Light Rail expands

Hi everyone,

As I've argued in the past, I am a big advocate for light rail in the Lehigh Valley. Based on the data currently available, I think light rail is vital to the long-term sustainability of the region, to controlling our taxes, our rate of development and to revitalizing our urban cores.

Well, it looks like light rail is expanding: A light rail system just opened in Phoenix, now the nation's fifth largest city. The system, which cost $1.4 billion, is twenty miles long and has been in the works since the 1980s. It also is a metropolitan system, as it crosses into neighboring cities. Phoenix also has an additional obstacle to contend with when it comes to light rail: in the summer, passengers must wait in an average of 106 degree weather. Phoenix had been the largest city in America without a public rail system, and other western cities have also opened a rail system recently.

I suspect that this is initiative will continue to gain steam across the country. Yes, gas prices are down (to a five year low), but that decline is largely a result of a collapse in demand due to the global recession. When we come out of this recession, gas prices will likely climb again and drivers will, once again, be squeezed at the pump. My biggest arguement for light rail (and, indeed, for urban living) is simply that I believe we are rapidly reaching the point where our current system of transportation (almost total reliance on automobiles) will be untenable, unaffordable and unsustainable. We have to look at alternative forms of transportation now if we want to plan for the future.

What is a Community Benefit District?

Hi everyone,

The Express-Times featured a story on the possibility of a Community Benefit District coming to Bethlehem and Easton. Perfect timing, then, to explain what exactly a CBD is.

A Community Benefit District (also known as a Business Improvement District, or BID) is basically a funding mechanism that allows for revitalization programs to support themselves. The CBD is governed by a board (made up of local business and property owners, not the government) that would collect funding based on a fee that would be assessed to all properties (excluding non-profits) within the district. The board would then use the money to hire staff and manage programs. Of course, the funding could be enhanced by government, business and non-profit contributions. The fee is mandatory - after a certain percentage of property owners within the district agreed to started the CBD, all properties would have to pay the fee (the amount varies). CBDs have been used across Pennsylvania - they are a great way of revitalizing downtowns, particularly after state-funding for a Main or Elm Street program has ended. Of course, since they involve assessing another fee. In the long-run, the benefits to the district (enhanced business, reduced crime, better physical appearance, higher property values, etc) are supposed to outweigh the assessment of the fee itself. However, the assessment of the fee (often seen by property owners as another tax) can be highly controversial. The process of determining how to spread the costs and the amount of the fee is determined by the community.

Really, at the end of the day, community engagement and input is the only way that any bid district will succeed. The community has to be committed to paying the fee, managing the board and determining the priorities and goals of the CBD - otherwise, it is doomed to failure.

Happy Holidays to all!

Alburtis Completes Calendar

Hi everyone,

I'm very happy to announce the completion of a project that we had been working on for months in Alburtis. Please see the information below for more!

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NEWS RELEASE

Alburtis completes calendar


Alburtis, PA (Dec 23) – Mike Schlossberg, Alburtis Business Revitalization Coordinator, announced today that the Alburtis Business Revitalization Program (ABRP) has completed a calendar that contains pictures of Alburtis. The calendar, which was developed by the ABRP and designed by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, is now for sale at Alburtis Borough Hall and First Star Bank of Alburtis. It can be purchased for $15.

“This calendar serves two purposes,” said Schlossberg. “First, it allows us to raise money so that we can continue our work in reinvigorating Alburtis’ historical downtown. Second, the pictures in this calendar showcase some of the most beautiful locations in the Borough. Alburtis is an absolutely gorgeous community and we want to help advertise those strengths.

For other questions on how to obtain a calendar, please contact Mike Schlossberg at 484-809-1796 or MikeS@lehighvalleychamber.org.

Well, at least its not just us

As the article I posted yesterday indicated, Main Streets are struggling in the current economic times. That being said, it isn't just us! Check out this article that appeared on CNN's website.

Malls are hurting too - in fact, vacancies increased 7% this year, the highest since 2001, and the future forecasts are no better.

That being said, it seemed that this was bound to happen, and that the long-term effects could be good for our urban areas. Quoting directly from the article:

"Our country has six times more retail space per capita than any other county," said Ellen Dunham-Jones, director of the architecture program at Georgia Institute of Technology.

"We're just cannibalizing our existing stores by building more stores even when sales aren't increasing," she said. "We were long due for a retail correction and we're going through it now."

So, it seems that there is a large amount of available retail and commercial space available already. Gee, I wonder where that space is largely concentrated....

How is Main Street doing?

I came across this USA Today story regarding Main Street and the recession. USA Today went to five different Main Streets to see how they were faring in the challenging economic times of the day. This first city was Pheonix, and the prospects appeared daunting - development has stopped, credit has dried up, the housing market has burst and consumer spending is in decline.

The recession will be felt on Main Street and in our downtowns for reasons similar to why it is being felt nation-wide. Financing is harder to obtain for urban projects, and this obviously will make it tougher for redevelopment to take place - this is particularly painful for larger projects that need more funding. Consumer spending is declining and consumers are saving more to make up for dwindling revenue and a loss in their retirement accounts

For more information, check out these articles:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812100438
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=9871
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081207/BUSINESS/812070374/1003/ARCHIVES

Treevitalize update

Hi everyone - good news about Treevitalize. Revoting yesterday, the Lehigh County Commissioners revoted on Treevitalize yesterday, and this time the program passed 7-2. Thank you to the Commissioners who voted in favor of this important project!

Everybody loves Main Street!

In the course of looking for some information about a project I am working on, I got a random idea. I typed "Main Street" into Google to see what I would come up with. As you might expect, I got a lot of results related to Main Street programs. That makes sense. What surprised me, and what I got a big laugh out of, was the amount of businesses that have "Main Street" in their name even if it has absolutely nothing directly to do with a traditional downtown.

It makes sense, too, when you think about it. For example, how many times this year did you hear that a politician running for office wanted to make sure that government represented "Main Street, not Wall Street"? The image and symbolism of Main Street has a near sacred place in the American ethos. Main Street conjures up images of home, of the corner drug store, of a safe place and a simpler time.

Such an explanation would certainly help explain why so many businesses have Main Street in their name! They are trying to tap into the American soul. For example, there is the Main Street Casino (http://www.mainstreetcasino.com). I don't think any of my downtowns have one of those. There is also Main Street Homes (http://www.mainstreethomes.com), which, judging by the front picture displayed, is probably located far far away from Main Street. How about http://www.mainstreet.com? That's got financial advice. Alright. Then there is http://www.mainstreetlighting.com/, which at least has lighting that is appropriate to Main Street. My favorite, though, is (http://www.certainteed.com/CertainTeed/Pro/Builder/Siding/Prodindex/CertainTeed/MainStreet.htm). They sell siding. That's just ironic.

My point is that Main Street remains a popular and desired brand in America. This is one of the biggest strengths that our downtowns have - they represent a way of life that millions seek and desire. We have to learn to tap into that desire in order to get those people back.

How can we help?

Hi everyone,

Well, unless you are living underneath a rock, you know that the economy isn't doing so well at the moment and we appear to be entering a recession, the likes of which has not been seen since the Great Depression. Let me first just say that I don't believe that this will be an actual depression. A recession has varying definitions, but a good rule of thumb is to define a recession as the time from when business activity reaches it's peak to when business activity bottoms out. It usually lasts about a year. An alternative definition is when the GDP (gross domestic product) declines two quarters in a row. A depression, however, is best defined as a decline of the GDP by more than 10%. Most forecasts I have heard have not been that severe.

