Ephrata Borough has been accepted into Pennsylvania’s Main Street economic revitalization program, the state Department of Community and Economic Development announced Tuesday.
The designation is one of several provided through DCED’s Keystone Communities Program. The Main Street initiative is focused on traditional downtowns and aims to make them more attractive places to live, work and shop.
It gives Ephrata priority status for various DCED programs and makes it eligible for free consulting for the next five years from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center.
Main Street program areas can also receive tax credits to incentivize private-sector development through DCED’s Neighborhood Assistance Program.
Obtaining Main Street status was a priority for Mainspring of Ephrata, a nonprofit that spearheads borough economic development. It was formed through the consolidation of Downtown Ephrata Inc., the Ephrata Alliance and the Ephrata Economic Development Corp.
“The Shapiro Administration is excited to designate Ephrata as a Keystone Communities Main Street,” DCED Deputy Secretary Rick Vilello said in a statement. “This designation will foster growth for the whole community — businesses will receive support and residents will experience the benefits of a thriving downtown.”
