Public Invited to Collegeville
Market Assessment Preliminary Findings Meeting

Nearly two months ago, the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) began a process that will lead to the revitalization of the downtown. Their consultant, JGSC Group of Merchantville, New Jersey, has spent the past eight weeks examining all of the commercial buildings and businesses downtown, as well as interviewing merchants and community stakeholders. JGSC has drawn some conclusions based on this preliminary information, and they will make a public presentation of these findings at Bomberger Hall on the Ursinus College campus, at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 7. The public is welcome to attend.

This work is the initial part of their Community InsightsSM program, which will be continuing through the end of the year. Following the presentation of their findings to date, JGSC will provide details of the next component of the program, a community-wide survey. This survey will measure consumer preferences, and provide anyone interested in the future of downtown Collegeville the chance to express their opinions on the subject and be counted. The survey will remain open for 6 to 8 weeks, after which another public presentation will be arranged to share the findings of the community's preferences.

A primary goal of the Community InsightsSM program will be to further the efforts of the Collegeville Main Street Program. Specifically, JGSC will focus on assessing the market, gauging consumer preferences and identifying growth potential for retail goods and services. "The program is proceeding on schedule, and we are getting a lot of positive feedback from our merchants," said Linda Flederbach, Manager of the Collegeville Main Street Program. "The next step will be to encourage everyone with interest in Collegeville to take our survey."

JGSC was selected as a result of a competitive bid process based on a RFP issued by the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation in 2009. Funding has been provided, in part, by grants from the Borough of Collegeville and Ursinus College.

For more information on the market assessment, to register for the meeting (though not required), or for information on the Collegeville Main Street Program, please contact Linda Flederbach, Main Street Manager, at (610) 454-1050, or e-mail manager@collegevilledevelopment.org.