That being said, there is no question that we are currently in a recession. With public funds limited, the pressure is on Main & Elm Street programs like the BBRP to produce economic results, and I think that's fair. When it comes to economic development, I believe that the expendature in public funding, in the long-run, should result in an enhancement of the economy in whatever area the funding is targetted. Accordingly, if public funds are being used for this program, we must be able to make an improvement on the economy. Given the current economic climate, this need becomes more important than ever.

How, then, can we best improve the economy? This is a question that is being discussed in great detail by program coordinators and one which we must answer. Training, business enhancement programs, Facade Programs and promotional/marketing assistance are some of the things we are currently discussing, but there are absolutely more answers.

What are your thoughts?

More revitalization in Allentown

Congrats and best of luck to the newly formed Allentown Neighborhood Development Alliance. Good to see that more revitalization efforts are taking shape in Allentown, especially in an area that is as important and historic to the city as this one.

Treevitalize Program in Jeopardy

Well, this isn't the happiest blog entry I've had to make.

At their last meeting, Lehigh County Commissioners voted down the Treevitalize program. This involved voting no to accepting the funding for the program from the state, no to an intergovernmental agreement to run this program with Northampton County and no to the allocation of grant money via the Streetscape Amenities program. Even more unfortunately, the County also voted no to a $7,500 Master Plan grant that Macungie had applied for and been awarded. Commissioners voted 3-3 against accepting the funding for the program (Commissioners Jones, Eckhart and Leiner voted yes, Dougherty, Roman and Browning voted no and Hamm, McCarthy and Raber were absent). Commissioner Eckhart then voted no on the intergovernmental agreement and the allocation of the grant funding.

The rationalle for declining this free state money, according to a statement made by Commissioner Browning on Lehigh Valley Ramblings, is that "The funding priorities of the State need to be readjusted." Commissioner Browning notes that the state has made severe reductions in human services funding and expects the County to pick up the costs. I think we can all sympathize with his concerns - there is no question that Counties are suffering with recent state funding cuts.

That being said, I don't see how voting no to accepting funding to Quality of Life grant funding will force the state to adjust its funding stream. Will funding in other areas because Lehigh County voted down this grant? Of course not. Instead, it will just result in Lehigh and Northampton losing funding and other areas gaining it. Voting no to one source of funding will not increase it in others.

The failure to accept this funding affects every municipality in Lehigh and Northampton counties that were planning on applying for this grant. In Alburtis and Coopersburg, public meetings have been held on where to put these trees and what types of trees should be placed. In many municipalities, expenditures have already been made under the assumption that the costs would be reimbursed by the County. Should these municipalities now be left out in the cold?

Fortunately, since three Commissioners were absent, there will be a revote on this issue. The next Commissioner meeting will be December 10, 7:30pm at the Lehigh County Government Center (7 S. 17th Street in Allentown). If you are able, I encourage you to attend the meeting and let your thoughts be heard. I also encourage you to contact the Commissioners office at 610-782-3050 for the same reason.

This program is very important to enhancing the quality of life throughout the Lehigh Valley. I hope you will join me in ensuring that this decision does hurt the efforts of the many revitalization programs that are in progress as we speak.

Economic Statistics

Hi everyone,

I recently gave a presentation to the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce. For the presentation, I gathered some information about the current economy. It's depressing, but everyone should know the shape of our economy. Here is where we are at right now:

• Consumer confidence is the lowest it has been since the measure first started in 1985.
• The NYSE is at its lowest point in five years, while the S&P 500 is at it’s lowest in eleven years.
• Consumer spending has decreased and the planned increase in consumer spending is at it’s lowest since 2002. This isn't the case for everyone though...Walmart grew about 10% in the 3rd quarter of 2008.
• Home sales in the Northeast are down 10% from last year. In a rapidly growing area like the Lehigh Valley, this bound to hurt the local economy. While this trend won't damage cities as much (since they are already built-out), it is still bound to hurt to some extent, as urban economies depend, in part, on revenues generated from out-of-town shoppers and employees.
• Local governments are feeling the strain, with at least eight local municipalities facing likely tax hikes (in one case as high as 62%). Pennsylvania may have to raise taxes next year as well.

Allentown and Reading are getting safer

This story is pretty important and I thought it deserved it's own heading.

As reported by WFMZ, a news release by CQ Press has dropped Allentown and Reading from the list of the most dangerous cities.

Now, here's the million dollar question: what caused this change? Any thoughts?

Bangor to announce more than $1 million in revitalization grants

Looks like the volunteers and staff in Bangor are doing an outstanding job! Congrats to everyone for their hard work over there.

UPDATE: Wow, Bangor is really busy! Way to go!!

The Chamber enters the blogging world...

I've written a few entries on the importance of the internet when it comes to urban revitalization and promoting small businesses. Of course, the internet can be incredibly useful when it comes to capturing market information, getting new customers, dispensing information and hearing the voice of the citizenry (a critical component to any urban revitalization effort).

Well, I'm now pleased to note that the company I work for is moving one step further when it comes to internet usage. Of course, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce already has a website. However, websites aren't always enough these days, and the Chamber has recognized that. Accordingly, it has launched a series of new internet initiatives: pages on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and a blog. All of these are components of what some refer to as "Web 2.0" and designed to help promote the organization and its various initiatives, as well as reach a whole new segment of the population.

I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again and again: the internet is getting more and more popular (and thus more and more necessary) every day. These websites are worth checking out.

Proof of the "Broken Window" theory

A study reported on MSNBC in the journal "Science" shows that grafitti in a neighborhood triggers crime and littering. To quote from the story:

"The theory suggests that signs of disorder, such as broken windows, graffiti and litter, can open the door to individuals breaking other social norms and rules. In New York's 'Quality of Life Campaign,' adopted in the mid-1990s, city filth, including graffiti, street litter and signs of vandalism, were removed. And petty crime rates did drop. "

This is the theory behind numerous anti-crime effort, including the community policing initative recently begun in Allentown. Looking at it from a reverse perspective, it is also the theory behind programs like Properties of Merit and Facade Programs (similiar to the ones run by the BBRP).

At the same time, the study demonstrated that policing itself is not enough. Instead, you have to "make a link between a sanction and the norm" while making people "feel part of their community."

Easier said than done.

Keep American Beautiful

From Left to Right: Julia Marano (Keep PA Beautiful), Vince Smith (Catasauqua Borough Council President), Sharon Davis (BBRP Coordinator), Gene Goldfeder (Catasauqua Borough Council Manager), Virginia Savage (Lehigh County)

Lehigh County receives $10,000.00 for trash receptacles placed in five Borough Business Revitalization Communities


Lehigh County has received a $10,000 Waste Management Think Green Grant through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for trash cans placed in five communities. The recipients, Alburtis, Coopersburg, Catasauqua, Hellertown and Wilson are members of the Borough Business Revitalization Program.

Out of 85 Keep America Beautiful affiliates who submitted proposals for projects that promoted environmental and community stewardship, only 18 were awarded grant money, including Lehigh County.

“Creating safe, clean and inviting environments for residents and visitors of our downtowns is a critical component to the revitalization of our communities,” said Virginia Savage, Lehigh County Manager of Main Street Initiatives. “Several of our municipalities have identified litter receptacles as a priority in order to reduce the amount of trash currently found in their streets and on their sidewalk, and we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work with Keep PA Beautiful to assist our communities in their efforts.”

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful was pleased to work with Virginia Savage in obtaining a Think Green Grant from Keep America Beautiful, funded by Waste Management Inc.,” said Julia Marano, Keep PA Beautiful Executive Director. “These grants are made available to communities who are part of the Keep America Beautiful affiliate network and maintain their status as ‘affiliates in good standing.’ In addition, the participating communities used the Keep America Beautiful litter index tool to measure the effectiveness of placing the trash containers. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful looks forward to working with Virginia and the local Lehigh Valley communities in the future.”

