Shenandoah, Inc. has been fundraising and working towards the project since 2016. “That’s unheard of," she said and added that we are very grateful to every person and company that has given money to us." She recognized larger donors including Mid Penn Bank, PPL, the Anczarski family, the Twardzik family, among others. She added that everyone who donated any amount helped make this center possible. The remainder is funded by state and federal economic development grants.
DSI Presented With A Certificate From Representative Dane Watro
Representative Twardzik commented on the historic nature of the day. "What a wonderful day it is in Shenandoah. It's just an enormous project that's taken so long and so many people work so hard. It just shows you that we may not win the game but we never lose the fight in Shenandoah", he added. Twardzik, formerly Shenandaoh's state representative added that Shenandoah is in good hands with the current representative, Dane Watro, who also commended DSI for their efforts and presented DSI with a special certificate in honor of the groundbreaking. "Dane supported us even before he was elected," said Kenderdine. Your unending support is greatly appreciated," she added.
CEBA will include a small business incubator on the lower level, as well as DSI offices, a commercial kitchen, job training offices, and a Penn State classroom on the first floor. The first floor will be level with Main Street, while the lower level will be level with Market Street.
Special Message From DSI Founder, Eric Mika
Eric Mika, one of the founders of DSI, was not able to make it to the ceremony but provided a statement that Karen read to the crowd.
“It is unprecedented in my lifetime for the borough of Shenandoah, a game-changer and profound catalyst for returning Shenandoah to prominence. Not like the prominence of yesteryear but a new innovative and economic prominence,” Mika wrote. While we currently live in a "blame and complain society, DSI’s endless devotion and selfless efforts and leadership have proven the naysayers wrong. Shenandoah- yesterday and today- can accomplish anything.” A forever prideful bunch, like any community it just needs some direction, care, and leadership. If you demonstrate these genuinely and sincerely, you earn the respect of the people of Shenandoah forever. They can be tough, feisty, certainly fiercely opinionated, and quick to shoot from the hip, but if you show them you genuinely care, they are very proud, loyal, and God-fearing individuals who’ll give you the shirt off their back when one of their own or their community is in need. It is just Shenandoah’s culture. I submit, there is no better example of the melting pot theory in the country than Shenandoah; it's long, unique, and illustrious history where citizens of many countries, ethnic backgrounds, and opposing cultures and religions arriving together and assimilating over a century ago in less than one square mile of land!
Shenandoah not only survived but is in a position to thrive due to DSI and its projects like CEBA.
Truly amazing if you think about and you know the Borough's unique history. Shenandoah not only survived but is in a position to thrive due to DSI and its projects like CEBA. DSI and this project epitomize what any community can do if each and everyone of us sets aside differences, whose politics are whose, prejudices, and works together for the common good of all its neighbors, the community. Why not? After all, from a birds-eye view looking down, we are simply people and businesses with relationships to each other. If every person can see that and just give some positive effort to make their neighbors' lives and community better and not expect someone else or the Borough to do it for them, there is nothing unachievable. Where there is a will there is a way. That's the American way. This is the Shenandoah way. I thank the good Lord that I was born and raised in Shenandoah. and I am so proud and so thankful to you and DSI for your profound and tireless efforts and tutledge for making this project happen I would do anything I can to improve it and sustain this project for those generations that succeed us which is the duty of every citizen. Duty, Honor, Country," he wrote.
CEBA Is The Biggest Economic Boost Since The Pierogie
State Senator David G. Argall (R-29) said that CEBA is the biggest economic boost to Shenandoah since the pierogie. “No one is going to say that this is an easy project,” Argall said, “but certainly no one is going to say that it wasn’t desperately needed. We’re looking forward to coming back again, and again, and again to see this beautiful structure breathe new life into this proud little town,” Argall added.
Karen closed the presentation, thanked everyone for coming and invited everyone to a community meeting held at the Damato Post Hall with refreshments sponsored by Shenandoah One Stop.
CEBA has consistently been described as “a game-changer for the anthracite region,” offering a wide variety of services and spaces for entrepreneurs, businesses, and the community alike.
View a video of the CEBA groundbreaking and learn more about how to get involved.
A special thank you to Skook News and Shenandoah Sentinel for sharing their photos.
