Living in Colorado, teaching music during the week, and camping on weekends: That was the rhythm of life for Charissa and Rian Chiaravalloti. After experiencing the effects of the pandemic in the city and especially within the music industry, they decided they wanted a change in tempo and looked to return to their Pennsylvania roots within the PA Wilds. That’s … Continue reading
The Barn at Madison is a one-of-a-kind wedding venue. Built originally in 1799 as a dairy farm barn. It has since been a home, a restaurant, and today serves as an elegantly unique event venue. When it went up for sale last year, the Dressman family knew they had to jump on the opportunity to purchase it. The Dressman’s proposed their … Continue reading
We partnered with the North Central PA Regional Planning & Development Commission and the St. Marys EDC to provide a financing package to Father Ross Miceli and his team at Brandy Camp Crew Legendary Pennsylvania Creamery & Coffee to open the Pronto! Café in downtown St. Marys, where they sell their locally sourced LegenDAIRY homemade ice cream, coffee, juice, paninis, … Continue reading
This week, The Progress Fund counted up 90,000,000 in dollars. That cosmic-sized number equals the total dollar amount of loans we made since we started lending in 1997. Back then, we started the organization with a lot of imagination and just a few dollars. Frankly, 90,000,000 was beyond our imagination, but we are proud to have reached. If 90,000,000 is … Continue reading
It’s Thirsty Thursday, and things are heating up at Firewhistle Brewing! When owner, Jason Berman, went in search of financing for startup costs to open his brewery and taproom, he came to the right place. Firewhistle is 1 of 11 breweries funded by The Progress Fund. Firewhistle Brewing is a lively taproom serving both inhouse and made in PA beers, … Continue reading
What’s the old saying? “The show must go on!” Well, now it can at Silver Shores Restaurant. When the Schepner family bought the restaurant in 2017, their goals to host live music and events on the lakeside patio became a challenge, because every time the forecast called for bad weather, events would have to be cancelled. With our financing help, … Continue reading
The Great Allegheny passage crosses over the Casselman River on a 226 foot long old RR bridge covered by a new wooden deck. That’s at Milepost 61 in the Trail Town of Confluence. From the middle of the bridge crossing, you can see the old 2-story yellow school on the far right bank. Immersion Research, an outdoor gear manufacturer occupies … Continue reading
Since 2018, we have been working to reopen the Historic Hazelwood Brewery as a beer drinkers destination. Yeah, its taken longer than expected. Real estate projects creep more than they run. COVID didn’t help and this is no small project. It involved a lot of property acquisition, community outreach, planning and more planning, lots of permits, and the complete rehabilitation … Continue reading
We often get asked “What was the single most important thing you did that made your Trail Town Program® successful?” The answer is always the same, that we have money and the willingness to make loans to new and expanding trail-related businesses. And, we are as flexible as possible when we make those critical loans. We adjust to less than … Continue reading
We are honored to announce that our President & CEO, David A. Kahley, was named the “2021 Preservationist of the Year” by the Young Preservationist Association of Pittsburgh. The announcement was part of the annual award program of the Young Preservationist Association (YPA) that was virtually released on December 21, 2021. The announcement of the Preservationist of the Year begins … Continue reading