Easton Main Street

Hi everyone,



The Express Times has an update on the Easton Main Street Initative. The group is reaching out to other local merchants, property owners and residents in its Main Street area, something all revitalization efforts must do. They are an incredibly successful program, and congrats to all of the staff and volunteers over there for a job well done.



I'll have an entry later today on a press conference that we held yesterday.

To the dogs....

One of the more popular trends in parks of late are dog parks. The rise of dog parks have occured as urban areas have seen an increase in their pet population - current estimates are that 58% of American households have some sort of a pet, and 38% of households have dogs.

Dog parks are great because they allow for animals to have a chance to play, exercise and socialize with each other. However, it is important that those who are striving to get a dog park in their community chiefly stress the benefits to people, not pets. With dog parks, individuals get a chance to socialize, get outdoors and increase their overall quality of life and recreational opportunities.

There are problems, of course - who should pay for this park (expenses include bags for waste, trash installation and removal, fences, lighting and water for the dogs)? What happens when one dog hurts another, or hurts another human? And where should these parks go?

Bethlehem and Nazareth have installed dog parks recently and had success with them. This is a trend that is growing and something that may be worth examining some communities.

BID to Bethlehem?

The Morning Call has a story on the potential of a Business Improvement District (BID) in Bethlehem.

BIDs are an often used component to revitalize urban cores. They involve assessing a fee (usually based on the square footage of a store or jobs created) on properties within the district. That money is then used to pay staff and provide for services, including increase security, physical improvements, clean-ups, etc. Of course, all of those services are outstanding and can be a huge boost to downtowns, who often suffer from insufficient resources or attention from local governments. The problem, of course, is that merchants or property owners often don't want or can't afford another fee from the government. This is why BIDs are often controversial subjects.

That being said, they are certainly proving to be more popular lately. There seems to be a growing realization among downtowns that special attention must be paid to older, urban cores in order to continue with a successful revitalization effort.

As always, the trick lies in generation community consensus behind the BID. Without public consensus, a BID will always fail.

Macungie Completes Business Directory

Congrats to the Macungie volunteers for their hard work on this project. The purpose of Business Directory's, of course, is to promote businesses however possible. I think that this is something that revitalization programs are going to have to focus on more and more, particularly as the economy gets tougher. For more information, see below:




Macungie completes Business Directory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Michael Schlossberg
November 13, 2008 484-809-1796

(November 13) Macungie, PA – Mike Schlossberg, coordinator for the Macungie Business Revitalization Program, announced today that the Macungie Business Directory has been completed and is now available.

The Directory contains a variety of information over eighty businesses, including contact information, hours of operation, a description of services and coupons to selected businesses.

“Our efforts are designed to improve businesses in Macungie,” said Schlossberg. “With this guide, we will hopefully increase awareness of the diversity of businesses in the Borough and encourage residents to shop here.” Schlossberg also noted that similar projects in other local Boroughs, such as Hellertown and Emmaus, have resulted in an increase in customers to local businesses.

The guide is available at Macungie Borough Hall, the Macungie Institute and at the Borough of Macungie’s website (http://www.macungie.pa.us). It can also be obtained by contacting Mike Schlossberg at 484-809-1796 or MikeS@lehighvalleychamber.org.

In the news....

Two interesting stories in the news to report today. The first is an outstanding story about giving back to the community. Alvin H. Butz, Inc., is donating $250,000 to Valley Vision 2015, the urban revitalization effort by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. In this economic climate, that is an incredibly difficult thing to do and Butz should be commended for their commitment to the community. It is too easy for construction companies and developers to ignore cities in the name of making the quick and easy profit, but Butz is proof that you can redevelop urban cores and still be extremely successful.

The second is more good news about our local economy, at least in the short-term. As reported in the Express Times, for the first time in years, gas prices have fallen below $2.00 in some New Jersey gas stations. If this trend continues, Lehigh Valley gas may soon see the same decline. This makes for an interesting question - what will the effect of this gas decline be on our urban cores?

Alburtis Tree Lighting

Alburtis to hold Tree Lighting event - Choir, Santa, Tree Lighting to mark celebration of holiday season

Alburtis, PA (November 11) – The Alburtis Business Revitalization Program will hold a special Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony to celebrate the holiday season.

The event will feature the lighting of Alburtis’ Christmas Tree, speeches from local dignitaries, a visit from Santa, refreshments and a performance by the Choir of St. Joseph the Worker R.C. Church.

The event will be held at the intersection of Main and Franklin Streets on Sunday, November 30, 5:00pm.

The event is being sponsored by First Star Bank.

Thank You, First Star Bank

Hi everyone,

I'm pleased to report that First Star Bank is sponsoring a couple of initiatives in Alburtis; see the press release below. I know these press releases tend to sound a little flowery, but I really do mean it when I say that First Star Bank has been an outstanding partner to work with. I am so grateful for their continued support throughout the community.

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First Star Bank to sponsor upcoming Alburtis events: Community bank to sponsor upcoming Alburtis calendar, tree lighting for $400

Alburtis, PA – First Star Bank and the Alburtis Business Revitalization Program (ABRP) announced today that First Star will be sponsoring two events in Alburtis (the sale of a calendar and tree lighting) for $400. The sponsorship will go towards the continued funding of the Alburtis Business Revitalization Program.

“First Star Bank is proud to be able to continue our support to the Alburtis Community. This is an example of what ‘Community Banking’ is all about. I want to wish everyone in Alburtis a very Merry Christmas,” said Joseph T Svetik, President/CEO First Star Bank.

“No urban revitalization effort goes anywhere without assistance from the community,” said Mike Schlossberg, Alburtis Business Revitalization Coordinator. “First Star is an outstanding business partner. They are involved in the community and actively concerned with the welfare and future of Alburtis. We could not ask for more.”

This sponsorship will go towards two initiatives: A Christmas Tree lighting that will be held on Sunday, November 30 at 5:00pm (at the intersection of Main and Franklin Street in Alburtis) and the sale of an Alburtis Calendar that will feature pictures of the community.

This is the second ABRP program in which First Star Bank is involved. In addition to serving on the ABRP’s Steering Committee, First Star has a reduced interest Façade Loan Program that provides property owners with a reduced interest rate loan to pursue the renovations to their properties. This program operates in conjunction with the Alburtis Façade Grant program, but can be used separately from the program. Its goal is to encourage continued improvements to the physical appearance of Alburtis.

The Borough Business Revitalization Program is a regional Main Street Program. It is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Lehigh & Northampton counties, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the eight Boroughs: Alburtis, Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Hellertown, Macungie and Wilson. The goal of the program is to revitalize the urban cores of the participating communities.

By six votes

After initially being reported as having failed, a measure in Upper Saucon Township that would raise the income tax by .25% to make land purchases and protect open space has passed by six votes. And who says that one vote doesn't matter?

No other initatives like this were on the ballot this year, but other similiar measures have passed in previous years. Currently, Lehigh County ranks third in Pennsylvania counties in terms of open space preserved.

As far as I am concerned, measures like this are outstanding and necessary in order to protect open space. Not only do they make sense in terms of protecting urban space and revitalizing cities, but they will ultimately reduce the need for property tax increase, since the proptection of open space and park/farm lands lead to an increase in property values (and thus property tax revenues).

Protecting open space does make sense financially, and short-term tax increase equate to long-term tax decreases.

Crime in your area

This website will take you to the Pennsylvania State Police's online crime database. It is actually fascinating to look at - you can view crime in your hometown.

