In another step toward revitalizing Reading and attracting more businesses to Berks County, the city’s downtown district recently received the prestigious Keystone Community designation.
As community leaders, economic partners and business owners looked on, Secretary C. Alan Walker of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) officially announced the designation on Aug. 14 during a press conference outside of the former Citizens Bank building at 5th and Penn streets.
The designation will help the city garner significant resources for implementing a Main Street program, which, as proven in several suburban areas, will help revitalize the downtown area. These resources include grants for façade and streetscape improvements, business attraction and retention and other economic development activities. Leveraged with other private and public resources, acquiring funding through the state will help to ensure that downtown Reading becomes the vibrant and prosperous commercial core that leaders envision, according to Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer.
The Reading Downtown Improvement District, which will oversee the Main Street program, applied for the designation on behalf of the city, says Chuck Broad, executive director. The Main Street plan will connect with the Penn Corridor Initiative, which will hopefully create a vibrancy and economic vitality from City Park in Reading, through West Reading and into Wyomissing.
Initially, DID, along with the Main Street Board, selected Main Street committee chairs and a host of volunteers, will focus efforts on completing beautification projects, filling unoccupied storefronts and creating residential housing above first-floor storefronts in the downtown area, Broad says.
“This program provides a blueprint for revitalization of the downtown area, both physically and economically,” he says. “Such a vision and plan can only be successful with public and private partnerships, so I encourage everyone get on board.”
As the Main Street program’s tagline “Downtown Reading…All Aboard!” suggests, continued support and enthusiasm from area businesses and community leaders is needed to help the city move forward with the revitalization of Penn Square and its surrounding blocks, Spencer says.
The designation, he adds, is a testament to the community’s resilience and determination.
“This is truly a new beginning for the City of Reading,” he says. “I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for extending us this opportunity and to all those within our community who have worked to renew a spirit of collaboration that will make the dream of downtown revitalization a reality.”
