The Center for Education, Business & Arts is taking shape, and construction of this two-phase project is moving right along. Bids for Phase 2 were recently opened, and Wagman Construction, the contractor working on Phase 1, was awarded the contract.

Phase 1 Is Moving Along Rapidly

"Phase 1 is moving along very rapidly," said Joe Matthews, Wagman project superintendent. "The commercial kitchen will be the first completed room within a week or two." In addition to the commercial kitchen, Phase 1 includes a Penn State classroom, EARN workforce development offices, and the Downtown Shenandoah, Inc. headquarters. "We are very pleased to find out that we will also be completing Phase 2 for DSI," added Matthews. "As always, we're grateful for the support from the community and DSI, and can't wait to deliver a quality building." Phase 2 includes a second-floor event center, health care component, and ground-floor co-working spaces. "We are very excited that Wagman won the bid for CEBA Phase 2," said Mary Luscavage, acting executive director for DSI. "They are extremely accommodating, fit right into our community, and have become important colleagues to our organization."

Quick CEBA Recap

Here's a quick CEBA recap: DSI held multiple focus groups and one-on-one interviews with community members and business leaders throughout Schuylkill County to gain input about what type of center was needed. The results were unanimous and indicated there is a need for a community hub providing our area with the tools for job creation, a center for new and existing businesses, entrepreneurs, and creatives to network, and everyone to gain access to mentors, attend classes, and more. CEBA will house a commercial kitchen, Penn State classroom, co-working spaces, and an event center. It will also include a health care component. CEBA broke ground in April 2024 and is scheduled to open late Fall 2025.

DSI Board Members Excited About CEBA

"Shenandoah is my hometown, and it's exciting to see CEBA take shape," said DSI board member, Allen Palubinsky. It's like a breath of fresh air to see the empty lots on N. Main Street, formerly home to multiple buildings destroyed by fire, and purchased by Downtown Shenandoah, Inc."

"I've said from the beginning, CEBA will transform the economic landscape and breathe new life into our region," said board president and treasurer Karen Kenderdine. "It already has. Blighted buildings are coming down, new businesses are opening, and interest about renting space in the building increases daily."

"I absolutely love driving through town daily and seeing the progress on our CEBA Building. It’s a big, beautiful new dream filling up former vacant lots," said board member, Annie Taylor. "But not only the aesthetics excite me, the services that it will bring are so needed here! Shenandoah needs medical services that will be provided here. My former high school students are excited about the convenience of the Penn State classroom. Others want to know details about the commercial kitchen and maker space. Having an EARN office in town will be beneficial to soooo many, and I am already planning large family get-togethers for the event space. Finally, I think DSI’s expanded office space will allow our organization to provide even more services for the whole community. Am I excited about CEBA? Yes, I am!"

For more information about CEBA or to donate, visit discoverceba.com.