Out of curiosity, I ran the stats for Alburits, Coopersburg, Hellertown and Macungie. In 2007, here's what I got:

Alburtis - one burglary, two larcenies, two vandalism, one DUI and two disorderly conducts.
Coopersburg - two larcenies, 26 vandalism, one weapons charge, three DUIs, one liquor law violation, one case of public drunkenness, one disorderly conduct and three miscellaneous offenses.
Hellertown - two assaults, eight larcenies, one forgery, five frauds, 25 vandalism, four drug possessions, five DUIs, two public drunkenness, two disorderly conduct and three miscellaneous offenses.
Macungie - two larcenies, two drug possessions, seven DUIs, three disorderly conducts and four miscellaneous offenses.

Clearly, and thankfully, none of our communities are exactly criminal hotbeds.

Holiday sales projections

An interesting (and pretty depressing) article from Reuters today. According to a recent survey, Americans are expected to increase their holiday spending from last year, but the percentage of that increase will be the smallest since the company conducting the poll first began surveying in 2002. The article goes on to note that many large-retailers, such as Saks, Abercrombie & Fitch and Target missed their sales projections in September, another indication of the problems facing the American economy. Indeed, retailers (particularly luxury retailers) have been hit particularly hard by the current economic climate.

All of these figures raise a particularly troubling question from an urban revitalization prospective. Urban retailers often have enough trouble competing with mall and big-box counter-parts. How will they fare in a depressed economic climate?

UPDATE: More bad news. The economy shrank .3% in the third quarter.

The importance of the internet

I'm writing this entry based on some of my recent conversations with the Chamber about the importance of the internet.

Let me start with this: no small business should be without a website. Over 215 million Americans use the internet on a regular basis - that's more than 2/3 of the Country. Further, 163 million Americans have made purchases on the internet. Depending on the procuct, over 40-60% of Americans check the internet first to do research on the product and find nearby locations to make a purchase. Not having a website means that small business owners lose these customers. The internet is no longer the trend of the future: it is the trend of right now, and it is vital to the success of small business that they establish a website as fast as possible. Put another way, are there any Fortune 500 companies, major political campaigns or celebraties that no longer have an internet website? Of course not - not having a website means cutting yourself off to one of the most popular and well travelled methods of acquiring information.

That being said, having a website is not necessarily enough for small businesses anymore. As the internet has continued to grow and expand, so has the methods by which small businesses can reach out to customers. Blogs (like this one) are a great example - one recent estimate noted that there are over 70 million blogs on the internet now. Over 100 million Americans are members of social networking groups like Facebook, MySpace or LinkedIn. These networks provide another method for individuals and small businesses to share information about themselves or their businesses/products. In this fast-paced world, businesses have to do everything they can to capture the increasingly shrinking attention of their customer. This means being active and advertising in every avenue possible. An internet website is no longer enough.

I hope to have more on this subject in the coming days.

Why we need rail in the Lehigh Valley

Yesterday, I had the privilege of appearing as a guest on Business Matters, arguing in favor of bringing rail to the Lehigh Valley. It was an incredibly lively show that will air on November 24, 7:30 on WFMZ-TV.

I do strongly favor light rail, as long as its light rail done right. Right now, a transportation study is in the works to determine the feasibility of linking the NJ-Transit line to the Lehigh Valley and how much that would cost to construct. As proposed, the study would cost $250,000 - Lehigh and Northampton Counties are budgeting $75,000 each, with LVEDC picking up the remaining $100,000. Thus far, the study has been endorsed by Renew Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors, among others.

There are many reasons as to why we need rail. First, it will control development and reduce (if not eliminate) the need to widen Route 22. Where roads go, development and suburban sprawl follows. If you reduce the amount of roads built, you reduce the amount of suburban sprawl. This will create more incentives to redevelop our urban cores, not further develop and destroy our greenspace. Further, if rail stations are placed throughout a city (not just in the affluent areas, but downtown near office, retail and major tourist attractions like Coca Cola Stadium), you create more incentive for offices, retail and restaurants to move near those stations. If you do rail the right way, you can create major incentives for businesses to move to cities.

Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Lancaster are just some of the major regional areas that already have rail networks in the area. The United States is the only major developed country that does not have a rail system, and we are at risk of being left behind. The national average for gas is currently just under $3.00 per gallon, and that is going to rise once this economic crises ends. The cost of building new roads and the materials related to those roads has skyrocketed, with the cost of some items (such as asphalt) doubling. Pennsylvania is one of the national leaders in structurally deficient bridges. Pennsylvania needs an estimated $1.6 billion to repair our roads and bridges. Nationwide, that need is over $1.6 trillion in the next five years. We can, quite literally, no longer afford our current transportation system.

Rail will help more than just urban residents. Ron Angle asked a very good question on our show: what will this do for the retired couple that lives in Pen Argyl, Hellertown or Lower Macungie? How will rail help them?

Well, does this retired couple pay taxes? Because they will benefit from reduced taxes thanks to controlled sprawl and less funding for road and bridge construction and maintenance. They will benefit from the improved quality of life that comes with more open space. And they will be able to travel anywhere in the East Coast via rail, thanks to being connected to the regional rail network.

As far as I can tell, rail is the future of the Lehigh Valley. It is best for our cities, suburbs and the entire region. Of course, what we need more than anything else is the data to back up the theory. I am eagerly awaiting the results of the upcoming transportation study.

For more information on bringing rail to the Valley, visit Lehigh Valley Trains.

PLEASE NOTE: I am speaking here only in my capacity as someone who works with urban communities, not on behalf of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. The GLVCC has not taken an official position on bringing rail to the Valley.

Facade Loan Program

We just sent out this press release on our new Facade Loan Programs. In eight of our nine communities (with the last one, Macungie, expected to be up shortly), we have established low-interest rate loan programs. The goal of these programs, of course, is to create incentives so that people can better afford improvements to their home. In this economic climate, it is more vital than ever that teh public and private sector work together on urban revitalization.
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Borough Business Revitalization Program announces creation of Façade Loan Program in partnership with community banks

Program will make it easier for residents and business owners to improve their properties

Lehigh Valley, PA – The Borough Business Revitalization Program today announced the creation of reduced interest-rate Façade Loan programs in six Lehigh Valley communities. These programs, effective in the Boroughs of Alburtis, Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Hellertown, North Catasauqua and Wilson, will give property and business owners reduced interest rates for improvements to their facades.

“The purpose of these programs is to act as an incentive,” said Michael Schlossberg, one of the Borough Business Revitalization Coordinators. “We understand that property and business owners want to improve their properties pproperties but may not have the financial means to do so. Accordingly, we partnered with community banks to create reduced interest-rate programs that will make it less expensive for property and business owners to make their desired improvements. This will benefit both the property owner and the community at large.” He went on to note that these programs are for residential or business properties that are located anywhere in the six participating Boroughs.

“Urban revitalization is all about creating viable community partnerships,” said Sharon Davis, Borough Business Revitalization Coordinator. “We want to do whatever we can in order to improve the physical appearance of our traditional downtowns. Fortunately, these banks were more than willing to partner with us to help improve their communities. These reduced interest-rate programs have the potential to allow for physical improvements throughout all of our communities, and we are incredibly grateful to the participating banks for their support.”

This program is also designed to work in conjunction with the Façade Program that is ongoing in these six boroughs as well as Catasauqua, Macungie and North Catasauqua. The Façade Program is a 1-1 matching grant program (up to $5,000) whereby property and business owners can apply to make exterior improvements to their property. The program is eligible to properties within the downtown districts of participating communities. Accordingly, interested participants can use these loans to cover their payment for the Façade Program. They can also use this reduced interest-rate program independently of the Façade Program.

