Revitalization Coordinator Highlights Program's Successes

The Hellertown Borough Business Revitalization Program is just six years old, but its volunteers have already accomplished a great deal, HBBRP and Regional Chamber Coordinator Mary Himmelberger told Borough Council members during a prescheduled meeting appearance Aug. 15.

The group, which meets monthly and has worked with several Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce revitalization coordinators since 2005, "has followed many of their visions through to success," Himmelberger stressed.

She specifically highlighted the creation of a Saucon Valley restaurant guide, the development of a borough welcome brochure, and the BBRP's help founding the --which is now independently run by volunteers--as some of its noteworthy accomplishments.

The program is probably best known for its , which provides property owners with a limited amount of grant money to restore their buildings' exteriors according to historic preservation guidelines.

At present, Himmelberger said, the HBBRP's efforts are focused on helping attract visitors from outside of Hellertown to attractions such as .

In June, she added, a group of committee members from Hellertown toured downtown Emmaus with Main Street Manager Teri Madison, of the Emmaus Main Street Program.

The purpose of the visit was to observe firsthand the revitalization Emmaus' central business district has undergone in recent years, and to gather some "inspiration" from Madison and her committee, Himmelberger said.

Madison is a full-time employee who focuses solely on business revitalization in Emmaus, whereas Himmelberger divides her time among the boroughs of Hellertown, Coopersburg and Alburtis.

Over the years, there has been talk of trying to metamorphose Hellertown's program into a full-scale Main Street Program similar to what Emmaus now has, but councilman and HBBRP liaison Tom Rieger said at the meeting that he's comfortable with the size and structure of what currently exists in Hellertown.

Contributing $10,000 to help fund the continuation of the HBBRP in Hellertown in 2012 would be well worth it, he also said.

Councilwoman Gail Nolf agreed, stating "I think our investment of $10,000 way more than pays itself back."

Himmelberger noted that the HBBRP supports local businesses whenever it can, and buys local when it implements projects such as a streetscape beautification initiative that has put handcrafted, flower-filled urns on many Main Street corners.

For help with that project, the HBBRP went to Hellertown flower shop , she said.

Himmelberger added that she hopes to become a certified Main Street Manager this year, and said one of her professional goals is "to become more a community point of contact" on behalf of Hellertown.

If Hellertown approves its share of funding for the continuation of the HBBRP in 2012, the Chamber of Commerce Foundation has agreed to pay for its share, which is one half of the total cost, Himmelberger said.

The HBBRP meetings, which are open to the public, are typically held at Hellertown Borough Hall on the second Thursday of each month at 7pm.