Partnerships bloom in downtown Altoona

Flower partnership

Partners of the downtown flower project meet in front of Christie Jordan’s soon-to-open snack bar, Zoe Café. From left to right: Rebecca Sinclair, assistant office manager at Mountain View Eye Associates; Jordan, president of Building Future Bridges Foundation; Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, chancellor and dean of Penn State Altoona; and Pat Miller, executive vice president of ABCD Corporation 

Credit: Penn State

ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona has received gift commitments from local businesses to purchase flowers that will line 11th and 12th Avenues, helping to create a beautiful and vibrant downtown.

Over the last several years, Penn State Altoona has purchased the flowers for the baskets and the campus' Facilities and Operations crew has been responsible for installation. This year, Facilities and Operations will hang flower baskets gifted by various downtown businesses.

Through her foundation, Building Future Bridges, Christie Jordan, Altoona city councilwoman and owner of DiVersity Salon and Spa Learning Center, made a gift of $1,000 to purchase flowers for the hanging baskets. The Building Future Bridges Foundation seeks to help women and young people gain control of their lives and learn the skills needed to grow personally and professionally. Jordan’s latest downtown venture is a snack bar called Zoe Café, which will be located in the Altoona Transportation Center.

“As a downtown business owner, I truly enjoy seeing ‘new life’ downtown. The hanging baskets represent just that," said Jordan. "My café is named Zoe for the Greek word meaning ‘life.’ Sponsoring this year’s hanging baskets is a beautiful way to celebrate the café coming downtown."

Jordan’s gift inspired both Mountain View Eye Associates and Cardiology Associates of Altoona to be a part of the beautification project, as well, and the Greater Altoona Economic Development Corporation (GAEDC) board is contributing to the project by purchasing much-needed new baskets and liners.

"It is wonderful to see members of our downtown community coming together for this project," said Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, chancellor and dean of Penn State Altoona. "Our downtown campus has undoubtedly been enhanced by the many contributions of the Altoona community, and this project is another great example of how our campus and local business partners continue to work together. On behalf of the entire Penn State Altoona family, I express my sincere thanks to Christie Jordan, Mountain View Eye Associates, Cardiology Associates of Altoona, and the GAEDC board for supporting our downtown campus and community."

This support of downtown businesses has helped purchase hanging floral arrangements for the next several years.