History of SCCIA:
Scottdale had reached a desperate plight in April, 1934 when a letter signed by Scottdale Board of Trade was sent to President Roosevelt, the opening paragraph reading "What would you do if you were a businessman in a community where industrial inactivity has caused 90 percent of the population to be unemployed for three years; where 40 percent of the available business sites ar
e vacant; where a Federal Emergency Relief Administration representative classes us as being the second hardest hit town in the United States?" Two of the factories that closed left 2,200 people unemployed. A group of businessmen met with a representative of the West Penn Power Company to plan ways to improve the industrial situation in Scottdale. When inventory was taken of what Scottdale had to offer prospective industries, they found: (1) an abundance of skilled workers in metal working and (2) Scottdale was a good place to live with many modern homes, first class schools, churches of many denominations, and low taxes. Two plants suitable for many types of manufacturing were available and ready for an industry to move into. Successful negotiations were made with Duraloy, who moved into one of the vacant plants from West Virginia. The association was incorporated January 10, 1939 in order to obtain title to the only other large industrial plant remaining vacant, the American Sheet & Tin Plant Company. It was deeded in its entirety to SCCIA for $1. The Superintendent of Schools was chosen as chairman. R.E. Uptegraff Manufacturing Co. in Pittsburgh was in need of facilities, as theirs were destroyed by fire. They leased the property and started manufacturing electrical transformers in the spring of 1939 with 20 employees. In 1980 the property was sold to Uptegraff and they still provide viable employment to the community. Since then, SCCIA has helped develop commercial and industrial interest in the Southmoreland School District area. In order to improve some of the vacant industrial park land donated to SCCIA in 1939, a subdivision plan was developed and plots were sold to Uptegraff Mfg. Co., Midland Carriers, Inc., Oppman Auto Parts, Co., Hoke Insurance Co., Davis Monuments, and Newcomer Plumbing Co. Along with grant money, the SCCIA participated with construction of an access road, greatly improving the Industrial Park Area. In 1982, a $275,000 project was completed to rebuild a store for McCrory to lease after a fire destroyed the original store earlier. In 1990, the Ozone Property was acquired to bring Fibertek, Inc. into the community after they experienced fire in Connellsville and were in need of facilities. The SCCIA has participated in the Borough's Flood Control Program and donated its property involved for the project. More recently the SCCIA has committed its involvement to the Downtown Revitalization Project. The Geyer Theater is a civic project wherein the SCCIA has interest. In conjunction with its related organization, the Southmoreland Civic Association, Inc. (SCA), it has residential interest by providing housing for the elderly and/or handicapped at the Scottmor Apartments. The Scottdale Plaza Apartments, now owned by another corporation, were realized through the efforts of the SCCIA. In 1998. the SCCIA spearheaded an $80,000 project to build a tourism railroad station. Similar in design to the original station, this station now serves as an office to the freight portion of the county-owned railway. Today the SCCIA is comprised of local businesspersons and industries interested in economical growth in the Southmoreland area. Types of services offered by the SCCIA include local business contracts, aid in obtaining financing, and other development related services.
