Politics & Government
Main Street Coordinator Funding Gets Green Light
Although the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation has withdrawn funding for local Main Street coordinators such as Hellertown's, borough council recently voted to allocate $5,000 in next year's budget for the program to continue.
Although the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation has withdrawn funding support for local Main Street coordinators such as Hellertown's, borough council recently voted to allocate $5,000 in next year's budget in order to allow the program to continue.
Borough manager Cathy Hartranft recommended the allocation, calling coordinator Mary Himmelberger "wonderful for this borough."
Hartranft noted that as the leader of the Hellertown Borough Business Revitalization Program (BBRP) committee, Himmelberger has helped spearhead many business-related initiatives, such as periodic cash mobs, Saucon Valley Restaurant Week and the recently-announced Golden Broom awards.
"She's stirred...a lot of community involvement," Hartranft told council.
The $5,000 added to the 2014 preliminary borough budget will compensate Himmelberger for 16 hours of service per month.
Last year the borough allocated $10,000 in its budget for the Main Street coordinator position, so next year's spending actually represents a 50 percent reduction in the total cost, Hartranft confirmed.
Photo: Main Street in downtown Hellertown (Patch file photo)
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