Financial business donation to help fund arts center, park

Oct. 10--DANVILLE -- In celebrating its 15th anniversary, J&J Financial contributed a legacy to help the community for generations to come.

The business presented a significant donation to the Danville Business Alliance's From Your Imagination to Danville's Reality Campaign.

Founded by James Kishbaugh II in 2002 and located in the Geisinger office building at 285 Mill St., J&J is one of downtown Danville's established and most successful businesses, said alliance executive director Jim Wilson. The business offers financial planning products and services for businesses and individuals ranging from retirement plans and planning, insurance, succession planning for businesses, college savings plans and estate planning for individuals and families.

Kishbaugh presented the contribution Thursday to Wilson and alliance president Robert Dressler Jr.

J&J was the first major private donor for the campaign, Wilson said.

The campaign will benefit Canal Park improvements and a community arts center.

"The arts provide a commonality that unite us across generations. They also bring together the community. Those are two goals that J&J supports wholeheartedly," Kishbaugh said.

Dressler praised J&J for stepping forward. He said the Kishbaugh family has longevity in the Danville community and has contributed to the community through the years.

Wilson said the goal of the campaign is $6 million for two downtown projects -- a community arts center and repurposing of Canal Park and an adjacent vacant lot between Beiter's Department Store and the Danville Municipal Building into a multi-use park and amphitheater.

The alliance has applied for two grants of $250,000 each from different state programs for the park. The project is estimated at $525,000.

While the former Capitol Theater, on Mill Street, was the primary focus for an arts center, the alliance is now interested in several buildings in the downtown for the center, Wilson said. In the past several months, the alliance has been taking a look at other options, he said.

The alliance has applied for a $500,000 state grant for the arts center project.

Wilson said there is a bill winding its way through the general assembly in the capital budget, which was passed by the Senate, that would provide a line item for the project of $1.75 million.

Local support would be required, including matching funds. He said money raised through the campaign would help offset operating expenses and maintenance on a long-term basis for the arts center.

"I was born and raised here and went to school here. I work four blocks from where I grew up," Kishbaugh said.

While his clients are predominately from Montour and Columbia counties, his service area reaches as far as State College, Renova and Emporium.

"We work as a team to take care of people," he said.

His business employs three others. He has known executive assistant Amy Temmel since she was an infant. "Our parents were friends," he said. His son, Eric, serves as associate adviser and Renee Blackburn handles client support. One of Kishbaugh's daughters had worked in the business.

J&J has always been a good citizen that invests in the community and nurtures its well-being, Kishbaugh said. His business holds an annual food drive and he and his employees are active in nonprofit organizations in the community.

Wilson said repurposing Canal Park would involve a publicly accessible amphitheater, covered stage, perimeter landscaping and a street level plaza. The park could serve as a meeting place for alfresco dining, group exercise classes, musical festivals, farmers markets and family movie nights, he said.

The arts center could house the arts, entertainment and imaginative events to add vibrancy to Mill Street, he said. The family-friendly center would serve as a permanent home for arts groups and cultural activities and would include a theater to seat 200-plus and cafe and space for art displays, business conferences, performances and rehearsals, he said.

Future fundraising for the projects will involve a variety of public, private and foundation donations, grants, sponsorships and tax credit incentives with individuals accounting for about one-fifth of the fundraising goal, he said.

"We love to see Mill Street thrive and plan to celebrate many more milestones here as our business grows and Mill Street prospers," Kishbaugh said.

Email comments to [email protected]. Follow Karen on Twitter @KLBlackledge.

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