Collegeville Main Street Manager Attends Rally in Capitol Rotunda to Support Funding for Main Street and Elm Street Programs           

Linda Flederbach, Main Street Manager for the Collegeville Main Street Program (CMSP) attended a rally held in the Capitol Rotunda yesterday in support of Commonwealth funding of the Main Street and Elm Street programs. The impetus for the rally stemmed from Senate Bill 850, which proposed to eliminate the New Communities line item, through which both Main Street and Elm Street are funded.  The rally featured several speakers, including Representative Robert L. Freeman (D-Northampton); Elizabeth G. Hersh, of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania; and Bill Fontana, Pennsylvania Downtown Center Executive Director.

“I was extremely pleased to see nearly 80 of my fellow Main Street and Elm Street managers travel to Harrisburg to demonstrate their support,” said Flederbach. “The strength of Main Street and Elm Street is felt first and foremost at the individual community level, so advocacy by those working in cities and towns where programs are active will ultimately play a vital role in securing funding in the final Commonwealth budget.”

Fontana noted that, “Over the last four years, in any given year, somewhere between 65 and 75 communities have participated annually in the Main Street Program.  During that time frame, the Commonwealth has provided $7,000,000 annually to the Main Street Program, or about $100,000 per community per year. During that same four year period there has been a net increase of 3,765 businesses and a net increase of 11,096 jobs.  That translates to one job for every $2,523 the Commonwealth spends.”

Collegeville was accepted into the New Communities Main Street Program in October, 2008.  Continued funding by the Commonwealth will provide operational funding and façade grant money, to be used by property and business owners within the defined Main Street district to make improvements to the facades of buildings.  Main Street designation also allows access to grants which otherwise may not be available.

Says Flederbach, “It will be a pity if funding is cut.  The Collegeville program is just getting started.  Our volunteer base is growing, we are developing and strengthening relationships with the Borough, Ursinus College and other important stakeholders, the four working committees have outlined tasks that will bring about positive change for our community, and we are working on a realistic fundraising plan so that we can accomplish our vision.  Now more than ever, support for small towns and businesses is crucial so that progress can continue.”

For more information on the Collegeville Main Street Program or to get involved on the committee, please contact Linda Flederbach, Main Street Manager, at (610) 454-1050 or e-mail manager@collegevilledevelopment.org.