Upper Schuylkill Accomplishments
The Upper Schuylkill Regional Downtown
program has initiated several successful activities since 2004. Using
the National Main Street four point approach to downtown revitalization…Design,
Organization, Promotions and Economic Restructuring our region and
communities can address the economic issues which face their downtown
or main street areas.
In addition to the ongoing development and monitoring
of our downtown organizations and volunteers in Ashland, Frackville,
Girardville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown and Shenandoah, as well as support
to our municipalities, we are pleased to share with you our most important
regional accomplishments as well as our future goals for Upper Schuylkill.
Upper Schuylkill Steering Committee
The Upper Schuylkill Steering Committee meets monthly to discuss
regional and local projects. The committee consists of three representatives
from each town to include one borough council representative and two
representatives of the local downtown organization. A variety of regional
initiatives are developed at this level. The committee members are
responsible to share the regional programs and opportunities with
their respective communities. Each downtown organization reports each
month and discussion of strengths and weaknesses enhances the strong
collaboration of the region. It is through these discussions that
the Upper Schuylkill staff can better assist the local organizations
to succeed in accomplishing their goals. Communication is at the forefront
of our successful regional revitalization program.
Shared
Training Opportunities
The Upper Schuylkill training programs and workshops have
been very beneficial to our community organizations and municipalities.
- Grant Writing sessions have enabled volunteers
and municipalities to explore, develop and attain funding through
various resources for community projects.
- Our Main Street Design, Organization, Economic Restructuring
and Promotion trainings through the PA Downtown Center have all
been well received by our community volunteers and have provided
great tools for success.
- Upper Schuylkill’s Small Business Workshop has
provided our business community an introduction to various resources
available to them. The workshops are designed to recruit and assist
potential new businesses and to encourage entrepreneurial opportunities
for our young people. Sessions include presentations from various
organizations to provide assistance and technical support to our
business community. Partnering with US is Northeast PA-Alliance,
Wilkes University Small Business Development Center, The Small Business
Administration, and other local entities such as real estate agents
and insurance companies.
- Through a partnership with the Schuylkill Community
Education Council computer and other training opportunities are
available to our businesses, organizations and municipalities right
here at the Mahanoy Downtown Center.
Upper
Schuylkill Pedestrian and Motorist Safety Program
Our regional Pedestrian and Motorist Safety program was kicked-off
in May of 2005 and ensures safety in our downtown areas for both pedestrians
and motorists. This is the first program of its kind in Pennsylvania
and is being used as a model by PennDOT for future programs throughout
the State. This program provides us with an opportunity to reclaim
our main streets through traffic calming and pedestrian friendliness.
Partners include PA Department of Transportation, North
Central Highway Safety Network, PA Local Technical Assistance Program
(LTAP), local police and municipalities, our six downtown organizations
and the Northern Schuylkill Council of Governments
Enforcement
- Pedestrian Channelizing Devices compliments of
PennDOT have been placed in our downtown areas to slow traffic
and ensure safety for our downtown visitors, shoppers and residents
- Funding provided to each community for police foot
patrols in our central business districts
- ID cards are provided to local police to let business
owners know that their properties were checked for security after
hours
Education
- Pedestrian/Motorist safety education is an ongoing
process through media and in our school districts and senior citizen
centers
- Our education services are provided through North
Central Highway Safety Network
Engineering
- With no cost required by our municipalities and
through a High Impact Safety Improvement grant from PennDOT our
Upper Schuylkill communities have been awarded $102,000 for specific
needs in their downtown areas such as pedestrian crosswalk painting,
pedestrian crossing signs, parking space line painting, school
zone markings, school zone blinking signs, traffic control box
replacements and handicapped ramps
- Matching funds were provided by State Senator James
J. Rhoades, Representative Neal P. Goodman and Representative
David Argall
- The Northern Schuylkill Council of Governments
is the funding conduit for this project
Successful Regional Visioning
Process
Through four Upper Schuylkill regional town meetings with technical
assistance provided by the PA Downtown Center, the regional Vision
and Action Strategy was developed.