The specific information on each community is as follows:
· Alburtis & Bath: First Star Bank
· Bangor: Merchants National Bank
· Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Hellertown, North Catasauqua and Wilson: KNBT

For more information on these programs in Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua, North Catasauqua and Wilson, contact Sharon Davis at 610-793-4404841-5840 or SharonD@lehighvalleychamber.org. For more information in Alburtis, Coopersburg, Hellertown or Macungie, contact Michael Schlossberg at 484-809-1796 or MikeS@lehighvalleychamber.org.

The Borough Business Revitalization Program is a regional Main Street Program. It is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Lehigh & Northampton counties, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the eight Boroughs: Alburtis, Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Hellertown, Macungie and Wilson. The goal of the program is to revitalize the urban cores of the participating communities.

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Do McCain and Obama have an urban agenda?

Here's an interesting article from the Philadelphia Daily News regarding the Presidential candidates and their urban agendas. Of late, the economy has clearly been getting the bulk of the coverage and attention from the Presidential candidates and the media, and while there is no doubt that this is an incredibly pressing issue, little attention has been given to how the candidates would address crime, poverty, public housing or a plethora of other important issues that affect urban areas. This article sheds some light on some of these questions.

New DCED Secretary

Hi everyone,

The Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development is John Blake. According to the press release from DCED, Blake has served as the executive deputy secretary of the department since 2007. Incidentally, Blake has apparently done some work with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, the organization which assists in the operation of the Main and Elm Street programs, so I feel pretty good about this pick!

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Governor Rendell Names John Blake Acting DCED Secretary

HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today named John Blake as acting secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development following the resignation of Secretary Dennis Yablonsky, effective later this month.

Blake has served as DCED’s executive deputy secretary since February 2007 where he has been responsible for the daily administration and operational oversight of the department. He has more than 25 years of experience in housing, community, and economic development in the public and private sectors.

Prior to his DCED appointment, Blake was the director of Governor Rendell’s Northeast Regional Office where, for four years, he served as the primary liaison to local government and to the business and economic development community in 15 counties of Northeast PA.

“John’s portfolio of experience, achievement and practical savvy that he brings to the position will serve Pennsylvania’s business and communities well as we face challenging economic times,” said Governor Rendell. “I am confident John will help us to build upon the track record of outstanding achievements of DCED.”

Prior to joining the administration, Blake worked as vice president and senior development advisor for PNC Bank’s northeast and central Pennsylvania markets, where he helped manage and grow a $35 million portfolio of community development loans and investments; served as the primary community development advisor; and served on the PNC Foundation’s allocation committees in both markets.

In 1998 Blake was selected from among 9,000 applicants nationwide to serve a two-year Community Builders Fellowship with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Philadelphia. In that capacity, he represented HUD to 17 eastern Pennsylvania counties marketing HUD programs and monitoring contracts for compliance and performance.
He also served as executive director for the Lackawanna County Redevelopment Authority where he secured and leveraged more than $50 million in federal, state and private investment for housing, public works and infrastructure improvement projects to support business and job growth over the course of 15 years.

He holds a number of professional affiliations, including service with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, the Advocacy Alliance, the Great Valley Technology Alliance, and the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.

Blake, a lifelong resident of Archbald, is a graduate of Villanova University and holds master’s degrees from Marywood College and the University of Scranton. He is married with two children.

Secretary Yablosnky resigns

According to the Morning Call, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Dennis Yablonsky has resigned. As the head of DCED, Secretary Yablonsky oversaw a variety of programs, including Main and Elm Street. The official press release from DCED is as follows:



Governor Rendell Announces Resignation of DCED Secretary Dennis Yablonsky

HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky will resign, effective Oct. 23, to return to the private sector.

The Governor lauded Yablonsky’s service to Pennsylvania’s working men and women, which drove economic growth throughout the commonwealth.

“It is hard to imagine any secretary of DCED or Commerce had a greater impact in creating a stronger Pennsylvania economy than Dennis Yablonsky,” Governor Rendell said. “He was at the forefront in attracting billions in new capital investments that have enabled us to create thousands of new jobs, revitalize our communities, diversify our economy and put Pennsylvania in a better position than most states.

“Dennis and I worked hand-in-hand with the General Assembly to get my economic stimulus package passed that invested more than $3 billion to support more than 2,600 projects statewide. This state investment has been able to leverage more than $8.8 billion in additional investments—far more than our original projection of $5 billion.

The Governor cited figures showing that the commonwealth has more than 200,000 more people working today than in 2003. Pennsylvania’s gross domestic product has jumped more than 20 percent – from $423 billion in 2002 to $531 billion in 2007 – and exports have nearly doubled from $15.8 billion to almost $30 billion. Venture capital investments in Pennsylvania have also skyrocketed from $455 million to $835 million during that same time period.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to work for Governor Rendell in advancing his community and economic development agenda,” Yablonsky said. “We are at the very beginning of seeing the full impact of the Governor’s economic stimulus package.”

During his tenure, DCED has focused on helping existing Pennsylvania businesses expand and attract out-of-state businesses. The Governor’s Action Team has successfully completed 1,030 projects with 109,627 committed new jobs and $12.5 billion of private investment since January 2003. Additionally, through the Governor’s World Trade PA initiative, Pennsylvania has emerged as a major player in the global marketplace with foreign companies investing $406 million here over the past three years with plans to create 4,200 jobs.

“Dennis and his team were also instrumental in working with legislators to pass the extension of Keystone Opportunity Zones and our $650 million Alternative Energy package to expand renewable energy investments in the commonwealth. This legislation will further enhance the set of tools that the commonwealth has at its disposal to continue to drive economic growth.”

Yablonsky also worked to improve Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness by strongly advocating a reduction in the number of earned income tax collectors from 560 to 69, which the Governor signed into law this summer. The consolidation has eliminated a fragmented system that cost municipalities and school districts $237 million each year – enough to hire 3,000 teachers and 3,000 more police officers.

Leading industry groups and publications have noticed Pennsylvania’s growth. IBM Plant Location International ranked Pennsylvania first in the U.S and Canada for cross border investments and number one for manufacturing projects. Global Insight and the National Venture Capital Association ranked Pennsylvania first among all 50 states in the rate of new job creation by venture-backed firms. Business Facilities magazine has ranked Pennsylvania’s biotechnology sector first in the country.

The Governor also praised the secretary’s work to revitalize Pennsylvania’s core communities, citing 80 revitalization projects through the Community Action Team Program. He also noted the progress Pittsburgh has made under Act 47.

“I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention how far Pittsburgh has come in just under four years after DCED designated our second largest city as financially distressed in 2004,” the Governor said. “Pittsburgh has gone from projected deficits exceeding $100 million to surpluses in each of the past three years, due, in part, to the assistance provided by DCED and the Act 47 Recovery Team.”

For information on DCED programs and initiatives, visit http://www.newpa.com/ or call 1-866-466-3972.

Welcome to Coopersburg

It is my pleasure, on behalf of the Coopersburg Business Revitalization Program, to announce that our gateway sign program is virtually complete! The first sign has been placed and the second sign should be up by the end of the day. This is what vehicles and pedestrians will see when they first enter Coopersburg from Main Street.

Congrats to the hard working volunteers of the CBRP for completing this project!

