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Aid Team  AID (Assistance for Impact Delegation) AID (Assistance for Impact Delegation) Team members are leaders of public and private organizations, residents, and members of the religious community in Coatesville and neighboring municipalities. About 30 participants are AID Team members. These members, under the direction of the Weed and Seed Coordinator, have access to resources and the ability to supply resources and services that can help our residents and our communities. The AID Team identifies service gaps, reviews statistics and data and develops strategies and solutions to resolve deficiencies in our target communities. The AID Team is charged with assembling issues and data assessment of the target communities and developing Coatesville’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. Six Subcommittees were organized by the AID Team to address the issues faced by target community residents. AID Team Members Coatesville AID Team members are dedicated individuals who are concerned with the welfare of target community residents. AID Team Subcommittees Subcommittee members work or live in Coatesville or in neighboring municipalities, and are committed to helping residents of Coatesville. Their areas of expertise pertain to the mission of the subcommittees they are members of. Members of the subcommittees gather statistical information and survey data that will lead to identification of needed resources and services for the target communities. Members identify existing resources in our communities to prevent duplication of services for the target communities. Recommendations made by the subcommittees are reported back to the AID Team by the chairpersons and the Weed and Seed Coordinator. The recommendations must fit into the mission and vision to improve the overall economy and support drug and crime-free thriving communities, and provide more opportunities for our youth to prepare them for tomorrow’s challenges. The seven Subcommittees and the recommendations/accomplishments achieved to date by each are as follows: 1. Crime Prevention/Public Safety The Crime Prevention/Public Safety Subcommittee made recommendations for resources to do the following:
Members of the Crime Prevention/Public Safety Subcommittee created a Prison Aftercare Taskforce to specifically address the issues that many Coatesville ex-offenders face when they reenter society. With the help of a Violence Prevention and Quality of Life Enhancement grant from Pennsylvania Weed and Seed, this subcommittee helped the Coatesville Police Department to create a Special Programs Coordinator lay position within the Police Department to help the Police with their community policing programs which involved the development of a chaplain program, and a Youth Aid Panel, liaison with the Coatesville Area School District’s truancy program, liaison with Coatesville’s Town Watch Program, and help coordinate the City’s P.A.L. Program.
The Education/Recreation Subcommittee made recommendations for resources to do the following:
In order to achieve its goals and objectives to raise the quality of life for Coatesville residents on all levels, members have accomplished the following:
1. Sensitivity Training for Police Officers
The Family Dynamics/Children and Youth Subcommittee made recommendations for resources to do the following:
The Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Subcommittee made recommendations for resources to do the following:
This subcommittee is responsible for co-sponsoring and supporting the first annual Coatesville Homebuyer Fair held in October for those who wish to own their own homes in Coatesville, or who own homes in the City. The Chester County Community Development Department and Community Impact Legal Services are also co-sponsors of the fair. Participants include realtors, contractors and other professionals who provide information and conduct mini-workshops on financial assistance, building or repairing credit, opening checking and savings accounts if needed, budgeting skills, and how to choose a contractor. Additionally, representatives from various other aspects of the home buying process include home inspectors, insurance agents, and mortgage, banking and credit representatives. Door prizes include $1,000 down payment on a home in Coatesville, as well as home improvement gift certificates and appliances. Members of this subcommittee established an annual “Flower Fun Day” with Community Gardens of Chester County and Art Partners which takes place every May in Ash Park. Flowers are sold for at-cost prices, children can build art projects, and everyone can enjoy music, treats, and various activities. This subcommittee supported the Coatesville Homeownership Project, a joint development of the City of Coatesville, the Redevelopment authority and Cansler Investment Group, represented more than $8.8 million in Pennsylvania, Federal, county, local and privately leveraged resources to construct 78 new, low to moderate income homes. The 78 townhouses, which consist of three and four bedroom units, will be built in the northeast section of the City. A Homeowners Association was established for new owners with City oversight. Additionally, this subcommittee supports the City of Coatesville’s Residential Over Commercial/Downtown Revitalization Project, which involves the revitalization of six buildings situated in Coatesville’s Central Business District on Main Street. Six buildings were refurbished for businesses while 26 apartments over the commercial units were refurbished and revitalized and rented to low to middle income individuals. 5. Employment and Economic Development The Employment and Economic Development Subcommittee made recommendations for resources to do the following:
Pennsylvania Weed and Seed awarded the City a Micro-Economic Development and Life Skills grant to fund the City’s Main Street CREATE (Coatesville Regional Entrepreneurial and Training Endeavor) and CREATE II Programs. The Spanish CREATE Program was funded by the City’s Federal Weed and Seed grant. CREATE Pennsylvania Weed and Seed awarded the City a Micro-Economic Development and Life Skills grant to fund the CREATE (Coatesville Regional Entrepreneurial and Training Endeavor) Program. CREATE is a program that provides intensive training for individuals interested in starting a new business in the Coatesville region. The CREATE Program also has two other components; a Façade Improvement Program for existing businesses, and a loan pool for students who have graduated from the CREATE Program. CREATE II A special program under the CREATE Program called CREATE II which is a program designed to help existing business owners and CREATE graduates to prepare their business for any changes in the economic future of the City of Coatesville. CREATE II is a one year program consisting of a series of courses specifically designed to meet the needs of the local businesses.
The Hispanic CREATE Program is patterned after the original CREATE program but is taught primarily in Spanish. It is a twelve session course targeting the local Hispanic community of current and future business owners.
Through research, this subcommittee found that Coatesville’s top five health concerns are: Heart Disease, Cancer, Substance Abuse, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Teen Pregnancy. The Community Health Subcommittee exists to address these, and other health concerns, and made recommendations for resources to do the following:
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