The Plan began as a collaboration between municipalities and community organizations that recognize the tremendous potential of the Claysville area: the Borough of Claysville, Donegal Township, the Claysville Area Preservation and Revitalization Initiative (CAPRI), the Claysville Area Business Association (CABA), the Association of Claysville Churches, and the McGuffey School District. Representatives of these partners make up the Steering Committee.

As we kick off the planning process, the most important partner is you! The more voices we hear from our community, the more people will benefit from the outcomes of the plan. We welcome contributions from all who live, work, and play in southwestern Washington County. You can become a partner of this plan by contributing throughout the process, at in-person events and online. Stay up-to-date by signing up to receive email notices of upcoming public meetings, surveys, and more here.

We are grateful for our business sponsors and funding partners for supporting this process. By contributing to the plan, sponsoring partners show their commitment to the Claysville area, recognize the enormous opportunities for growth in our community, and value this effort that brings everyone to the table.

The Claysville Area includes the nine municipalities in the McGuffey School District: Blaine, Buffalo, Donegal, East Finley, Morris, South Franklin, and West Finley Townships, Green Hills Borough, and Claysville Borough.

While many recommendations may focus on downtown Claysville because it is the area’s traditional “anchor” business district, the Claysville Area Master Revitalization Plan will look for ways that all the municipalities in the McGuffey School District can work together wherever their interests align. To identify those common interests, the plan welcomes input and ideas from all in the southwestern Washington County region.

Claysville is the sole downtown business district serving a beautiful region with a rich heritage and a wealth of opportunities. There is enormous untapped potential in the I-70 corridor, Historic National Road, National Pike Rail Trail, and our high-quality agricultural, natural, and recreation areas that extend beyond Claysville Borough and Donegal Township. Read more about our area here.

A combination of public and private funding sources contributed to funding the plan. This strategy leverages traditional funding sources available for planning, while also inviting our strong business and nonprofit community to support and take ownership of the process. The financial support of our plan sponsors speaks louder than words of the confidence that our community has in its own potential. Most importantly, it sets the standard for a plan that is by and for the people of the Claysville area.

With the backing of our government officials, business and nonprofit community, the Claysville area is well positioned to meet and exceed the goals set that will be set by this plan.

The content of the plan depends on the priorities established during the public engagement process. In short – you help decide what’s in the plan! With input from key stakeholders and all citizens in the Claysville area, the planning process can establish needs, opportunities, a vision, and goals for revitalization.

A Master Revitalization Plan can lay the groundwork for many beneficial community projects, such as streetscape enhancements, infrastructure improvements, and many more.

The Claysville Area Master Revitalization Plan is an Implementable Plan, meaning it will have concrete, actionable recommendations that tee up the first steps for real revitalization. It includes many of those first steps in the planning process, such as a topographical survey and financing plan. Learn more about the steps involved in the plan here.

A Master Revitalization Plan is a set of targeted recommendations that encourage economic and physical revitalization of a community. Zoning is one of many tools that municipalities can use to guide how land is developed. A Master Revitalization Plan may or may not recommend zoning changes, based on the needs of a particular community and whether zoning can help meet those needs. However, a Master Revitalization Plan is not prescriptive. While its recommendations will be crafted to fit the specific needs of the Claysville area, communities participating in the plan can choose how those recommendations are best implemented.

Join our mailing list or check our News & Updates page for meeting and event announcements. Events will be scheduled throughout the planning process. We hope to see you soon!

The planning process takes between nine and twelve months. As initial reports and public input results are prepared, they will be posted to this site. The final plan will also be available on this site and by request for public review. See our Timeline and look for new information announced in News & Updates.