Thanks, Lehigh County

One of the things I have talked about over and over again, including in my recent Morning Call op-ed, is that increased regionalization efforts are critical towards helping to enhance urban areas and keeping all local governments afloat from a financial perspective. One of the state leaders in that effort has been Lehigh County. Here are just some of their recent initatives to promote urban revitalization and regionalization efforts:


* Safe Streets Inititiative: Lehigh County County provide $1 million in matching grant money for community police officers in downtowns and boroughs
*$3 million in county funding to link the back office data centers of the all 17 Lehigh County police departments to enable creation of a regional Crime Data Center
* Main Street improvements & planning: More than $100,000 in county grant money for Main Street improvements and to fund any cross municipal planning
* Commitment of two county positions to work with cities and borough and township leaders on downtown improvements and regional efforts
* The creation of the Congress of Governments, which is thriving and getting full participation from all 25 local governments
* Record investment during the last 3 years in farmland preservation, making Lehigh County the third ranking county in preserved farms.

Trouble for Local Governments

As if local governments didn't already have enough burdens; their troubles are about to grow. Check out this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The summary is that local governments are also in real trouble with the current state of the economy - prices continue to rise while revenues decrease. The revenue decrease is for a couple of reasons: primarily, it is because the real estate transfer tax (tax due to governments when homes are sold) is dramatically decreasing due to a slow real estate market. Furthermore, as homes are forecloused, people do not pay their property taxes.

Local governments are under seige from a variety of different sources - increasing expenses, inflation, decreasing revenue and an increasing demand on their services. To balance the books, look for governments to cut back on services, increase taxes, or both, and this at a time when services and low taxes are needed most.

This is unquestionably one of the major crises facing America today, and it is one of the quieter ones as well. It will be interesting to see how local governments respond.

Morning Call Coverage

Hi everyone,

The Morning Call was kind enough to our program and urban revitalization efforts some great coverage on Sunday. First, they published an op-ed that I wrote. Second, they covered our upcoming zip code survey.

This was a good Sunday!!

Valley Vision 2015

Hi everyone,

Please see the card below for a message from Valley Vision 2015, or click here visit their website. This is an amazing initative being run through the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Coopersburg to unveil two new gateway signs

Hi everyone,

I am VERY pleased to report our two new gateway signs are going to be unveiled shortly in Coopersburg! These signs were designed, ordered and paid for completely by the volunteers of the Coopersburg Business Revitalization Program.

The official unveiling of the signs will be at 2:00pm on Sunday, October 12 at 615 S. Main Street in Coopersburg. This is a public event, and we encourage you to attend!

Watch Walmart Spread!

One of the favorite targets of those involved in urban revitalization are national chains and big box stores like Walmart or Home Depot. The main crux of the argument against these places is that they destroy Main Streets by creating an all-in-one shopping area that sucks the life, vitality and civic pride out of traditional downtowns.

This website provides a graphical demonstration of Walmart's spread across America. You can watch new stores pop-up across the country.

Scary, huh?

Zip Code Survey

Here is a press release we just sent out. I spent yesterday sending out over 150 letters to businesses, asking them to participate (yeah, yesterday was a lot of fun). This is the first in a series of efforts designed to take the BBRP in a more economic direction.

Enjoy!

NEWS RELEASE
Borough Business Revitalization Program to begin zip code study
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Schlossberg
October 6, 2008 484-809-1796


Lehigh Valley, PA (October 6) – Michael Schlossberg and Sharon Davis, Borough Business Revitalization Coordinators for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, have announced that the Borough Business Revitalization Program (BBRP) will be conducting a zip code study designed to assist small businesses get more customers and better understand their market.

“In this economic climate, small businesses need all the help they can get,” said Schlossberg, coordinator for Alburtis, Coopersburg, Hellertown and Macungie. “We are conducting this study, at no charge to the business, in an effort to help them succeed as much as possible.”

“All we are asking is that merchants ask their customers what zip code they are from,” said Davis, coordinator for Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua and Wilson. “We will not track how much they spent or what merchandise they bought, and we will not ask for personal information.”

The zip codes will be analyzed by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. From there, a profile will be built of the customers that shop in these Boroughs. The information delivered to the participating businesses will include:
The demographic information and location of their customer base, thus allowing them to better promote and advertise their business.
The psycho-demographics of their communities’ customer base, thus allowing you to have a better idea of who you are marketing to and what those customers are looking for.
The specific needs and demands of the customers who frequent their Borough, thus allowing then to better serve your customers.

“Main Street is in constant competition with big-box stores and malls. All chains will ask for zip code information or phone numbers so that they can constantly be conducting surveys like these,” said Schlossberg. “This study will help our communities better understand their customers and compete with the Walmarts of the Lehigh Valley.”


Sharon Davis noted that, “We want to do everything we can to help our small businesses. They are the backbone of the American economy, and without them, the face of our country and our community will change forever. We want to do everything we can to help these businesses thrive, and this project is such a great example. For barely doing any work, our businesses can learn a great deal about their customers.

This service is provided jointly by the Borough Business Revitalization Program and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. Lehigh and Northampton counties have purchased memberships for the eight participating Boroughs with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, this qualifying them for these surveys.

Letters asking businesses to participate will be sent out at the beginning of October. The survey itself will take place from November 2 – November 15.

For general questions or questions related to Alburtis, Coopersburg, Hellertown and Macungie, please contact Mike Schlossberg at 484-809-1796. For questions related to Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua or Wilson, please contact Sharon Davis at 610-841-5840.

The Borough Business Revitalization Program is a regional Main Street Program. It is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Lehigh & Northampton counties, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the eight Boroughs: Alburtis, Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Hellertown, Macungie and Wilson. The goal of the program is to revitalize the urban cores of the participating communities.

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Don't Build Parking and They'll Come--Without Cars

This article comes to us courtesy of Robin Spilner, a volunteer with North by Northwest in Bethlehem.

The article makes a point that affects all urban areas, big and small: Parking is not as big of a problem as some may think. Many cities, in an attempt to accommodate the automobile or slow down development, have enacted stringent minimum parking requirements. The unintentional result of these requirements, however, is that businesses are driven away from urban areas since meeting these parking requirements is often too expensive or logistically not possible. Furthermore, one of the biggest strengths of cities is that they are walkable - accordingly, parking often goes unused because people walk or use mass transit to arrive at a location.

Locally, Alburits and Hellertown are in the midst of implementing parking changes that result from studies pursued by the BBRP. It will be interesting to see what changes we can enact.

Business Loan Rates Reduced by State

I just got this press release from Virginia. As you may know, Pennsylvania is very much involved with community and economic development efforts around the state. In an effort to keep Pennsylvania competititve in the current economic climate, the Commonwealth has reduced business loans through three of their business loan programs: The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund and Small Business First loan program.

See the press release below for more info.
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Governor Rendell Says Interest Rates on Business Loan Programs Reduced; Change Will Keep PA’s Business Climate Competitive
Industrial Development Authority Cuts Rates to Two Points Below Prime

HARRISBURG – Continuing efforts to stave off the effects of the national economic downturn, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that the Commonwealth has reduced interest rates on three of its key business loan programs to position Pennsylvania for continued economic growth.

“Pennsylvania is feeling the effects of recent events on Wall Street and a stagnant national economy,” said Governor Rendell. “While Pennsylvania is well-positioned to deal with this situation, we must continue to be proactive and provide incentives for businesses to invest, grow and create jobs.”

The Governor said the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority voted today to reduce the interest rate on its loans to 3 percent for all future projects. The commonwealth will also set interest rates to 3 percent for projects approved through the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund and Small Business First loan programs.

Today’s cuts continue the practice of holding rates on these commonwealth loan programs to two points below prime.

The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority provides capital for infrastructure acquisition, creation and renovation projects primarily for manufacturers, industrial developers, research and development firms, agricultural processors and employers looking to establish national or regional headquarters in Pennsylvania.

