Community Media of South Central PA Celebrating Community
Main Street Gettysburg (MSG) held its annual meeting to update its members about the direction of the organization, its achievements, and goals for the future.
With the economy on everyone’s mind, Em Cole, Chairman of the Board, opened the meeting with some impressive statistics. The Main Street Gettysburg partner organizations leveraged their contributions into larger investments to benefit the Gettysburg community totaling in excess of $34 million over the past 10 years. This is an exceptional return on investment for the Gettysburg Borough and its citizens.
From 2005 to 2009, the MSG partners invested $1,062,441 in the operations of MSG. In this same period, a conservative estimate of $4,777,500 in projects, grants and services were returned to the community. The Gettysburg Borough contributed a total of $200K to MSG operations over this same timeframe. This is a 2288% return on the community’s tax dollars, invested by the Borough.
Building upon its successes, the Main Street Gettysburg organization continues to evolve, expand its partnerships and increase its contribution to the community both financially and through its service. In 2010, the MSG Board expanded to include Ron Hankey, ACNB, at large member, Emmett Patterson, McDonald’s, at large member, and Michael Marcus, Manager, Communications & Community Relations Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania & Maryland.
In May 2010, Main Street Gettysburg hosted a community Visioning Day where more than 50 leaders of the Greater Gettysburg community gathered to identify priorities for the future of the community, such as transportation, economic sustainability, promotion and marketing, improving infrastructure, and enhancing historic preservation/interpretation and education. “Main Street Gettysburg unifies community leaders and creates strategic plans such as the Interpretive Plan, Steinwehr Avenue Revitalization Plan and this year, Gettysburg 20/20.” said Deb Adamik, President of Main Street Gettysburg.
In addition, Main Street Gettysburg is the catalyst that finds the means necessary through its partners to orchestrate the implementation of strategic plans effectively. In 2010, MSG initiated several groups to improve efficiency, effectiveness and communications among the many organizations in town. Organization such as the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, Gettysburg-Adams Chamber of Commerce, Gettysburg College, GARMA, Steinwehr Avenue BID, and the Borough of Gettysburg and many others are working together on topics such as effectively promoting downtown, transportation and parking, and providing a quality visitor experience.
The most complicated and comprehensive example is the Civil War 150th Anniversary Steering Committee which has the tremendous task of coordinating everything from marketing to logistics. Dr. Bradley Hoch, Chairman of the Civil War 150th Anniversary Commemoration Steering Committee, presented an update on the Gettysburg Civil War 150th Anniversary Commemoration.
Main Street Gettysburg thanks Adams Electric Cooperative, the sponsor for this year’s event.
Main Street Gettysburg is a non-profit organization committed to the preservation and revitalization of historic Gettysburg for the benefits of its citizens, businesses, and visitors
