BBRP webpage

Well, the BBRP now has its own page on the Chamber's website! Please check it out and let us know what you think!

Welcome to the Borough!

So, here's our latest project. In conjunction with Lehigh County Department of Community & Economic Development and their GIS department, we have published three "Welcome to the Borough" brochures, one for Alburtis, Coopersburg and Macungie. The documents (best if printed on 11x17 paper) are available at their respective Borough Halls and are designed to give new residents an orientation to their new community. They contain a variety of information, including pictures, a map, history, contact information and information about the BBRP (a description, previous accomplishments and current activities).

Enjoy!

Benefits of on-street parking

One of the topics I have taken a particular interest in is the correlation between a successful Main Street and the availability of parking and flexible parking ordinances. All too often, downtown communities have off-street parking requirements that are so inflexible that they fail to adequately account for the availability of on-street parking. The end result is businesses don't locate to Main Street.

An article by the New Smart Growth Network points out some of the benefits of off-street parking. It notes that shoppers actually prefer on-street parking to off-street lots and garages. It also noted that on-street parking has a measurable affect on lowering speeds, thus resulting in less fatalities and accidents. This is definitely an article that is worth reviewing.

Is the American Dream collapsing into a nightmare?

So here is a very chilling article that appeared in cnn.com on June 16. It discusses many things that we have been talking about with urban revitalization: the desire for walkable communities, the unsustainable model of suburbian development, the mortgage crises and its affect on suburban housing and the over-abundence of McMansions that will, in the not so distant future, become unaffordable. The pendulum of development is truly swinging back towards the cities and I think that this article is a real demonstration of this rapidly emerging trend.

Alburtis completes rough draft of Streetscape Plan

The image above is a rough draft of the Alburtis Streetscape Plan! The Alburtis Borough Council and Alburtis Business Revitalization Program worked very hard to help create this plan and we are really proud of it. I know its not the best picture, but the plan is described more in-depth in the press release below. Thank you to everyone in Alburtis who participated in this process!

------------------

NEWS RELEASE
Alburtis completes rough draft of Streetscape Plan
Borough Business Revitalization Program – 840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205 – Allentown, PA 18101


Alburtis, PA (June 12) – Bary Isett and Associates, in conjunction with Alburtis Borough Council and the Alburtis Business Revitalization Program, have completed a rough draft for a Streetscape design that will determine how the Main Street of Alburtis will be shaped in the future.

The streetscape plan includes new color concrete curb, a 3’ wide brick furniture zone, which provides space for trees, Victorian style lighting, signage and site furniture, and a 4’ wide color concrete sidewalk. The color concrete will be tinted a bluestone color to recall the historic materials used in Alburtis for curb and sidewalk years ago.

The $800,000 project will be developed in phases, largely dependent on grant funding. The first phase of the project will be constructed this fall and will include new curb and sidewalks. This is being funded by a grant the Borough received earlier this year. The public is invited to stop by the Borough Hall and review the color rendered plans. The public is also welcome to attend the next June 25, 2008 Alburtis Borough Council meeting when the plan will be presented.

Facade Program Press Conference

From Left to Right: Jim Coppock & Bonnie Upton (owners), Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, Virginia Savage (Manager of Main Street Initiatives, Lehigh County), Hellertown Mayor Richard Fluck, John Conklin (Director of Administration, Northampton County), Tony Iannelli, Mike Schlossberg (Borough Business Revitalization Coordinator, GLVCC).

Executive Stoffa touts Main Street Façade Program
Façade Program shows State, County, Chamber and Foundation commitment to urban reinvestment

Hellertown, PA – Northampton County Executive John Stoffa today announced the success of the Façade Program. This urban revitalization effort, administered by the Borough Business Revitalization Program, was touted by the Executive as an overwhelming success.

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. According to the County Executive, physical improvement is a critical step in the effort to rehabilitate urban areas. “Urban revitalization is key to the continued growth and success of Northampton County,” noted Stoffa. “Northampton County remains committed to that investment. In addition to the $20,000 we allocated to the 2007 Façade Program, Northampton County has provided for over $85,000 in grants towards urban beautification and planning efforts.”

Tony Iannelli, President & CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, discussed his organization’s commitment to urban revitalization. “Over the next few months, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation will raise $4-5 million that will be reinvested in the cities and boroughs of the Lehigh Valley. We have hired staff to run this project and have already allocated over $40,000 in grant funding through the Foundation. Further, the Chamber will donate over $500,000 to the Foundation over the next five years. We are putting our money where our mouth is.”

