Ever since its primary employer, Lukens Steel, downsized in the 1980’s, residents of Coatesville have been hearing that their city was on the verge of revitalization. But until now, most of the planned projects have not advanced much beyond the drawing board. However, this time, officials say the revitalization of the city, which celebrated 100th birthday last year, is for real, writes Michaelle Bond of Philly.com.

“We’ve never been this far before,” the City Council president Linda Lavender-Norris said, adding that residents and local business owners are buying into the resurgence as well as city, county, state, and federal officials.

They are hoping to achieve same success as older urban centers like West Chester, Phoenixville, and Doylestown by forming the 2nd Century Alliance initiative with community and business leaders to jump-start the revival.

To achieve this goal, around $100,000 has been raised from local sponsors and the initiative is in line for a $100,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. The group has also hired Sonia Huntzinger, a veteran of revitalization efforts in York, as the economic development administrator to attract new businesses.

The county has dedicated more than $5 million to the Coatesville’s redevelopment since 2002 and Huntzinger says she will measure Coatesville’s progress by every ribbon-cutting, and through every job created. However, she is realistic, and points out that the process could take 5 to 10 years, given the amount of red tape and the often ponderous ways of the real estate world.

A crucial part of the revival is the $20 million PennDOT has already allocated toward the construction of a new Amtrak station on the Keystone Corridor project, set to begin this year, as well as for significant streetscape improvements.

In the recent community questionnaire, compiled as part of the Chester County’s 10-year economic plan, residents identified the city’s median income of only $35,425 and low home values as one of the county’s greatest challenges, but also one of its greatest opportunities.

“There’s been so much talk about revitalizing Coatesville,” said County Commissioner Michelle Kichline, “We want to make the city even better than it was in the past.”

Read more about the revitalization of Coatesville on Philly.com here.