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The BMNECC is pleased to announce that we have officially acquired the properties adjacent to the Center on West Eighth Avenue! We will use this expanded area to provide enhanced parking for our guests, to develop an ethnic Bulgarian cafe and to enlarge the museum, gift shop, kitchen and storage areas. The photo at right shows BMNECC President Patricia Penka French signing the final agreement. With her are BMNECC Board Member Ken Service (at left) and West Homestead Mayor John Dindak.

In July we received word that we were awarded a $250,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to help us implement our expansion plans. The RACP requires that we match the $250,000 grant dollar for dollar. Please consider helping us achieve this goal by donating to our capital campaign. You can contact us at 412-461-6188 or by email: bmnecc@gmail.com

Click here to download a donation card.

In addition, we have been fortunate to receive a grant of $150,000 from the Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund (CITF) of the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority to begin work on Phase I of the expansion project.

Plans and engineering drawings have been drawn up. In the photo at right Pat French takes the first hammer to the dilapidated buildings! Demolition should be complete by November 2011.

The Bulgarian Center has been a familiar fixture in West Homestead since 1935. Through the years we’ve worked hard to renovate our facility, making it safer, more comfortable and attractive, and more handicapped-accessible for the thousands of people who visit us each year. Grants from organizations such as the Allegheny Regional Asset District, the Steel Industry Heritage Corporation, and the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation helped make these improvements a reality and we are grateful to all who contributed. Now we will finally be able to fulfill the final part of our strategic plan, and to help the Borough of West Homestead in its redevelopment programs.

We will keep you posted on the status of these exciting initiatives.