04/06/2007 John Usalis – News Item/Schuylkill Saturday
ASHLAND — Greg Fisher of Ashland will become
the borough’s first Main Street manager later this month.
The 31-year-old Lewisbury native accepted the position
a few days after being informed by Ashland Downtown Inc. (ADI) President
Louis Rader. Fisher said he is ready to hit the ground running in
moving the downtown revitalization process forward in the borough.
“With
my family residing in Ashland, my interest is in seeing the community
that I live in grow,” said Fisher. “I knew of ADI before
the advertisement for the position and since moving to Ashland a year
ago, I have seen some of the positive changes that have been going
on through ADI, and wanted to be a part of it.
“I see tremendous potential for the community,
and I want to make this great town even better,” he said.
Rader said he was thrilled Fisher accepted the position,
and looks forward to a long working relationship with ADI’s first
official paid employee.
“I am pleased to announce that he has accepted
our offer for the position with ADI as Ashland’s Main Street
Manager,” said Rader. “He was full of enthusiasm as we discussed
his new role and can hardly wait to get started working with ADI,
our board, the committees, Upper Schuylkill, the borough and the community.
He has identified a tentative start date of no later than April 23.”
Rader said the upcoming ADI social will provide a wonderful
venue to introduce Fisher to supporters of the downtown revitalization
effort.
“Although Greg can be available to meet everyone
prior to his start date, the Community Banks April 26 social would
provide an excellent opportunity to introduce Greg to the community,”
Rader said.
Fisher was one of 15 applicants for the position created
after Ashland was selected in the Pennsylvania Main Street Program
in October. After a review of the resumes by the selection committee,
five applicants were called for interviews. The selection committee
recommended Fisher for the position, and the move was unanimously
approved by the ADI board at its March 19 meeting.
The hiring of a Main Street manager was the latest step
in Ashland’s forward move to a comprehensive revitalization effort.
The Pennsylvania Main Street Program community is a five-year structured
program through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic
Development (DCED). Working with ADI and the borough is the Pennsylvania
Downtown Center (PDC), which provides technical assistance and training
to help Main Street communities take best advantage of the grant funding
and other program elements in the Main Street program.
A Main Street or downtown manager will take on various
administrative duties, including:
- Grant writing, submission and administration.
- Working closely with the ADI board, PDC and DCED.
- Promote ADI and downtown revitalization to local
businesses, professionals, civic and community organizations, elected
officials and the public.
- Enhance his or her expertise by attending training
sessions, etc.
Fisher currently is employed as a program manager by
Prison Health Services Inc., and handles the administrative duties
in the medical department at the State Correctional Institution-Coal
Township. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Shippensburg
University and has managerial experience. He was also mayor of Lewisbury,
York County. He was appointed to the office in the borough of about
450 residents to fill a vacancy and won re-election for a full term.
Fisher’s family includes his wife, Jill, who is
a Gordon native; a son, Kieran, 2, and a daughter, Quinn, 4. He is
also employed part-time at Centre Street Gym in Ashland.
“I can’t wait to take on the position.
The main thing is I want is to see this town grow, and this is a great
opportunity to support the town in doing so,” said Fisher.
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