The Business development center, a masontown matters project

A Project of Masontown Matters

The BDC is located in a renovated 6,000 sq. ft. building at Main & Middle Streets, next to the library. It’s handicap-accessible and designed to support up to 8 small businesses of various types.

How It Started

About 15 years ago, Fayette County developed a Strategic Plan to guide growth. Planners gathered public input and identified priorities such as new infrastructure, industrial parks, and small business support. Route 43 was built to connect the county with Pittsburgh and West Virginia, and new business parks were developed through the Redevelopment Authority and Fay-Penn Economic Council. The County also launched two key funding sources for business growth:

• Local Share Account (LSA) from gaming revenue, managed by the Redevelopment Authority
• Hotel Tax Funds, used to boost tourism and support local events and businesses

These initiatives focused on recreation, tourism, and small business development, especially in rural communities.

Masontown’s Role

During public meetings, Masontown residents identified needs such as more local businesses, improved Main Street, and expanded recreation. This led to the creation of Masontown Matters, a nonprofit focused on community improvement and economic development. Masontown Matters host many community events. One project is the Incubator Project.

To support small business growth, Masontown Matters launched the Business Development Center (BDC). Supporting Entrepreneurs, the BDC offers affordable space for startups, charging only enough to cover operating costs. With support from Fay-Penn, SCORE, and the Chamber of Commerce, tenants can access free or low-cost business training. Businesses can stay up to three years, with the goal of eventually moving into permanent space in Masontown.