According to Mike Schlossberg, one of the two Borough Business Revitalization Coordinators,
36 properties across the nine BBRP communities were allocated Façade Grants. These grants totaled $133,046.71. For every dollar of public money placed into the program, another six dollars of private money were invested. In addition, W2A, an architectural firm in Easton was engaged for $35,0000 to assist properties in determining the most attractive and historically appropriate methods to improve their properties. “The urban core of the Lehigh Valley can only be revitalized if the private and public sector combine their resources and their efforts. That reality is achieved through the Borough Business Revitalization Program. The Façade Program is another success story of that partnership.”

Bonnie Upton and Jim Coppock, owners of the building that houses Dudz in Sudz Laundromat and the Hellertown Deli, were on-hand to discuss the benefits of the Façade Program. Ms. Upton explained, “We were awarded a $5,000 grant that helped cover the costs of a new sign, lighting and awning.. This has enhanced our renovation project and creates an attractive place for our customers.. We’ve gotten rave reviews from some of them. As a member of the Hellertown business community it is important to ensure economic growth by doing everything possible to improve the aesthetics of our buildings and businesses.”

Zip Code Survey

So, here is the latest brain-child of the BBRP. We are going to try a zip code survey within our communities. It's explained in detail below, but the summary is that we want to get our businesses to collect the zip codes of their customers. From there, they give the information to us. In conjunction with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, we develop a detailed listing of the customers who shop within our communities. We pass that information onto the businesses, thus allowing them to determine who their customers are, where they should be promoting to and what types of goods & services their customers are looking for. I'm hoping to begin soliciting business involvement within the next week.

Comments are welcome!
------------------------


Objective: To better determine our communities’ market demographics and give information to businesses in a way which assists them with their ongoing business promotional and operational efforts.

Benefits:
- Determine target demographic and location of our communities’ customer base, thus allowing our businesses to better market promotional efforts.
- Determine psycho-demographics of our communities’ customer base, thus allowing our businesses to have a better idea of who they are marketing to and the expectations of those customers.
- Identify potential business gaps, thus assisting our business recruitment efforts and providing the BBRP with information to give to our communities as a way of business expansion.
- Provide a direct business deliverable to the businesses in our communities.
- Continue our expansion into a more economically-oriented program.

Process:
1) Set timeline & dates for survey execution (recommended 2-4 weeks)
2) Determine business participants (include all except government, non-profit & professional service)
3) Create letter to businesses soliciting their participation & forms.
4) Send our letter to business soliciting their participation.
5) Execute survey
6) Tally survey in excel spreadsheet (with intern assistance) and send information to Geoff Brace.
7) Receive report & data interpretation from Geoff Brace.
8) Send report to businesses and review data with them.
9) Incorporate report into ongoing business recruitment packets.

What we've done

The BBRP team has recently put together a report that I wanted to share with you all. Below you will find a list of the things we have achieved within the BBRP. This includes a summary of every accomplishment that we have made, large and small, since the inception of the program. Keep in mind that the document is a month old, and we've had quite a busy month, so some of these accomplishments may be a little old!

Program Wide

Design
- Assisted with the creation of a streetscape grant program in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
- Brought in the Pennsylvania Historic & Museum Commission, Pennsylvania Downtown Center and Preservation PA to tour BBRP Boroughs in order to identify possible historic districts and determine a strategy to encourage their use in the course of our revitalization efforts.
- Completed inventories of Main Street districts in all communities.

Organization
- Hosted numerous training workshops on a variety of areas, including: parking, organization, economic restructuring, safety and security, and fundraising.
- Coordinators and Lehigh County staff have completed formal Main Street and Elm Street training through the Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s Revitalization Academy.
- Chamber and Lehigh County staff have completed Real Estate Development Academy, hosted by the PA Local Government Training Partnership.
- Assisted with the creation of a planning grant program in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.
- Conducted multiple regional meetings comprised of BBRP staff and the chairs of local steering committees.

Promotion
- Received media coverage for events and accomplishments in a variety of local media outlets (WFMZ-TV, Service Electric TV-2, Morning Call, Express Times, East Penn Business Journal, Lehigh Valley Style, Valley Voice, East Penn Press, East Penn News & Saucon Valley News).
Published multiple Op-Eds on the importance of urban (and specifically Borough) revitalization in the Morning Call.
- Published a blog site (http://www.lehighvalleymainstreets.blogspot.com) that is updated multiple times a week.

