Chamber Foundation announces grant recipients

Here's a press release from our friends at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The Chamber is looking to raise and invest about $4 million into the urban cores of the Lehigh Valley. This is the first of what I'm sure will be many successes.

THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE FIRST
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMUNITY GRANT FUND (S.O.G.)

Lehigh Valley, Pa (January 22, 2008) – The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation has appointed a total of $30,000 in grants to numerous small projects across the Lehigh Valley. The Special Opportunities Community Grant Fund (SOG) is one of several grant programs the Foundation has unveiled as part of Valley Vision 2015, an initiative aimed at strengthening the Lehigh Valley’s downtowns and surrounding traditional neighborhoods.

Fifteen projects have been selected based on a number of factors. Total project estimates from the 15 selected projects are over $280,000. All projects meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Improve the stability of the community;
2. Promote economic and/or community development;
3. Improve existing and/or develop new civic, cultural, recreational, industrial and other facilities or activities.
4. Assist in downtown business retention, expansion, creation or attraction;
5. Enhance the health, welfare and quality of life of citizens of the Lehigh Valley.

The following is a listing of accepted projects:

Borough of Bangor
Downtown Visioning
Mark Hartney
markh@lehighvalleychamber.org
Project cost: $11,506.20
Grant amount: $3,000

CADC of Allentown
Make 7th Street Sparkle
Alan Jennings
ajennings@caclv.org
Project cost: $6,000
Grant amount: $3,000

City of Bethlehem
Feasibility Parking Study
Tony Hanna
tonyh517@aol.com
Project cost: $50,000
Grant amount:$3,000

Easton Main Street initiative
Super box
Kim Kmetz
kim@eastonpartnership.org
Project cost: $6,000
Grant amount: $3,000

Bethlehem Elm Street
Movies, Games & More
A.G. Pitsilos
apistsilos@bethlehlem-pa.gov
Project cost: $60,000
Grant amount: $2,000

Borough of Bath
Gateway Signage
Judith Danko
bathboroughmgr@rcn.com
Project cost: $10,000
Grant amount: $2,000

Borough of Hellertown
Parking Study
Mike Schlossberg
mikes@lehighvalleychamber.org
Project cost: $4,750
Grant amount: $2,000

Borough of Macungie
Historical Lighting
Mike Schlossberg
mikes@lehighvalleychamber.org
Project cost: $19,200
Grant amount: $2,000

Northern Lehigh Future Focus
Slatington Trailhead Amenities
Marilyn Kaul
mkaul@ptd.net
Project cost: $6,000
Grant amount: $2,000

Old Allentown Preservation Association
Elm St. Streetscape Project
Marie Sincavage
oldallentown@enter.net
Project cost: $8,162
Grant amount: $2,000

Borough of Coopersburg
Comprehensive Plan
Mike Schlossberg
mikes@lehighvalleychamber.org
Project cost: $30,000
Grant amount: $1,500

Latino Economic Council
Survey Project
David Vaida
dvaida@vaidalaw.com
Project cost: $21,765
Grant amount: $1,500

Borough of Catasauqua
Municipal Bldg. Beautification
Eugene Goldfeder
manager@catasauqua.org
Streetscape
Project cost: $12,650
Grant amount: $1,000

Borough of North Catasauqua
Sidewalks around the Park
Nancy Knecht
ncboro@rcn.com
Project cost: $19,820
Grant amount: $1,000

Northampton Area Chamber
Banner Project
Janna Lutz
jannal@lehighvalleychamber.org
Streetscape
Project cost: $15,000
Grant amount: $1,000

Total project costs: $280,853.20
Total grants allocated: $30,000.00

The mission of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the 501(C)(3) charitable arm of the Chamber, is to create a vibrant downtown community by serving as a valley-wide advocate and partner for business development and success in our downtowns. As such it will secure and distribute the resources necessary to support downtown initiatives that create economic vitality, strengthen regional cooperation, and enhance the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley.

Facade Program 2008 Kick-Off

Well, as the 2007 Facade Program winds to a close, I wanted to let everyone know that we are all set to kick-off the 2008 Facade Program.

Here are the dates and times for the Educational Seminars, the first step of the program:

Alburtis: March 4, 2008, 6:00 - 7:30 (Alburtis Borough Hall)
Coopersburg: March 5, 5:30 - 7:00 (Coopersburg Borough Hall)
Hellertown: March 12, 6:30 - 8:00 (Hellertown Borough Hall)
Macungie: March 10, 6:30 - 8:00 (Macungie Institute)

This is where we explain what the program is, what the procedures are and give out all of the necessary information to attendees.

Implementing Better Models for Development in the Lehigh Valley

From Virginia Savage, Director of Main Street Initatives at Lehigh County:
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Lehigh and Northampton Counties have partnered with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Wildlands Conservancy, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Governor’s Center for Local Government Services and the Conservation Fund to host “Implementing Better Models for Development in the Lehigh Valley,” an evening presentation, on Thursday, January 24 from 5:30-8:30p.m. at Allentown Symphony Hall.

Ed McMahon, a nationally recognized authority on sustainable development, land conservation and urban design, will provide a public talk based on his book, “Better Models for Development in Pennsylvania.”

Learn about development decisions that are more profitable and less costly for both the developer and the community through:

• Inspiring examples of development that compliments a community's character
• Ideas for using tools such as education, incentives and voluntary initatives
• Common-sense solutions that enhnace the Lehigh Valley's economy, communities and enviornment

Please pre-register by contacting Sharla Kistler at the Wildlands Conservancy: 610-965-4397 or skistler@wildlandspa.org.

In addition, a special thank you to our sponsors to date: Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Allentown Symphony Hall, PPL, Lehigh Valley Land Recycling Initiative, Renew Lehigh Valley and DeSales University!

Feel free to send this message on to anyone you feel may be interested in attending this FREE presentation.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to seeing you on January 24!

Macungie Facade Program Pictures - Before and After

Another day, and more Facade Program pictures to share. Macungie had three projects this year. Two were residential, while a third was an old church that is now both residential and a dental office. These projects were certainly different from the Coopersburg projects. Two in particular really concentrated on historical restoration.

First, let me show you this single family detached home on Lea Street.

Before

After

I've said it before in the course of this program, and I will probably say it many, many more times, but isn't it amazing what a simple coat of paint can do? This project involved new window and door frames, as well as a paint job of the windows and doors. The property now looks much better.

Next we have a home on Main Street. This home replaced their windows and repainted their iron-wrought fencing (using the Benjamin Moore historic paint collection) in an attempt to bring out its color. Check this out:

Before

After

Even more interestingly, the property owners here decided to do the painting on their own, meaning that they saved hundreds. The Facade Program covers the costs of supplies as well, meaning that if you want to do the work yourself, you can still apply to the program to cover the costs of your supplies.

Last up is a great use for the Facade Program and a repair that is certainly unique. This Main Street property is a former church in Macungie that now serves as the home to a dental practice and apartments. One of the unique features of this property is a classic cupola that was in disrepair. Check out the renovations:

Before

After

That's all for now!