“While we have fared better than many other states up to this point, recent declines in jobs and revenues flowing into the state show that we cannot stand by and wait for Washington to act,” said the Governor. “Now is the time to invest in our businesses and workers by providing the resources they need to weather this economic downturn.”

Governor Rendell also announced the PIDA board approved the first two loans with the reduced rate that will create more than 45 jobs and leverage more than $3.6 million in private commitments:

Clearfield County

Paris Cleaners Inc. will receive a $2.1 million PIDA loan to construct a new, state-of-the art automated laundry facility adjacent to its existing plant in the Dubois Industrial Park. The $5.3 million project is expected to create 40 jobs. The Clearfield County Economic Development Corp. is the sponsoring economic development agency.

Philadelphia County

The Forman Sign Co. will receive an $850,000 PIDA loan to acquire and renovate an existing building at Red Lion South Industrial Park in Philadelphia. The $1.9 million project is expected to create eight jobs. The PIDC Financing Corp. is the sponsoring agency.

Since 2003, PIDA has funded more than 400 projects with more than $385 million in loans, creating more than 9,500 new jobs and retaining more than 35,000 existing positions.

For information on any of the above programs and others administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit www.NewPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.

More funding for Macungie

Hi everyone,

I received (more) great news from Lehigh County today. Our application for a Master Plan for $7,500 has been approved! The approval is contingent upon receiving $15,000 in funding from the State's LUPTAP (Land Use Planning and Technical Assistance Program) funding source, but indications from the State are very positive that we will be awarded the funding. This funding is in addition to the $5,000 we were already awarded from Representative Doug Reichley. Assuming that we do secure the $15,000 from the State, this means that we will only have an estimated $2,500 funding gap that will hopefully be filled by the Borough.

This is really great news for Macungie!

Great news from Lehigh County!

Well, great news from Lehigh County! The proposed funding and position cuts were all defeated! Our Main Street program and the funding and grants that support it remain fully in tact! See the E-mail from the County Executive for more information:


Dear Friend,
Earlier this week, I wrote you to make you aware of proposed funding cuts for my 2009 budget that would have affected your organization and/or initiatives in which we are partnered or you are interested.

We had tremendous response to that outreach and many of you showed up for Thursday night’s Board of Commissioner budget hearing. Instead of being voted on in relative darkness, with you being there it created an open discussion in clear light Thursday night. I am happy to report that because of that response – and the strong support of a majority of the Commissioners – all of those proposed cuts were defeated.

Therefore, the 2009 Lehigh County budget will contain the funding levels that I proposed for:

Quality of Life grants to more than 20 cultural arts and community organizations
Farmland preservation
Open space preservation
Borough revitalization funding
Community partnership grants for townships
Community police matching grants
Urban parks funding
Brownfield/industrial land economic development
Regional economic development funding
Passenger rail study/mass transit funding

Remember, the 2009 budget is a modest 1.1 percent higher than this year’s budget. It contains NO tax increase and continues a balanced investment in the operations of Lehigh County government while supporting our community partnerships, our downtowns, public safety, our cultural arts institutions and community events, regional efforts across municipalities, mass transit and passenger rail development, preservation of open space and farmland and the development of urban parks.

I honor those partnerships with our municipal governments, our community and cultural arts organizations and our various partners, like LVEDC and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Together, we make Lehigh County and the Lehigh Valley a very special place. Thanks for your help.

For more information on the 2009 budget, please contact the County Executive Office at 610-782-3001.

Sincerely,

Don Cunningham

Treevitalize article

The Morning Call ran an article on our upcoming meetings in Alburtis and Coopersburg for Treevitalize. Check it out.

Cities facing credit crunch

Everyone in America is being affected by the credit crunch and economic crisis that is sweeping our nation. Unfortunately, municipal governments are no exception. Check out this story from CBS news. With decreasing revenues and a massive spike in borrowing/credit costs, governments across the country are starting to feel the pinch, with major municipal governments in danger of going bankrupt. Locally, Pennsylvania state revenues have been down three months in a row and major cities, including Easton, are suffering from revenue decreases that will cause a tax increase.

This is something we should all be concerned about.

Coopersburg Bridge Contest

Hi everyone,


Coopersburg is in the middle of a very interesting project. They have a bridge on their Main Street, just next to Borough Hall, that is badly in need of a new paint job. Here's what the bridge looks like right now:

We'd like to repaint it, but we don't know what color to repaint it! Accordingly, the CBRP Steering Committee Chair, Mark McCormick, designed renderings of what the bridges would look like in maroon, green and black. Here are those pictures:

So, it's a vote (for Coopersburg residents only, of course). To make your selection, check out the pictures and E-mail me at MikeS@lehighvalleychamber.org. Please provide your street address so we can confirm you are a Coopersburg resident (we do not sell or give away E-mails, so no worries there). The deadline is 11/5, so please vote before then!

Thanks for participating!

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Proposed Funding Cuts at Lehigh County for Revitalization Funding

Friends,

I have some disturbing news from our Lehigh County Executive, Don Cunningham. It would seem that at least one Lehigh County Commissioner is attempting to reduce or eliminate funding for Lehigh County’s Department of Community & Economic Development. As you can see from the County Executive’s E-mail below, this elimination would have a dramatic negative effect on our program, as it would eliminate vital grant funding that has been of significant assistance to urban communities. Alburtis, Coopersburg and Macungie have all received either Streetscape or Planning grants as part of the BBRP program. Without county support, many BBRP initiatives would be reduced or completely eliminated.

If possible, please attend the meeting tomorrow (10/2, 6:pm in the County Government Center (17 S. 7th Street, Allentown) and speak about how seriously eliminating this funding would affect your community. I also encourage you to contact the Commissioners office (610-782-7050) and inform them directly about how this would affect our efforts to revitalize urban communities in Lehigh County. Please do this; it is VERY important that the Commissioners are made aware of just how significantly this would affect our efforts.

Thank you for your time and your consideration. Please see the E-mail from Executive Cunningham below.
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Dear Friend,
I am writing to notify you that some or all of the funding
proposed in my 2009 budget related to your organization and/or the
initiative in which we are partnered or you have expressed interest has
been targeted for reduction or elimination in a motion introduced by a
county commissioner.

This Thursday (10/2), the Lehigh County Board of
Commissioners will hold its final 2009 budget hearing at 6 p.m. in the
County Government Center at 7th and Hamilton Streets in Allentown. The
board will consider millions of dollars of proposed funding cuts to the
following areas:


* Quality of Life grants to more than 20 cultural arts and
community organizations
* Farmland preservation
* Open space preservation
* Borough revitalization funding
* Community partnership grants for townships
* Community police matching grants
* Urban parks funding
* Brownfield/industrial land economic development
* Regional economic development funding
* Passenger rail study/mass transit funding

My proposed 2009 budget is a modest 1.1 percent higher than
this year's budget. It contains NO tax increase and continues a balanced
investment in the operations of Lehigh County government while
supporting our community partnerships, our downtowns, public safety, our
cultural arts institutions and community events, regional efforts across
municipalities, mass transit and passenger rail development,
preservation of open space and farmland and the development of urban
parks.

Proposals will be considered and voted upon Thursday that would
alter that agenda and affect our partnerships and/or funding for your
organization or municipal government. That should not occur without you
having a voice in the matter. You may want to attend this important
meeting to represent the interests of your group or initiative.

For more information on the proposed funding cuts, please
contact the County Executive Office at 610-782-3001 or the County
Commissioner Office at 610-782-3050.

Don Cunningham
Lehigh County Executive
Government Center
17 S. 7th St.
Allentown, PA 18101
610-782-3001

Tips on running an efficient meeting

One of the four-points of the Main Street & Elm Street approach is organization. This area largely pertains to the internal committee functions, like board governance, fundraising and training.