- Compiled media contact information and press release templates for the committees to send out press releases.
- Published an Events Guide, a step-by-step promotional guide (with suggested activities) which is aimed at assisting our communities in holding promotional events. This guide was also sent to PDC’s Programs & Services Committee to be used as a tool for other communities to utilize.
- Worked with a committee member from one of the participating communities to create a professionally designed logo.

Economic Restructuring
- Compiled list of vacant properties within each borough. The list is updated on a regular basis.
- Worked individually with multiple businesses in all communities, providing assistance and recommendations designed to enhance their success.
- Conducted a Business Survey in all nine boroughs.
- Compiled demographic information on the Lehigh Valley region and in each of the boroughs.
- Met, on an as-needed basis, with new business owners, helping them to open in the communities and provide any assistance and advice necessary in order to help ensure their success.
- Purchased a database of businesses looking for expansion in order to further assist our business recruitment efforts.

Borough-Specific

Alburtis

Design
- Assisted in RFP creation and selection for streetscape project.
- Completed parking inventory and parking study.
- Completed historical plaques project, subsidizing the cost of historical plaques (through private donation) for homes over 100 years old.
- Hosted two holiday historic house tours.

Organization
- Completed visioning & strategic planning process.
- Successfully executed several fundraising events (historical plaque & Holiday House tour).

Promotion
- Developed welcome packets to be distributed to new residents, promoting the entire Borough and its downtown area.
- Presided over ribbon cutting ceremony, generating publicity for newly opened business.
- Assembled promotional plan, listing all events in the Borough and ways in which the committee can assist in the planning, promotion and execution of these events.

Economic Restructuring
- Completed & maintain property inventory.
- Completed & maintain business inventory.

Bangor

Design
- Hosted property beautification contests with awards given to the property owner who best maintains their property.
- Made improvements to Founder’s Park, a pocket park in the downtown, through private donations. The project included the purchase of a bench and some plantings as well as the creation of a paved seating area.
- Developed a plan to improve a pocket park located at the eastern entrance to the downtown. - - The project will included gateway signage and landscaping.
- Developed historical walking tour.

Organization
- The group performed multiple fundraising activities through the various events held in the downtown. To date the organization has about $10,000 in the bank.
- Successfully created the Bangor Main Street Coalition. This Coalition is comprised of various groups and individuals working to revitalize Bangor and the Slatebelt area.
- Assisted in the implementation and facilitation of Regional Leadership Summits, a forum for groups doing economic development in Bangor.
- Encouraged the creation of the Bangor Business Association, a group of business owners that work in tandem with the Bangor BBRP to encourage interest in the downtown and to ensure business owner input.

Promotion
- The Promotion Committee held a variety of events over the course of the year. They include but are not limited to:
- Downtown Dust Up – clean up day for the downtown.
- Car Cruise – downtown car show.
- Heritage Days – 2-day festival celebrating Bangor and the Slatebelt’s Heritage.
- Bike Nite – downtown motorcycle gathering.
- Summer Sounds of Music – concert series designed to bring people into the downtown.
- Octoberfest – fundraiser for the Coalition held at the Bangor Community Park. It involves a haunted train ride, crafts and other activities.
- Bee Hive Reunion – oldies dance that is a fundraiser for the group.
- Easter Bunny parade and scavenger hunt.
- Easter Bunny Pictures.
- Tree Lighting Ceremony and pictures with Santa.
- Christmas on Broadway – week long series of events the week before Christmas to encourage downtown shopping.
- Developed the Slatebelt Economic Development website that highlights the Bangor Main Street Coalition website (http://www.sbed.org).

Economic Restructuring
- Completed & maintain available property inventory.
- Completed & maintain a business inventory.
- Organized a real estate bus tour with Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).
- Trust Building project – redevelopment of a key downtown property that has been vacant for the last 20 years.
- Successfully brokered a deal between Bangor Economic Development Corporation and developer for a $50,000 loan to the project. The entire project cost is approximately $1.2 million.
- Working with the developer to develop a pro-forma that will be used to secure additional resources for the project. Working with a regional loan pool to finance the remaining funding needed for the project. Also considering applying for an Anchor Building Grant.