- Attendance at each meeting exceeded 150
- Local elected officials, Congressman Tim Holden,
Senator James J. Rhoades and our State Representatives as well as
our County Commissioners were in attendance to provide support to
our regional program and our wonderful volunteers.
- Refreshments, auditorium and supplies were donated
by local businesses
- “A Taste of Upper Schuylkill” was the highlight
of the final meeting with specialties compliments of our local restaurants
and food establishments
Shared
Purchasing Program
There will be many opportunities to participate in shared purchasing
programs either through the Upper Schuylkill program or through the
Northern Schuylkill Council of Governments. To date the following
items have been purchased.
- Upper Schuylkill Directional Banners for each of
our six communities for regional and town identification
- Eight 10x10 promotional tents for downtown events
and promotions
Regional “Grand Opening”
Program
Upper
Schuylkill has developed a "Grand Opening" program for all
new businesses in the region. We provide specialty framed certificates
for each new business with the municipality, downtown organization,
chamber of commerce and Upper Schuylkill logos and signatures. We
then arrange press coverage and news releases to help market the new
business start-up. The Upper Schuylkill office contacts representatives
of each business related organization and the borough to attend the
grand opening and welcome the new business to their community.
Upper Schuylkill Website
www.upperschuylkill.com You’re lookin’ at it!
Upper Schuylkill Homecoming
The Upper Schuylkill Homecoming story has been selected as a feature
in the national "Reunion" magazine with a full page advertisement
in PA Pursuits magazine as well as promotional materials distributed
to Pennsylvania's Welcome Centers across the State. Read all about
our exciting Labor Day Weekend plans. Music and festivities in each
of our Six Great Towns plus the historic Ashland Boys Association
(ABA) Parade on Saturday, September 2 are the highlights of the holiday
weekend.
- The Upper Schuylkill Homecoming story will be featured
in a national magazine called REUNION
- Marketing and promotions by Upper Schuylkill, Schuylkill
County Visitors Bureau and PA Tourism office
- See Upper Schuylkill Homecoming page on this website
for more information
Upper Schuylkill Resource Library
The Upper Schuylkill office provides resources for our
community leaders, volunteers and municipalities. Books and other
helpful material are borrowed by each community as needed. The library
includes:
- Better Models for Development in Pennsylvania –
Ideas for Creating More Livable and Prosperous Communities by Edward
T. McMahon and Shelley S. Mastran – PA DCNR
- The Collaboration Challenge – How Nonprofits
and Businesses Succeed Through Strategic Alliances by James E. Austin,
Harvard Business School
- Funding Downtown Promotions – 5 key steps to
funding and managing downtown promotions by Mary Barr, published
by Downtown Research and Development Center
- Downtown, Inc. – How America Rebuilds Cities
by Bernard J. Frieden and Lynne B. Sagalyn
- Main Street Renewal – A Handbook for Citizens
and Public Officials Edited by Robert L. Kemp
- Business Improvements Districts 2nd Edition by Lawrence
O. Houstown, Jr., Published by Urban Land Institute and the International
Downtown Association
- How To Be Successful At Sponsorship Sales by Sylvia
Allen and C. Scott Amann
- Niche Strategies for Downtown Revitalization –
A hands on guide to developing, strengthening and marketing niches
by N. David Milder, Published by Downtown Research & Development
Center
- The Dimensions Of Parking by Urban Land Institute
Watch US Change…Design
Challenge Grant Program
We are pleased to announce the Upper Schuylkill
Design Challenge Grant Program. This program provides funding to local
property owners or business owners (with property owner approval)
to encourage restoration projects of building facades and to enhance
the building’s overall exterior appearance, thus creating an
improved central business district.
Upper Schuylkill offers reimbursement matching
grants through funding received from the Pennsylvania Department of
Community and Economic Development’s Main Street Program. Design
Challenge Grant funding must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the property/business
owner.
The Design Challenge Grant Program is designed
to stimulate private investment in downtown properties, foster an
attractive shopping environment, and preserve the architectural heritage
of downtown. Click here for more information.
Coming Soon!
- Downtown Cleaning Program
- Signage and Wayfinding System
- Business Recruitment and Incentive Program
- Regional Marketing and Promotional Initiative
Related Web Sites
