Senator Bob Casey made a special visit to Downtown Shenandoah on April 8, 2022 to recognize the community for their dedicated efforts to make The Center for Education, Business & Arts a reality. He wanted to personally visit the future Main Street site and share why he earmarked $350,000 for this much-needed project. "The people of Shenandoah, represented by the leadership here have earned these dollars," Casey said. But this is about more than just a building and a testament to the future. This is about job creation. Today, as we stand here, we can see the future... the future of the community and the future of this county," he added.

Present were representatives from the DSI Board of Directors, Shenandoah Borough, local government officials including Senator Dave Argall, business leaders and community volunteers all who have played an extremely important role in the progress of this project. Attorney, Erik Mica, a co-founder of DSI opened the event sharing information about Shenandoah's and DSI's history. He expressed his optimism and how encouraged he was to see everything the community has accomplished since 2003 when DSI became a 501c3 nonprofit organization. To date, DSI remains the only nonprofit organization in Schuylkill County to be a designated Main Street program. He shared a comment that the late Valerie McDonald who helped him start DSI said, "Keep the faith, baby!" Mika added that CEBA could bring about the "biggest economic impact" Schuylkill County has seen in decades.

Pictured above: Dr. Patrick Jones, Susan Williams, Mary Luscavage, Karen Kenderdin, Senator Casey, and Eric Mika

Pictured above: Tom Twardzik, Chris Dundee of Mrs. T's Pierogies and Senator Casey

Shenandoah Borough Manager, Tony Sajone is looking forward to what the project will bring to the community. "We are thrilled to help DSI in anyway we can and honored Senator Casey provided this financial assistance, he said. "CEBA will become an important cornerstone, like a mall's anchor store to revitalizing our area," he said.

Pictured above: Senator Casey and Mary Luscavate

DSI Board President Karen Kenderdine shared that the goal for CEBA is to be a catalyst for positive change. CEBA will include a commercial kitchen, event center, Penn State classroom, DSI offices, co-working spaces and a coffee cafe. "What this building will bring will be transformational, not just for Shenandoah, but for the whole region," she said.