“Summit Grove” Breaks Ground
Driveway Groundbreaking for The Summit: Center for Wellness
The official groundbreaking for the permanent driveway leading to the future Summit: Center for Wellness was celebrated on Thursday, July 18. Elected officials, corporate donors, key supporters, volunteers and community friends marked this momentous occasion with a short program, followed by a walk through The Summit campus in Laporte Township, Sullivan County.
Loyalsock Foundation President, Mary Blondy, welcomed those in attendance, noting that, “A half-mile may seem extremely long for a driveway but there are many people who have been working on this project for almost 18 years, so it is an incredible feeling to realize we are about to build a road” that will lead to The Summit: Center for Wellness. Construction of the driveway is a significant milestone in the overall goal of building The Summit and bringing to fruition a wellness and community center with facilities for health, fitness, education and outdoor recreation serving the Sullivan County community and beyond.
(L to R): Jessica Pennella, Loyalsock Foundation Community Outreach & Project Manager; Heather Burke, Loyalsock Foundation volunteer; Frank Lundy, Lundy Construction Co.; Mike Hedgcock, Sullivan County Recreational Association; Herm Snyder, Loyalsock Foundation volunteer; April Gavitt, Loyalsock Foundation Administrative Assistant; John Richlin, Fish Real Estate; Mary Blondy, Loyalsock Foundation President; Andy Keister, LIVIC Civil; Mike Marabell, US Representative Meuser’s Office; Gene Yaw, PA State Senator; Tina Pickett, PA State Representative; Joe Hamm, PA State Representative; Patti Monahan, US Senator Casey’s Office; Bill desRosiers, Coterra Energy; Paul Macknosky, PA Department of Community & Economic Development.
Paul Macknosky, Regional Director for the PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) spoke briefly about Loyalsock Foundation’s success utilizing the Neighborhood Assistance Program, with the organization receiving a total of $601,000 in corporate contributions since 2021, with an additional $219,500 in commitments for this year’s program. These funds have been used to purchase an 18 acre parcel of land for The Summit campus bringing the total acreage to approximately 72 acres, fund the engineering design and development plans for the permanent driveway, and finance Phase 1 and part of Phase 2 of the driveway construction project. DCED was also represented by Kelsey DeMerlis, Director, Center for Community Services. DeMerlis noted that with Loyalsock Foundation’s most recent Neighborhood Assistance Program efforts, 18 different businesses donated to the project, exemplifying the goal of the program in connecting businesses with nonprofits, allowing tax dollars to be directed towards projects benefiting communities that otherwise may find it difficult to generate funding.
Several elected officials gave remarks during the program, including Patti Monahan representing US Senator Casey, Mike Marabell from US Representative Meuser’s office, Senator Gene Yaw, Rep. Joe Hamm, and Rep. Tina Pickett. All expressed support and admiration for the project. As Chair of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Senator Yaw discussed the urgent need to attract people to both live in and visit rural Pennsylvania. He is hopeful that The Summit: Center for Wellness is the type of project that will aid in this goal. Laporte Township Supervisor and Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) Director Jeff Hamilton spoke about the importance of supporting local projects like the Summit that will benefit not just the township, but the county as a whole.
Under the Neighborhood Assistance Program, participating businesses receive a 75% tax credit for every dollar donated to nonprofit organizations. Loyalsock Foundation has received donations from 23 different businesses throughout the region since 2021. Bill desRosiers of Coterra Energy was on hand and spoke about how the Neighborhood Assistance Program allows companies such as Coterra that pay taxes in Pennsylvania to invest those tax dollars in the communities they care about and work in, while also attracting additional jobs and economic development. Coterra has supported Loyalsock Foundation for three consecutive years. Other business donors present included John Richlin of Fish Real Estate, and Frank Lundy and Stephen Thaler of Lundy Construction Co.
The original idea for an indoor recreation center started with the Sullivan County Recreational Association (SCRA) in 2006. Mike Hedgcock, vice president of the SCRA said, “It’s great to see after 18 years of work that this project is finally getting off the ground”. Also in attendance at the ceremony was Andy Keister, Director of Civil Engineering at LIVIC Civil, who developed the engineering plans for the driveway and has been instrumental in every step of the overall project. Loyalsock Foundation volunteers and community members rounded out the audience.
After the ceremonial groundbreaking, the group took a walk through The Summit campus, which has undergone significant changes over the past month. Trees have been cleared, creating space for construction of the driveway as well as stormwater basins, parking area, septic system, and the site of the main facility. The Sullivan County REC will be relocating a section of the main utility line within the next month. After that, the driveway construction will commence in late August or early September, with completion of the project anticipated by November.
