Governor Rendell Says Main Street Program Revitalizes Downtowns, Creates Opportunities

HARRISBURG, PA., Nov. 20, 2007 – More than 100 Pennsylvania communities are on the road to progress in large part because of the state’s Main Street program, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

“Great things happen when creative local leaders make good use of the tools the state offers, like Main Street,” the Governor said. “Since I first took office, we’ve allocated more than $26 million to renovate old theaters, give new life to vacant storefronts and turn abandoned buildings into apartments residents are proud to call home. Main Street is creating dynamic downtowns that attract new businesses and help existing ones flourish, draw residents and visitors, and make Pennsylvania a better place to live, work and visit.

“Virtually part of the state has benefited from these investments, from Sullivan County to Greene County, from Easton to New Castle,” Governor Rendell added. “By working together, we’re creating exciting new social, recreational, and job opportunities, and changing how people view Pennsylvania.”

Main Street grants are often used to enhance the business districts of Pennsylvania’s core communities with new buildings, improvements to existing businesses, streetscape upgrades and other rehabilitation projects. In many instances, the local organization dedicated to downtown revitalization spearheads this effort by hiring a full-time professional coordinator with the funds.

With $7 million available for the current fiscal year, the Main Street program will attract new and existing businesses to more of Pennsylvania’s downtowns.

The program is a key component of Governor Rendell’s $2.5 billion Economic Stimulus Package which, to date, has funded more than 2,450 projects throughout the state and led to the creation or retention of over 250,000 jobs.

“We’ve worked very hard over the past nearly five years to inject new life into communities across Pennsylvania by creating new programs and initiatives that complement existing ones,” Governor Rendell said. “This has increased Pennsylvania’s standing in business and community development and put us in excellent shape in the future.”

For more information on the Main Street Program and other sources of funding available through the Governor’s Economic Stimulus Package, visit www.newpa.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.