Community & Economic Development

Duties & Responsibilities

The Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED), located in the Department of Planning and Development, is responsible for the City’s community and economic development projects and programs.

The office administers grant programs, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, revolving loan programs, economic development projects and other community projects. Community projects and programs are designed to improve the physical infrastructure of the City and promote an environment for strengthening and diversifying the regional economic development efforts.

The office works in partnership with other community and economic development organizations to promote quality of life and economic development in the City of Hermitage, Mercer County and the Western Pennsylvania Region.

Community Development Programs

City of Hermitage Housing Rehabilitation Program

This program is designed to enhance housing occupants’ health and safety, increase family, neighborhood and citywide pride by upgrading properties, encourage citizens to remain homeowners in the City, undertake public improvements to support the housing investment, and increase property values.

Community Development Block Grant Program

The CDBG program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. It provides annual grants on a formula basis to general units of local government and States.

Revolving Loan Funds Program (RLF) 

The City of Hermitage, Mercer County, Pennsylvania operates Community & Economic Development Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) to provide funding assistance in the form of low-interest financing for eligible economic development projects and the revitalization of the established business districts.

The programs are designed to stimulate the expansion of business and industry in the City of Hermitage for the purpose of creating jobs and supporting small business projects.

Make My Move Incentive Program 

The City of Hermitage has partnered with Penn Northwest Development, Mercer County’s lead economic development organization, and MakeMyMove.com, a national firm relocating people from urban settings to rural communities.  The program requires movers to currently live at least 100 miles away from Hermitage and earn at least $50,000 a year from work.  It is designed to attract remote workers to our community and help repopulate Mercer County. 

The process starts with an application at https://www.makemymove.com/get-paid/hermitage-pennsylvania  

MakeMyMove vets applicants and qualified applicants receive an offer package of incentives including up to $5,000 to offset relocation expenses.