Mark Pasquerilla Roast Update

Last Wednesday, on January 9th, nearly 400 individuals came together to celebrate one of Johnstown’s most recognizable businessmen and raise money for Vision2025.

The Roast of Mark Pasquerilla saw over $50,000 raised to support Vision2025, while poking fun in a lighthearted manner at Pasquerilla. Local business and community leaders including Bill Polacek, Johnstown Councilwoman Marie Mock, and Dr. Richard Kastelic told jokes and reminisced about Pasquerilla’s contributions to the region.

See photos from the event at: Vision2025’s Facebook Page

Second Workshop Scheduled for Historical Buildings’ Reuse

Two Vision2025 capture teams have announced plans for a “cafeteria style” public workshop, designed to assist historical building owners with the challenges and opportunities of reusing their buildings.

“Historical Building Reuse Workshop #2” will take place from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 11, at the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center at Broad Street and Sixth Avenue in Cambria City.

“This will be an excellent opportunity for historical-building developers to meet with code experts and public officials,” said Rick Truscello, who chairs the Historical Buildings and Codes Capture Team. “The workshop is designed to provide developers and owners with one-on-one contact with these experts.”
Stations will be organized to provide guidance on:
  • Building Code Overview
  • Zoning Overview
  • Floodplain Regulations Overview
Workshop participants will be able to pick and choose among the stations and spend as much time as needed at those stations, addressing their individual questions and concerns.
Two other workshops will be scheduled in the near future:
  • Workshop #3 will look at a specific building as a case study in how multiple uses can be included within a single historical building.
  • Workshop #4 will present opportunities to potential developers and investors.
To learn more about the event, visit Johnstown Area Heritage Association’s website, today!

Funding to underwrite the costs of the workshops has been provided through a PITTchFEST ’18 award and grants through Vision2025.

Tree Tenders Training

Join thousands of other concerned citizens like yourself. Become a Tree Tender and help increase tree canopy cover in your community.
SAVE $35! FREE registration for Cambria County residents!
Tree Tenders® is a training program that empowers concerned residents to make dramatic strides towards restoring and caring for the tree canopy in their communities.
Tree Tenders Training Includes
  • Tree Biology
  • Urban Stresses on Trees
  • Tree Identification
  • Tree Pruning and Root Care
  • Tree Planting Techniques
  • Community Organizing

Upcoming Community Resource Fair

Bridging Cambria County, a Vision2025 initiative, will be holding a free community resource fair on Thursday, April 12 from 5 PM to 7 PM at Greater Johnstown High School.

The purpose of the resource fair is to provide residents with information on a variety of topics such as social services, education assistance and job seeker services. All agencies, organizations, and service providers who offer services or programs within the Greater Johnstown/Southern Cambria County region are welcome to attend! Click here for flyer details.

If you would like to have a table at the resource fair, please contact Matt Spangler, United Way Community Relationship Manager, at , or Debi Balog, JARI Workforce Development Director at .

Vision2025 Celebration Recap

Vision2025 held its annual celebration on Tuesday, January 23rd at Ace’s in downtown Johnstown. Vision leaders had the opportunity to thank the Vision2025 capture teams and more than 1,000 volunteers who have led projects in our community over the past two years.

Community leaders made remarks on the progress that Vision2025 has made including Bill Polacek, Chair of Vision2025 Board, and Congressman Keith Rothfus. Ryan Kieta, a Vision2025 Coordinator, made an announcement regarding Capture Team funding. There are $2,500 and $5,000 in Capture Awards available to support on-going and new projects in the area. To access the Capture Team application, click here.

Keynote speaker, Bill Flanagan, Chief Corporate Relations Officer for the Allegheny Conference, compared Pittsburgh’s recovery efforts to those of Vision2025 in Johnstown. Flanagan was able to provide a perspective on the work that is needed to provide a change in the community to make it a vibrant place to live and work.

Click here for to read the full article. For more information on Vision2025 or how you can get involved, please visit the Vision2025 website at www.johnstown25.com.

Vision2025 Announces Two New Capture Award Levels

The Capture Awards are an incentive program to assist our volunteer-based groups, known as capture teams, complete projects throughout the community. Capture Awards have funded everything from public art and trails to greenspace and entrepreneurial development. Since launching in 2016, over fifteen teams and nearly $15,000 in awards have been distributed.

For a limited time, two new levels of Capture Awards are available in the amounts of $2,500 and $5,000. These new levels will be the highest awards offered in the program’s lifetime. The Capture Awards are a partnership of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership and Vision2025.

The application period is open through February 28, 2018. Visit johnstown25.com/resources for the application. Capture teams may contact project coordinators Wally Burlack or Ryan Kieta at (814) 535-8675 for assistance.

Vision2025 Annual Celebration

Join Vision2025 on Tuesday, January 23rd from 5:30 to 7:00 PM for it’s annual celebration as Vision leaders thank the Vision2025 capture teams and over 1,000 volunteers who have lead projects in our community over the past two years!

Attendees will have an opportunity to network with capture team members and learn more about the projects they have taken on in order to build a better Johnstown!

The event, which will be held at Ace’s Lounge, is free and anyone is welcome to attend! Food will be provided and a cash bar will be available! Sponsored by This event is sponsored by Lift Johnstown and The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.

Area Residents Gain Information at Community Resource & Job Fair

Greater Johnstown United Neighborhoods and Vision2025 hosted a Community Resource & Job Fair on Wednesday, November 8th at the Christ Centered Community Church in downtown Johnstown.

Many area residents attended the job fair in hopes of gaining useful information and leads on potential job opportunities. There were approximately 140 available job openings featured at the fair as well as representatives from various agencies that provided information on a variety of topics such as education assistance, job seeker services and more.

This event was coordinated by JARI and the PA CareerLink – Cambria County. A special thank you to our exhibitors in attendance: JARI, Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies, PA CareerLink – Cambria County, Lifepoint, Shared Business Services, JWF Industries, Veteran’s Community Initiatives, Inc., United Way of the Laurel Highlands, The Learning Lamp, Qualfon, Firehouse Subs, Alleghenies Unlimited Care Providers, Peerstar LLC and Crown American Associates.

If you are interested in participating in future resource and job fairs, please contact Debi Balog, JARI Workforce Development Director, at  or (814) 262-8366.

Community Resource & Job Fair

Greater Johnstown United Neighborhoods and Vision2025 will host a Community Resource & Job Fair on Wednesday, November 8th from 5 to 7 PM at the Christ Centered Community Church (531 Somerset Street) in downtown Johnstown.

Approximately 140 available job openings will be featured at the fair. Representatives from various agencies will be able to provide information on a variety of topics such as education assistance, job seeker services and more.

For more information, click here. If you have any questions or would like to participate as an exhibitor, please contact Debi Balog by phone at (814) 262-8366 or by email at .

Hosted by:       

Coordinated by:      

Team Better Block, Johnstown

Tuesday, August 29, Andrew Howard, Texas based and internationally-renowned urban planner, will be in Johnstown to present ideas on “How to Build a Better Block.”

Team Better Block is dedicated to enhancing single commercial blocks in underused urban corridors through quick, cheap and creative placemaking techniques that design for community, connection and commerce from the ground up.

Andrew will be leading us in thinking about how to Build Better Blocks in Johnstown, focused on Gazebo Park and other downtown blocks as first case studies.

Click here to view the agenda. If you are interested in joining a Vision2025 Capture Team or would like more information, visit the Vision2025 website.