Slippery Rock Development, Inc., the group spearheading the borough's $5.3 million Main Street revitalization project, has merited cheers throughout the effort thus far, which reached another milestone Friday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project's first phase.

Based on what has been accomplished to date, the community can feel confident about future work that the group is planning and the effort that will be put forth to attract new businesses to the borough.

The project, which includes new trees, streetlights and sidewalks; burying of utility lines; renovation of Memorial Park; a new park between the First National Bank of Slippery Rock and Images Unlimited; and resurfacing of Main Street has defied skeptics who could not envision a project of such scope being carried out to completion. It defied the initial concerns and pessimism of business owners who feared dire consequences due to the disruptions that the project entailed.

The project is clear testimony to potential businesses that Slippery Rock is a community capable of getting things done, and a community confident enough not only to contemplate future needs, but also to expend the energy to attain them.

The project is a story about dedicated individuals who remained focused on their mission and who refused to allow anything to derail it.

In addition, the project is an exemplary example of solid planning that attracted the state's attention early-on, leading to a state financial investment in the work.

"It's been almost four years to reach this point," said John Bonando, Slippery Rock Development vice president. "We're very excited to show off all the work that's been done to potential businesses."

It is to be hoped that the new-business rewards emanating from the project are quick to be realized and significant in their scope. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock can serve as a textbook to other communities that envision their own revitalization initiatives.