Economic Development Stories
In late 2005, the staff and Board of Directors of the Mifflin
Juniata Special Needs Center, a non-profit organization, began
dreaming about their future. They envisioned a new, larger
facility close to downtown Lewistown that was highly visible and
easily accessible; a non-profit corporate center, of sorts, housing
multiple organizations serving Mifflin County. A 23,000
square-foot building on the corner of Dorcas Street and Montgomery
Avenue in downtown Lewistown was identified as a promising
location.
Beth Zong, Executive Director of the Mifflin Juniata Special Needs
Center, reached out to other non-profit partner agencies within the
county to garner interest in expanding the facility to house
multiple service organizations. "Sharing a facility made a
lot of sense, conceptually. It would present us with more
options and better services at a lower cost," says Zong. As
agencies showed interest, renovation plans were developed adding
14,000 square feet to the existing building.
"Without Kish Bank's support, nothing could have or would have
happened. Our board and staff had this big dream and Kish
believed in it- they believed that it was a good thing for our
community. Behind any project is the financing, of course,
and Kish Bank's Jim Shilling went above and beyond to help make
this a reality. He embraced the idea of a non-profit
corporate center and walked side by side with us - not only helping
with funding from the bank, but with grant opportunities - and he
engaged Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation and
turned it into a collaborative effort that made everything come to
fruition. When other banks said no, Kish said yes."
-Beth Zong
Executive Director, Mifflin Juniata Special Needs Center
Completed in 2008, the Community Partners Allied Service System
(COMPASS) Building is now home to the Mifflin Juniata Special Needs
Center, The Abuse Network, Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug and
Alcohol Abuse Commission, Tuscarora Intermediate Unit's Early
Intervention Program, the American Red Cross, Harrisburg Area
Community College local enrollment office, and is soon to be the
new home of the Mifflin Juniata Dental Clinic. The facility
houses over 70 employees serving thousands of community
members.