Bath

Design
- Over the last three years the Borough of Bath has secured funding for and/or implemented nearly two million dollars worth of improvements to the downtown. Some highlights include:
- Successfully leveraged a $2,000 dollar GLVCC Foundation Grant and a $5,000 dollar Northampton County Streetscape Amenities Grant for a Gateway Signage Project.
- Invested $656,000 in the creation of a downtown park along the Monocacy Creek
- Successfully completed a $690,000 bridge replacement on Main Street.
- Successfully completed $280,000 Phase I for streetscape improvements and are in the planning stages for Phase 2 of which an additional $230,000 has been allocated via a PENNDOT Home Town Streets Grant.
- Held property beautification contests with awards given to the property owner who best maintains their property.
- Helped Borough develop an ordinance to address a property maintenance issue by keeping the sidewalks clear of debris.

Organization
- Performed multiple fundraising activities and were able to raise about $3,000.

Promotional
- Developed and executed two successful Community Days.
- Held a safety and security seminar for local businesses. Partnered with the local police department to develop seminar content.

Economic Restructuring
- Organized a Broker/Developer Tour of Bath with the LVEDC, Nazareth Chamber and Merchants Bank, highlighting local properties available for development.
- Developed a business inventory.
- Developed and maintain a available property inventory.
- Worked with an under-capitalized property owner to sell their property to someone with the means to redevelop it. The property was sold and redevelopment efforts are underway with the new owner.

Catasauqua

Design
- Completed a parking inventory.

- Assisted in the acquisition of a $24,000 grant from Lehigh County for a $32,000 Downtown Master Plan in Catasauqua. The Master Plan which is under development will provide the basis for the overall strategic plan for the Borough.

- Secured and leveraged $19,600 toward a $22,000 streetscape project. The project involves beautifying the Borough Hall via landscaping and new signage. Planters, banners, benches and trash receptacles placed at strategic locations in the downtown. Funding partners for the project include the Borough of Catasauqua, Lehigh County Housing Authority and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Chamber Foundation.
- Successfully lobbied Borough Council for increased street cleaning in downtown.
- Developed gateway and directional signage to promote downtown. The total project cost was approximately $5,000.

- Created detailed design guidelines to compliment the BBRP Façade Program. The guidelines are distributed to property owners looking to make improvement to their properties located in the downtown. The guidelines were printed courtesy of Lehigh County.

Organization

- Partnered with the Catasauqua Chamber of Commerce in an effort to involve more business owners in the BBRP.
- Developed a brochure to educate residents and business owners about the activities of the BBRP.
- Held a series of town meeting to recruit volunteers and inform residents of the activities of the BBRP.

Promotion
- Assisted in the planning and execution of a community event, Fest-O-Fall, in conjunction with the Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association.
- Developed a promotion guide that comprehensively listed all events held in Downtown Catasauqua.

Economic Restructuring

- Developed and maintained a business inventory.

- Developed and maintained an available property inventory.

Coopersburg

Design

- Created flower planter program by purchasing flower planters (through private sponsorships) and maintaining them on the corners of Main & State Streets.

Organization
- Completed visioning & strategic planning process.
- Ratified bylaws.
- Successfully executed fundraising effort (5K run) that raised over $5,000.
- Developed website (http://www.coopersburg.org).

Promotion
- Assisted in execution of annual Community Day.
- Organized successful sidewalk sale.
- Designed, with professional assistance, a specific logo the Coopersburg Business Revitalization Program.

Economic Restructuring
- Completed, “Working with the Borough” guide that provides prospective business owners with a variety of information, including contact numbers, permit information and a step-by-step guide to forming a new business in Coopersburg.
- Completed & maintain property inventory.
- Completed & maintain business inventory.

Hellertown

Design
- Met in Harrisburg with PennDOT officials to determine how to make design and pedestrian safety improvements to Hellertown’s Main Street (also State Route 412).
- Contracted consultant to conduct a parking study, utilizing grant and Borough funds.
- Assisted in creation of property beautification contests with awards given to the property owner who best maintains their property.

Organization
- Completed visioning & strategic planning process.
- Took trip to Doylestown to tour Borough and meet with staff to receive advice on Hellertown’s ongoing revitalization efforts.
- Participated in Comprehensive Plan process and assisted with the creation of a downtown component.

Promotion
- In conjunction with the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce, a Restaurant Guide was printed, which promotes the various restaurants and eateries in the Saucon Valley. This guide also includes paid ads which offset the publication costs and has generated a profit for the program.
- Presided over multiple ribbon cutting ceremonies, generating publicity for newly opened businesses.
- Assisted in the development, promotion and execution of Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market.
Assisted in annual community day, providing volunteers and helping to supervise and execute event.

