Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 55

GreaterReadingChamber.org

Hamburg:

Our Town
Foundation

Deena Kershner, Program Manager - Historic Hamburg

owntowns are the heart of any community; they are symbolic
of a district's economy, quality of life, and public pride.
A downtown is a long-term community asset that must
be nurtured, maintained and promoted. Having a well developed,
well educated and financially stable revitalization organization that
serves a community is the best way to ensure that a downtown will
be successful for the long term. Hamburg's Our Town Foundation
serves in that capacity.

The Foundation, organized and incorporated in 2002, began
their revitalization efforts by initiating a Main Street Revitalization
Program to improve Hamburg's downtown business district. Three
years into the program the Foundation was designated as a "Blueprint
Community" by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. Hamburg
was one of 22 communities that earned the designation in the state of
area; thereby improving property values within the neighborhood.
PA. As part of the Blueprint Community program, the Foundation
It was also in 2010 when the Foundation was designated as a
completed a market study that suggested revitalization efforts would
Heritage
Towns and Tours (HT&T) community by the Schuylkill
be augmented if the organization included an arts and cultural
River
National
and State Heritage Area. Hamburg is abundant with
component. Heeding the results of the report, they organized the
natural
recreational
opportunities including the Schuylkill River, the
Hamburg Area Arts Alliance subsidiary to support and showcase
Appalachian
Mountains,
the Kernsville Dam Recreational Area, and
local artists and to advance the awareness of arts in the community.
numerous
hiking
and
biking
trails including the prominent Schuylkill
In 2006 the Alliance opened the Art & Craft Gallery of Hamburg,
River
Trail
which
runs
directly
through the town. In addition to the
a retail co-op situated in the heart of the downtown business district,
natural
recreational
opportunities,
Hamburg has many historical
which boasts approximately 40 participating artists.
and cultural attractions including the Reading Railroad Heritage
Realizing the need to expand their revitalization beyond the
Museum, the Hamburg Area Historical Society, and the Hamburg
downtown corridor, the Foundation applied for Elm Street designation
Strand Theater. The Theater was purchased by Our Town Foundation
through the PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development
to save it from demise in 2013 and through their efforts it has been
office. The Elm Street program would focus their efforts on the
preserved and restored so it once again serves as a community hub.
southern end of town. Receiving designation from the state in 2010,
Hamburg has plenty to offer its residents and visitors, and their
the "Southgate Neighborhood Revitalization Program" was initiated.
Through this program, the group was able to provide funding to historic downtown is a great place to own a business. For information
property owners to improve their homes and sidewalks, and last year on the community, please visit wwwhamburgpa.org or contact the
the Foundation wrapped up a parking lot improvement project that Our Town Foundation office at 610-562-3106 or otfmanager@
turned a blighted vacant lot into a beautifully landscaped parking aol.com.

http://www.GreaterReadingChamber.org http://www.wwwhamburgpa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017