Our Vision
for Shenandoah
Shenandoah,
along Routes 54 and 924 is both a connector and "regional intersection".
Like other towns in this region it is an ethnically diverse and religious
community. Shenandoah will market this diversity, through ethnic restaurants
and other ethnic food-related businesses.
Shenandoah will improve its retail potential by
ensuring it is a clean and vibrant downtown. It will encourage businesses
that support local residents and tourists, such as its ethnic restaurants
and other niche establishments. Shenandoah shall become the hub of
commercial activity in the region.
About Downtown Shenandoah, Inc.
Downtown
Shenandoah, Inc. (DSI) is a group of business and property owners,
residents and concerned citizens who have a communal desire to see
Shenandoah return to a position of prominence and prosperity. Created
in 2002 and Incorporated in 2003, DSI has been diligently working
towards the primary goal of entrance into the PA Department of Community
and Economic Development (DCED) Main Street Program which they have
achieved in March 2006. Through this five year program, DSI will be
awarded funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic
Development (DCED).
Vision and Mission
Our vision is to return downtown Shenandoah to an active pedestrian-oriented
business district that will promote and sustain further economic,
cultural and civic growth within the Borough of Shenandoah.
Our mission is to stimulate economic development by
encouraging cooperation and building leadership in the business community;
to develop a marketing strategy that will provide an improved retail
mix, strengthen the tax base, increase investor confidence; to build
a viable tourism effort; to promote a unified, quality image of downtown
Shenandoah as a center of goods and services; and to create an attractive,
coordinated visual impression of Shenandoah through façade
improvements streetscape and historic preservation of our existing
buildings.
In order to work toward our goals, DSI meets on the
third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Downtown Shenandoah,
Inc. office located at 116 North Main Street. For more information
on Downtown Shenandoah, Inc. please contact Val Macdonald at 570-462-4494.
Key DSI accomplishments since 2002
-
The incorporation of Downtown Shenandoah, Inc.
in 2003
- Accepted organizational by-laws
- A completed downtown profile as per State requirements
- Attained 501c3 nonprofit status
- Partner of Upper Schuylkill Downtown regional revitalization
initiative
- Organized first Shenandoah "Car Cruise"
- Successful Downtown Shenandoah "Town Meeting"
- DSI Capital Campaign "Return to Prominence"
has reached $91,000. Kick-off February, 2005
- Acceptance into DCED Main Street Program - March
2006
- Participant in Upper Schuylkill Pedestrian/Motorist
Safety Initiative
- Participant in Upper Schuylkill Pilot PennDOT safety
grant program
- Advertisements in Schuylkill County Visitors Guide
to promote tourism
- DSI "Clean Sweep"
- DSI "Easter Bonnet Contest"
- Participant in Shenandoah "Heritage
Day"
- Participant in Ashland "Pioneer
Day"
- Participant in Upper Schuylkill
Homecoming Weekend
- Member PA Downtown Center
- Performed initial marketing analysis and published
results in economic positioning strategy report
- Secured Main Street Office
- Developed Longenberger Basket
Calendar Sale
- Sponsored “The Tommy Dorsey
Band”
- Sponsored “Christmas Tree
Lighting and Performance”
- Participating in Upper Schuylkill Façade Improvement
Program
- Secured a Main Street Office
- Upper Schuylkill and Downtown Shenandoah Design Challenge
Matching Grant Program
- Developed "Longenberger Basket Calendar"
Sales
- Sponsored "The Tommy Dorsey Band" in concert
Goals
- Hiring of a Main Street Manager
- Business Recruitment and Retention
- Participate in Upper Schuylkill Façade
Improvement Program
- Building community partnerships
- Promote regional and local tourism
- DSI Promotional Sales
- Develop "Town Wide Yard Sale"
- Develop Christmas in Downtown Shenandoah
