The Borough Business Revitalization is a regional Main Street program that represents
a partnership between the greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber
Foundation, the Department of Community and Economic Development, Lehigh and Northampton
Counties, and the participating communities (the boroughs of Alburtis, Bangor, Bath
Catasaququa, Coopersburg, Hellertown, and Pen Argly. The greater Lehigh Valley Chamber
of Commerce employs 2 community revitalization coordinators who spend a minimum of
one day a week and one evening a month offering their services to each participating
borough.
The program began in 2005 as part of the “New Communities” program within PA’S Department
of Community and Economic Development. In 2010, the BBRP was recognized as the top
performing regional Main Street Program in Pennsylvania and they also received National
Accreditation from the National Trust Main Street Center ( a designation granted
to only 2,000 programs across the nation)
How does the program work?
The Borough Business Revitalization is a bottom-up program. Volunteers, elected
officials, and business & property owners all work together to determine the goals
of the program and enact projects that fit the need of the participating community.
The coordinator provides technical support, access to resources, and helps to coordinate
the volunteer efforts. Additionally, the program operates according to the nationally
accepted Main Street revitalization model:
“Design”
Getting downtown into top physical shape and capitalizing on its best assets
“Economic Restructuring”
Helping to maintain already existing business & jobs and recruiting new enterprises
“Promotion”
Selling the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects
“Organization”
Ensuring that all concerned stakeholders are working towards the same goals
The Facade Program
This program is one of the most popular endeavors of the Borough Business Revitalization
Program. It is a state-funded program that provides a 1-to-1 match, up to $5,000,
for exterior improvements to the facades of properties within the downtown. In the
past two completed rounds of funding, 12 properties along Main Street in Hellertown
received a total of $30,054 - which resulted in an additional $33,402 in private
investment. In this current round of funding, seven properties in the borough are
receiving $11,450 in grant funding – which will result in an estimated $32,082 in
private investment.
“Grants”
In addition to the five years of Main Street program funding and Facade Program funding,
grant funding acquired / supported by the Borough Business Revitalization (specifically
for Hellertown) include the following:
GLVCC Foundation Special Opportunities Grant
Saucon Valley Promotional Palm Card $225.00
Lutron Foundation
Program Funding $2,500.00
GLVCC Foundation Special Opportunities Grant
Parking Study $2,000.00
PA DCED Community Revitalization Grant (Rep. Bob Freeman)
Streetscape Amenities - Welcome Banners $5,000.00
Streetscape Amenities - Benches, Trash Receptacles and Bike Racks $12,000
Hellertown Business Revitalization Program Accomplishments
- Completed a visioning session & five year strategic plan
- Visited Doylestown to tour the community and meet with staff to investigate
ideas for revitalization efforts
- Reviewed the multi-municipal (Hellertown-Lower Saucon) plan to verify it was
consistent with Main St. efforts
- Met in Harrisburg with PennDOT officials to discuss Streetscape design and pedestrian
safety improvements to Hellertown’s Main Street
- Contracted with a consultant to conduct a parking study
- Acquired funding to order a dozen more banners for the downtown poles as well
as fifty new sets of banner brackets to replace the old, unusable hardware
- Received several trash cans from a Keep America Beautiful Think Green Grant awarded
to Lehigh County.
- Received several park benches, courtesy of Giant Markets, provided by Keep PA
Beautiful awarded to Lehigh County.
- Purchased handmade planters and flowers from a local florist for the corners of
Main Street
- Created the Saucon Valley Restaurant Guide, the Saucon Valley Palm Card that
was distributed at the 2009 LPGA Tour), and have since created a consolidated version
of both promotional materials – the
“Saucon Valley Restaurant & Attractions Brochure”
- Assisted in the development of the Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market – now its own
self-sustaining entity
- Developed a “Hellertown Welcome Brochure” for new residents
- Completed a Working with the Borough Guide to assist prospective and existing
business owners
- Completed a zip code survey and corresponding market analysis
Hellertown Business Revitalization Program Goals
- Develop closer relationships/partnerships with the multiple other civic groups
in the Borough
- Hold at least one fundraiser annually that results in a minimum of $1,000 profit
- Pursue an opportunity with ghost stories of Saucon Valley, i.e. a ghost story book
or ghost tour
- Provide signage and promotional materials to navigate users of the proposed Rail
Trail to direct visitors to the historic downtown
- Pursue funding for & offer input to the Borough in implementing the Saucon Valley
multi-municipal plan
- Create a sub-committee to evaluate the results of the parking study & suggest
alternatives to Council
- Play an active role in the implementation of appropriate Streetscape Plan projects
and amenities
- Design more visitor-friendly promotional materials, i.e. walking tour brochure
& downtown map
- Incorporate more usable business & program information and tourist documents
onto the Borough’s web site
- Focus on improving relations and partnering with neighboring Bethlehem
- Partner more with the now self-sufficient Farmers Market by offering complementing
activities/events
- Establish a Borough-wide gift certificate program
- Find a consistent way to welcome new businesses into the Borough, i.e. a welcome
packet, committee, certificate, etc.
- Create a discount program for employees of Hellertown Business, i.e. a Discount
Card
