The Ardmore Initiative Recognized at PDC Gala

Over the weekend, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) announced its best performing Main Street Programs of 2016 at the PDC gala dinner in Harrisburg.  The National Main Street program has been going on for more than 30 years and has helped rehabilitate more than 246,000 buildings, generated almost $60 billion in new investments, and created more than 500,000 new jobs.

The PDC’s award recognizes programs that have demonstrated an “across the board” ability to generate new jobs, new businesses, public and private investment and volunteer hours. The Ardmore Initiative was recognized as the third best performing Main Street program in PA! Check out the full press release below, along with other nine programs recognized!

Pennsylvania Downtowns Awarded Best Performing Programs

HARRISBURG, PA– Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) has named its best performing Main Street Programs of 2016. This award recognizes those programs that have demonstrated an “across the board” capacity to generate new jobs, new businesses, public and private investment and volunteer hours. The top performing Main Street Programs across the Commonwealth for 2017 are: . 1^st – Easton Main Street Initiative, 2^nd – Ebensburg Borough, 3^rd – The Ardmore Initiative, 4^th – Historic Kennett Square, 5^th – Oil City Main Street Program, 6^th – Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress, 7^th – Building A Better Boyertown, 8^th – Kutztown Community Partnership, 9^th – Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp., and 10^th – Allentown-7^th Street.

The determining criteria measures program activity as reported annually by local Main Street Managers. Community revitalization organizations are then ranked from top to bottom, with the top performing program in each of the sixteen evaluated categories receiving a score of 1. This year there were 40+ community organizations eligible to be evaluated. The rankings across all of the categories are then tabulated and the organization with the lowest total number is the top performing program.

PDC, the coordinating program to the National Main Street Center for Main Street programs in Pennsylvania, is honored to see these downtowns acknowledged for the goals they have set, accomplished and in many cases, exceeded. Each community has also met the ten performance standards established by National Main Street Center to be a nationally accredited Main Street Program. These standards include topics such as training requirements, planning methods, and community involvement.

Founded in 1987, the mission of Pennsylvania Downtown Center is to build and support the capacity of local nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and individuals to enhance the overall well-being and sustainability of Pennsylvania’s communities. For more information about the accredited communities or the Main Street program, contact Maria Wherley at (717) 233-4675 ext. 116 or email.

Pennsylvania Downtown Center, Inc.

PO Box 1265

Harrisburg, PA 17108

(717) 233-4675

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