Millvale’s old Moose Lodge becoming business incubator, meeting space

A long-standing building in downtown Millvale is being remade into an incubator for small businesses and grass-roots initiatives, as part of a holistic effort to further transform thistiny old mill town.

The old Moose Lodge on East Sherman Street is already home to NewSun Rising, a community development organization working to revive underserved neighborhoods in the Pittsburgh area. Containing about 10,000 square feet, the building will enable the nonprofit organization to expand its programs, which help start and support various small businessesand nonprofits.

“We’re trying to be very intentional about supporting businesses and nonprofits that are working to improve the quality of life of the immediate community itself,” executivedirector Scott Wolovich said.

Once a vibrant social hall, the old Moose Lodge closed roughly a decade ago, later housing a textile business.

“Almost everyone who comes in or comes by has a story about that building,” Mr. Wolovich said of the former gathering place, citing weddings and youth dances that were held there. The renovations, he added, will not detract from the unpretentious feel of the building, which will also serve as an event space.

Taking place in phases, the renovation project is underway, with part of the ground floor being turned into offices and a co-working space as well as a conference room for nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

The first phase is expected to finish sometime next month, when