To that end, I wanted to share a file sent to me by my co-worker, Danielle Josephs. Danielle is the Vice President of Mission Councils at the Chamber (specifically, Danielle works with the Executive Women's Council and Small Business Council). As anyone who has ever been to a Chamber event or taken part in one of our councils can tell you, we have LOTS of meetings. Lots of them. The same absolutely goes for Main Street and BBRP communities. Accordingly, running an efficient and effective meeting is absolutely critical to our success. A good meeting allows people to discuss ideas but is efficient and uses a volunteer's time in the best way possible.

Accordingly, below is a document titled "Tips on running an efficient meeting." Take a look and enjoy!

TIPS FOR RUNNING AN EFFICIENT MEETING

Every meeting should be enjoyable, efficiently run, and build organizations morale. Efficient meetings respect people’s time as their most valuable resource.

1. Circulate an agenda and stick to it: An agenda should have the planned steps that get the meeting from “here” to “there”. Open discussion can be healthy, but you cannot let it dominate the meeting. Groups have a tendency to wander far from the original agenda. When you hear the discussion wandering off, ring it to the group’s attention. You can say, “That’s an interesting issue, but perhaps we should get back to the original matter of discussion.” Also, avoid repeating information for those who haven’t arrived on time or haven’t read the information sent to them prior to the meeting. If important items are brought up that aren’t relevant for the current discussion, record them in a “parking lot’ top be addressed later.

2. Start the Meeting Promptly: Do not penalize those who did come on time by starting a meeting late. However, for very large meetings, plan to start within 10-15 minutes of the official start time. For smaller meetings, particularly regular organizations committee meetings, start exactly on time.

3. Stay on Target: Any item that can be resolved between a couple people offline or that does not require the knowledge, consent, or input of the majority of the group should be scotched immediately. As soon as the needed permission, notification or task assignment is completed, just move on to the next item.

4. Avoid overly-detailed decision making: Frequently It is easier for a group to discus the color of napkins that it is the real issues it is facing. Avoid getting immersed in details, suggesting instead that the committee make the decisions, resolve the issue.

5. Move to Action: Meetings should not only provide an opportunity for people to talk, but should also challenge them to take action. Meetings should plan effective actions to build the event.

6. Seek Commitments: Getting commitments for future involvement is usually a goal of most meetings. Make sure that adequate time is allocated to seeking commitment. For small meetings, write people’s names next to the task they agreed to undertake. The chairperson may want to ask each person directly how he or she wants to help. One rule of thumb, especially for meetings with less than ten people, is that everyone should leave the meeting with something to do.

7. Bring closure to discussions. Most groups will discuss items much longer than needed. The facilitator is responsible for recognizing when a group is basically in agreement and move the discussion forward.

Presidential Politics & Urban Issues

Friends,

The upcoming election has certainly generated a lot of heat lately, and as someone who is interested in both politics and urban revitalization, I've been thinking heavily about the role of the presiency in terms of politics that specifically concern our cities and boroughs. Accordingly, I found some links on each of the major Presidential candidates websites that particularly deal with cities. Both candidates have significant plans dedicated to the challenges facing energy in America: Here is Senator McCain's, and here is Senator Obama's. Furthermore, Senator Obama has a specific section on his website dedicated towards urban policy, while Senator McCain has a specific section devoted towards crime. I couldn't find similar components on Senator Obama's website on crime or Senator McCain's website on urban reviatlization. Normally, I would try to summarize the platforms of the candidates; however, given the importance of this election, I definately think its worth reading the material yourself, as opposed to reading a summary from my (biased) opinion. I also found an interesting article from the New York times on urban policy in the Presidential race (this was back during the primary in February) and how little attention the issue was getting.

I would be HAPPY to add any additional information.

The philosophy of Main Street

Well, let me first say that this blog is going really well! We are starting to reach the point where people are yelling at me for my entries!

Yes, I do actually mean that. It doesn't take a genius to tell you that debate on any issue is good and absolutely necessary in order to ensure that your position is correct and your arguments are sound. I welcome anyone disagreeing with me and making their disagreement heard.

Anyways, a recent comment is the inspiration to this entry. The comment was: "Is this the job of the Chamber of Commerce....to force people and businesses back to the cities?"

It is a fair question, actually, though I don't think its fair to entirely apply to it to the Chamber. What is the job of an urban revitalization and smart growth effort? Is it government trying to force people to live in cities? Are the Chamber and other Main Street organizations trying to tell people where they can live?

The answer is a resounding NO. NO NO NO. I cannot stress that enough. Since when does improving a city mean that we are trying to force people to live in them? Nothing could be further from the truth.

My job, and the job of others like me, is to make cities better places to live, work, shop and play. We believe that cities are outstanding places and deserving of the resources provided to them. Throughout history, urban centers have served as the very cradle of civilization. They are centers of government, business, commerce, education and culture. Regardless of their size, urban areas have a mix of uses and a density that establishes a sense of community. When planned properly, cities are also environmentally friendly, have multiple modalities of transportation and are capable of sustainable living.

And, just as cities have always thrived, so too have other types of communities. Personally, I'm a fan of cities. I love the sense of community, that everything is close together, the professionalized government services, the vibrancy and the culture. I believe that the good far outweighs the bad and I want to dedicate my life towards ensuring that my community continues to improve. I love in Allentown and cannot wait to become a homeowner and raise a family there.

That being said, the Main Street approach fully understands that urban life is not for everyone. If someone prefers to live in a suburban or rural community, okay. No one who works in urban redevelopment would ever dream of stopping someone or forcing them to live in a community that they did not wish to be a part of.

That being said, it is the goal of those countless community organizers involved in urban revitalization to ensure that our cities are the best place imaginable. We want cities to be viable living and working options for people from all walks of life, and that is our goal: to make cities better places. Not to force anyone to live there.

News Release on Treevitalize

Hi everyone,

Below is a news release I just sent out on public meetings we will be having for the Treevitalize in Alburtis and Coopersburg. The goal here is to determine where in the Borough we should apply for the Treevitalize program and attempt to get public support behind their requests.
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NEWS RELEASE
Up to $25,000 in grant funding for trees available in Alburtis and Coopersburg
840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205 – Allentown, PA 18101

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Schlossberg
September 19, 2008 484-809-1796

Residents opinions sought for determination of tree locations

Lehigh Valley, PA (September 19) – Michael Schlossberg, Borough Business Revitalization Coordinator for Alburtis and Coopersburg, has announced the opening of the Treevitalize Grant Program for these two communities. This program, administered by Lehigh and Northampton counties and funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will provide up to $25,000 in matching grant money to any community that is interested in planting trees in their municipality.

“Research has shown that trees can enhance property values, protect against flooding, improve the environment and increase the quality of life in a community. This program represents an opportunity to greatly enhance Alburtis and Coopersburg, and we want to take advantage of it anyway we can,” said Schlossberg.

In order to determine where the trees will go within each Borough, two public meetings will be held. The purpose of these meetings will be to determine the where trees should go and what types of trees should be purchased by each community. This will ensure that the location and types of trees purchased have public support.

The date, time and location of these meetings are as follows:
· Alburtis: October 2 & November 6 (7:00pm, Alburtis Borough Hall)
· Coopersburg: October 15 & November 17 (6:00pm, Coopersburg Borough Hall)

Media coverage is strongly encouraged at each meeting.

The Borough Business Revitalization Program is a regional Main Street Program. It is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Lehigh & Northampton counties, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the nine Boroughs: Alburtis, Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Hellertown, Macungie, North Catasauqua and Wilson. The goal of the program is to revitalize the urban cores of the participating communities.