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PITTSTON — If you told Mary Kroptavich two years ago she would be named coordinator of the City of Pittston’s Main Street in 2019, she would not have believed you. But that’s exactly what happened to the Duryea resident three weeks ago.
In 2017, Kroptavich’s sister and brother-in-law Karen and Joe Emma opened a retail store in downtown Pittston where she would help occasionally. It was during one of Pittston’s Second Friday Art Walk events Karen suggested Kroptavich sell some of her photographs at the monthly art walks.
Kroptavich, 45, eventually found herself in the downtown Pittston mix when she volunteered to help Maria Livrone, then art walk coordinator. Livrone not only took up Kroptavich’s offer, but when Livrone decided to step down from the position, she suggested Kroptavich take over as art walk coordinator.
Eventually, Kroptavich, the mother of three daughters, opened MPK Photography, renting space behind the newly created Art e Fekts Gallery where she serves as director.
Kroptavich has big shoes to fill after Rose Randazzo stepped down as Main Street manager nearly two years ago.
Pittston City Mayor Michael Lombardo recognized that, since Randazzo left the position, there is a need to get back on track and retain a qualified person for the position.
“It’s not exactly the same position,” Lombardo said. “Rose was kind of an informal Main Street manager because we didn’t have that position, so she was doing things, I think, in congruent to what a Main Street manager does, not really in a position other than a volunteer position.”
“What’s relevant to downtown is having a clear understanding of what our downtown is and who it is comprised of,” Lombardo said. “So, in the last year and a half, Mary’s been involved with the art walk and she’s interfaced with the chamber, she’s gotten to interact with a lot of the businesses plus she’s a downtown business owner herself. I thought it made sense and she has the perfect skill set.”
To prepare for her role as the Main Street coordinator, a $30,000 per year job, Kroptavich has been taking courses in Harrisburg on management over the last two-months. Once the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) agrees Kroptavich has completed coursework, her title will officially be known as a Main Street manager.
“Two months ago, I had a class on grant writing and asset enhancement,” she said. “Grant writing involves a great deal, including surveys, studies and polling with the residents in your area.
“I did a five-day Main Street training in Seattle, Washington on a national level,” Kroptavich added. “That was really interesting and the whole time I’ve been in training in Harrisburg and Seattle, I’m making connections.
“Downtown Pittston already has had such a big jump on their Main Street and Rose Randazzo did such a fantastic job and she did it as a volunteer. I think the city realizes they need a liaison between business and the city,” Kroptavich said.
Pittston will follow the guidelines set forth by the PA Downtown Center (PDC) in Harrisburg.
According to the PDC’s website, “Primarily through utilization of the National Main Street Center, PDC provides outreach, technical assistance, and educational services in order to assist communities in revitalizing their central business districts and surrounding residential neighborhoods. Over the years, we have formed a variety of strategic partnerships with local and statewide organizations in order to further our mission of promoting community revitalization and reinvestment. Additionally, our centralized Harrisburg location allows us to interact regularly with members of the PA Legislature in order to advocate on behalf of downtown and neighborhood initiatives in the commonwealth.”
Kroptavich’s immediate goal is to meet with downtown Pittston merchants.
“I already do have established relationships with a lot of the businesses with me being in business and running the gallery, but I’d like to meet with all of the businesses and to hear what their concerns are, what the pluses are and what they would like to see (in the future),” Kroptavich said. “I want to try to expand more community support for downtown.”
Mayor Lombardo is happy to see someone taking the role of Main Street manager, which essentially frees up his time to focus on projects such as the neighborhood initiative and the North Main Street revitalization program.