Economic Restructuring
- Met with multiple Hellertown realtors to advertise program and inform them of the benefits of locating a business in Hellertown.
- Completed business inventory.

Macungie

Design
- Assisted in the creation and revisions of Streetscape plan.
- Developed historical walking tour and accompanying brochure, highlighting a dozen historical homes throughout the Borough.
- Completed historical plaque program, highlighting properties that are more than 75 years old.

Organization
- Completed visioning & strategic planning process.
- Organized & executed Macungie Business Night, an event which allowed business owners to network with each other as well as government officials.

Promotion
- Presided over multiple ribbon cutting ceremonies, generating publicity for newly opened businesses.
- Assembled promotional plan, listing all events in the Borough and ways in which the committee can assist in the planning, promotion and execution of these events.
- Assisted in the development, organization, execution and sponsorship acquisition of the Macungie Farmers’ Market in the summer of 2007. Secured over $1,000 in sponsorships and designed advertising program for local businesses.
- Secured sponsorships and assisted in advertising for 150th Anniversary celebrations.
- Secured sponsorships and assisted in advertising, promotion and execution of Macungie Holiday. Secured donations from private businesses and organized a scavenger hunt, resulting in hundreds of new customers visiting local businesses.

Economic Restructuring
- Completed & maintain business inventory.
- Completed & maintain property inventory.
- Completed a “Working with the Borough Guide” for Macungie.

North Catasauqua

Design
- Helped organize and secure funding for a $20,000 sidewalk and lighting project for North Catasauqua’s Sidewalks around their community park.
- Coordinated tour of the borough with PHMC and Preservation PA to identify historic assets.

Promotion
- Developed a map and guide for the local businesses located within the borough to distribute in new business/resident Welcome Packets.
- Successfully held their centennial anniversary celebration, which was featured in the Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs monthly publication, “Borough News.”

Wilson

Design
- Developed a wish list of streetscape amenities for the Borough.

Organization
- Successfully formed the Wilson Borough Business Association.
- Completed a preliminary strategic plan and submitted funding requests to secure resource for the development of an Economic Revitalization Strategy plan.
- Developed website (http://www.wilsonbusiness.org) that includes an available property inventory, comprehensive business directory, online forums, and survey capabilities.

Economic Restructuring
- Developed a comprehensive business inventory for the entire borough.
- Developed an available property inventory.

Thinking ahead...

Hard as it is to believe, it has actually been one year since we last held our planning meetings in all of our communities. At those meetings, we discussed the various strenghts and weaknesses of our downtowns and tried to figure out ways to make Main Street a better place to live and work.

In that year, we've come a long way, but for now, its time to think ahead. Where do we want our communities to be on June 5, 2009? That is the question I pose to all of you. What do you want out of this program? And where do you want to go with your hometown?

At our next meetings, I am hoping to have our annual planning session once again. So, that is my challenge to all of you. What do you want to see implimented in your communities in the next year?

Facade Press Conference in Hellertown

One of my favorite Facade Program projects is displayed here in pictures. The property is in
Dudz in Sudz Landromat & the Hellertown Deli. As you can see, the property has underwent a massive transition by doing a series of relatively minor projects - new signs, awnings, outdoor lighting and shutters.

Accordingly, we'll be holding a Facade Program Press Conference on Thursday, June 12, 11:00am at the property to discuss Facade Program of both 2007 and 2008. The entire News Advisory is below.
-----------------------

Façade Program shows State, County, Chamber and Foundation commitment to urban reinvestment

Hellertown, PA (June 4) – The Borough Business Revitalization Program will be holding a press conference to discuss the 2007 Façade Program and unveil the program for next year. The Façade Program is a 1-1 matching grant program (up to $5,000) whereby private citizens can apply to make exterior improvements to their property. The program is eligible to properties within the downtown districts of participating communities. In 2007, 36 properties were awarded Façade Grants.

Speakers at the event will be:
· John Stoffa, Northampton County Executive
· Tony Iannelli, President & CEO, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
· Bonnie Upton, Owner of 1109 – 1111 Main Street
· Michael Schlossberg, Borough Business Revitalization Coordinator, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

The press conference will be held on Thursday, June 12, 11:00 AM at Dudz in Sudz Laundromat & the Hellertown Deli (1109 – 1111 Main Street, Hellertown). The two properties were recipients of Façade Grants in 2007 that allowed for the building to receive new signage, awnings and outdoor lights.

Media coverage is strongly encouraged.

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.