Collegeville Borough’s Revitalization Efforts: 8-Year Summary

Executive Summary

Over the past eight years, the Collegeville Borough Business Development Committee (BDC) — operating in partnership with the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), Ursinus College, and Montgomery County — has transformed Collegeville’s approach to economic development from ad hoc efforts into a coordinated, professionally guided revitalization program.

The committee began in 2018 with a simple mandate: to assist Collegeville to become a vibrant regional destination for dining, retail, and community life. What followed was a sustained, methodical effort to build the partnerships, plans, funding, and community support needed to make that vision real.

Despite significant headwinds — including the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted development plans for nearly two years — the BDC committee maintained momentum and delivered foundational work that now positions Collegeville for meaningful near-term investment.

Revitalization Highlights by Phase

2019–2020: Planning, Partnerships & Momentum

• The BDC conducted a resident survey of 404 respondents, with 94% of Collegeville Borough residents expressing support for business development investment on Main Street;
• The committee identified the 400 block of Main Street (between 4th and 5th Avenues) as the priority development area, given Ursinus College’s property holdings and stated desire to develop them, and its proximity to the campus;
• Adopted the Montgomery County Planning Commission’s Collegeville Revitalization Plan 2010 as the BDC’s working roadmap;
• Invited the Phoenixville Borough Manager Jean Krak to share lessons from Phoenixville’s successful revitalization — from 2004 to 2014, Phoenixville secured $6 million in grants and grew assessed property valuations from $565M to $755M;
• In May 2019, Borough Council voted to fund a contract with Barth Consulting Group ($25,000 Borough + $25,000 Ursinus College match), launching active business recruitment;
• Steel City Coffeehouse and Brewery of Phoenixville engaged in serious discussions about opening on Main Street — an early sign of outside interest. 

2018–2019: Laying the Foundation

• Barth Consulting Group completed a full survey of 400-block properties and recommended parking solutions and attractive façade concepts;
• The CEDC launched a digital communications and social media outreach program for borough businesses;
• New businesses opened including Pho Mai Vietnamese Restaurant in the Collegeville Shopping Center.

2020: Setbacks and Resilience (COVID-19)

• COVID-19 halted active development plans. The BDC maintained its work through Zoom meetings and pivoted to focusing on comprehensive planning;
• The Borough hired a new Borough Manager, Tamara Twardowski, who brought 15 years of municipal experience and a track record of securing over $2 million in grants;
• Core Development (Southampton, PA) was retained by Ursinus College to begin planning the development of campus properties in the 400 block — signaling renewed developer and College interest even amid the pandemic. Unfortunately, the College terminated the project.

2021: Research, Vision & Recovery

• Ursinus College’s U-Imagine Center presented research findings comparing Collegeville to America’s 50 most successful college towns. Their report identified the key success factors of high business density, an attractive anchor, unique character, safety, and business diversity as important to develop Main Street. They also presented suggested businesses to attract;
• The UConn/Mansfield, CT model was studied as a case example of how a university-community partnership built a successful college town center from scratch;
• The BDC began drafting Collegeville’s updated Revitalization Plan.

2022: Zoning Advances & Major Grants Won

• College Gateway Overlay Zoning was approved by the Planning Commission and Borough Council — enabling mixed-use (retail/restaurant below, residential/dorms above) development at the 5th Avenue corners of Main Street, with buildings up to 50 feet high.
• Work began on a Main Street District Zoning covering 2nd through 5th Avenues, designed to attract developers while preserving small-town character;
• In June 2022, the Borough was awarded a $500,000 RACP grant for the 400 block of Main Street;
• In November 2022, an additional $2.5 million RACP grant was earmarked for the East Main Street Revitalization Project — bringing total RACP grant funding to $3.5 million. Representative Joe Webster and Senator Katie Muth aided in securing these grants.
• A shared parking ordinance was drafted for Borough Hall lot use by neighboring businesses;
• The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority was formed (Berks, Chester, Montgomery Counties) — a potential long-term connectivity asset for Collegeville.

2023: Planning Grant & Work on the Master Plan Begins

• The Borough was awarded a $74,000 DCED planning grant — allowing the Borough to hire the Derck & Edson Architectural Firm to lead the Main Street Master Plan at no cost to Collegeville taxpayers;
• The former KeyBank building at 364 E. Main St. was renovated into three commercial spaces by the Keenan Law Office partners, with an ethnic salon and upscale day spa among the first tenants;
• Planning and design work on the Main Street Master Plan formally began with a broad steering committee including property owners, business owners, investors, residents, Ursinus College, and Borough Council members.

2024–2025: Master Plan Completed & Path Forward

• February through April, 2024, the Borough and their design consultant conducted a Main Street preferences survey. The findings were used to update the Borough’s zoning and develop the Main Street Master Plan;
• March 2024, Borough residents and members of the Ursinus College community attended meetings on the Ursinus campus to review and comment on a draft Main Street plan;
• In October 2024, the Borough presented the completed Main Street Master Plan to approximately 55 community members at the Collegeville Firehouse;
• The plan was adopted in December 2024;
• Silverback Investment Partners LLC expressed active interest in recruiting businesses to Main Street, with early-stage discussions focused on a coffee house/café and a taphouse with live music. Unfortunately, they later pulled out;
• The Borough has $3.5 million in RACP grants available to support eligible redevelopment projects;
• Planning began for a Trail Connection from the Perkiomen Trail through the Bum Hollow area to two trailheads to the 400 Block of Main Street: at E. Fifth Ave. and Clamer Ave. at the Scout Cabin.

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Created in January 2018, the Borough of Collegeville Business Development Committee oversees economic development and business recruitment in the borough. It is made up of volunteers from the borough and administered by a Borough Council member.