Economic Development Corporation

Swissvale Economic Development CorporationMission Statement

The Swissvale Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) is a group of individuals living and working in Swissvale whose mission is to organize, direct, and coordinate economic revitalization projects in the Borough of Swissvale.

Officers

  • Mary Miller - President
  • Robert Rogers - Vice President
  • George Petty - Treasurer
  • Gib Miller - Secretary

Email the Swissvale Economic Development Corporation

SEDCO is always looking for ways to improve our community. We would love to have you be part of this volunteer organization, providing fresh, new ideas for Swissvale. Join us for one of our meetings! SEDCO meets the fourth Monday of every month. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. at the Wilkins School Community Center, 7604 Charleston Ave. 

Recent Projects & Activities

For 2023, SEDCO is coordinating on the following Swissvale projects:

  • Sponsorship of the Parkway exit flower garden on Braddock Ave
  • vacant lot mapping
  •  completion of the Church & Braddock parklet
  • planning for walking/biking trails connecting Collingwood Park and Les Getz Memorial Park with the  Carrie Furnace site
  • initial planning for a potential Monongahela Ave streetscape redevelopment

One of SEDCO’s primary 2022 projects was installation of Veterans banners in the Swissvale business district (Washington St, Noble St and Waverly St).

Since our inception, through our partnership with MVI, numerous residential properties in Swissvale have been renovated for purchase by first time home buyers.  This includes the 18-unit Schoolhouse Condominiums providing high-quality, affordable housing in Swissvale.

The Swissvale Farmer's Market was initially sponsored by SEDCO and now has become an independent non-profit organization to bring affordable produce to Swissvale.  The new site for 2023 is Dickson School on Schoyer Avenue.

A group of dedicated residents has established a monthly litter cleanup in the Woodstock Ave area.  If any group of residents would like to start-up a similar neighborhood cleanup, SEDCO would be glad to help.

Brief History

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, U.S. Steel, Westinghouse Electric, WABCO, Union Switch and Signal and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel all closed major manufacturing plants in the Monongahela Valley. Some sources indicate that as many as 175,000 jobs were lost in the region when these plants closed. SEDCO was formed in 1989 as one of the first community development corporations (CDC) in the Monday Valley to counter this historic regional economic disruption. Subsequently, SEDCO joined other CDCs in a coalition with Monday Valley Initiative (MVI) to coordinate programs and revitalization approaches.