Shapiro Administration Visits Small Businesses in Danville in Montour County, Highlights Proposed Investments to Strengthen PA Main Streets and Downtowns

DCED Deputy Secretary Rick Vilello visited a few of the small businesses that help fuel local and regional growth in Montour County.

Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed $25 million for the new Main Street Matters program in his 2024-25 budget to support Pennsylvania small businesses and create vibrant downtowns and commercial corridors to attract visitors and businesses.

Danville, PA - Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Deputy Secretary Rick Vilello joined local leaders in touring small businesses in downtown Danville, Montour County, to highlight proposed investments by Governor Josh Shapiro to support main streets, downtown business districts, small businesses, and local communities across Pennsylvania.

Governor Shapiro and his Administration are working to strengthen the Commonwealth's communities and main streets, including a $25 million proposal in the Governor's 2024-25 budget proposal for the new Main Street Matters program.

"Governor Shapiro's call for $25 million for the Main Street Matters program is an investment that our Pennsylvania communities deserve," said Deputy Secretary Rick Vilello. "The Main Street Matters program will give communities, like Danville, the resources they need to create vibrant, resilient main streets and downtowns where people want to live, visit, and work."

Main Street Matters, which builds upon and modernizes the existing successes of the Keystone Communities program, will be administered through DCED.Governor Shapiro recently announced nearly $7 million in Keystone Communities grants to support 49 community improvement projects in 25 counties across the Commonwealth - after receiving 117 applications for the program requesting more than $24 million in funding. This demonstrates the clear need for more state investments in the growth and stability of neighborhoods, main streets, and downtown districts so that Pennsylvania's communities and their residents can thrive.

"The Governor's proposed $25 million for the Main Street Matters program is a game-changer for communities like ours. This investment will provide our small businesses with the support they need to thrive and will help us to continue creating a vibrant, welcoming downtown that attracts visitors and fosters economic growth," said Rebecca Dressler, Executive Director of the Danville Business Alliance. "In Danville, our downtown fosters a strong sense of community, supports local entrepreneurship, and preserves our unique heritage. We are grateful for the Governor's commitment to strengthening our main streets and are excited about the positive impact this program will have on our community."

Run by DCED, the Keystone Communities program encourages the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors that support the growth and stability of neighborhoods and communities; social and economic diversity; and a strong and secure quality of life. Local governments, redevelopment and housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, and business, neighborhood, and downtown improvement districts are all eligible to apply for this grant funding.

During his visit to Danville, Deputy Secretary Vilello and local leaders visited with owners and employees of Bason's Coffee and More, Beiter's Department Store, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Old Forge Brewing Company, and the Kiddie Korner Boutique.

The Governor's 2024-25 budget calls for significant investments directly tied back to Pennsylvania's first Economic Development Strategy in nearly two decades. In addition to the $25 million to create the Main Street Matters program, other proposed economic development investments in the Governor's budget include: $500 million in PA SITES funding to bring more commercial and industrial sites to Pennsylvania; $20 million to support large-scale innovation and leverage Pennsylvania's best-in-class research and development assets; and $3.5 million to create and launch the Pennsylvania Regional Economic Competitiveness Challenge to incentivize regional growth.

Governor Shapiro knows that supporting our small businesses and commercial corridors is critical to our communities and economic success - and he and his Administration have been traveling the Commonwealth visiting Main Streets in Allentown, Bedford, Bethlehem, Columbia, Connellsville, Ephrata, Franklin, Hazleton, Honesdale, Lemoyne, Lewisburg, Media, Mount Lebanon, New Cumberland, Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood, Somerset, West Philadelphia, and Wyomissing to promote his budget proposal.

You can read Pennsylvania's first economic development strategy in 20 years online. For more information on how the Governor's proposed budget will create opportunity for all Pennsylvanians, visit Shapiro's budget website.

For more information about the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit the DCED website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Governor's Office, [email protected], 717.783.1116
Penny Ickes, DCED, [email protected]

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