Current Campaigns

Here is a list of our current campaigns:

• Borough Business Revitalization Program (B.B.R.P.)
• Program Design / Facade Challenge Grant
• Downtown Investment Grants (D.I.G.)
• Urban Core Loan Fund Support Program
• Elm Street Program Grants
• Special Opportunities Community Grant Fund (S.O.G) 

Borough Business Revitalization Program (B.B.R.P.)

Five-year program investment: $1,000,000

The Borough Business Revitalization Program (BBRP) is a joint effort of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Chamber Foundation, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and nine participating Boroughs: Alburtis, Catasauqua, Coopersburg and Macungie in Lehigh County and Bath, Bangor, Hellertown, North Catasauqua and Wilson in Northampton County. The BBRP will mobilize volunteers and municipal officials to strengthen their economic climates by:

• Providing programs to improve the aesthetics of the communities.
• Making the connection between the Boroughs and private partners to target investment and development in the communities.
• Promoting the various assets that each Borough possesses, including but not limited to the physical, economic, cultural and historical strengths within their borders.
• Helping to maintain existing businesses, recruit new ones, and create an overall business-friendly atmosphere.
• Serving as a conduit for educational resources and training for the volunteers in the areas of design, organization, economic restructuring and promotion.

This vision for the Borough Business Revitalization Program will be for expansion of this program to the remaining eligible boroughs over the five-year plan. It will serve as the catalyst for the prosperity of the communities it serves as well as building on the strength of the Lehigh Valley as a whole.

Program Design / Facade Challenge Grant

Five-year program investment: $500,000

The Design Challenge Grant is designed to:

• Stimulate private investment in downtown properties.
• Foster an attractive shopping environment.
• Preserve the architectural heritage of downtown properties.

Applicants must develop a local design program that mirrors the DCED Design Challenge Grant, at a minimum, dollar-for-dollar with locally-generated funds. Investments by individual property owners may be considered the local match. Most programs are operated on a reimbursement basis for improvements that have been pre-approved to ensure that this matching requirement is met.

The total recommended maximum Design Challenge Grant per property owner should not exceed $5,000 per application. Applications for Design Challenge Grants should include the following activities as eligible costs for reimbursement:

• Sign programs
• Paint programs|
• Design assistance
• Storefront facades

Downtown Investment Grants (D.I.G.)

Five-year program investment: $2,000,000

Financial assistance is available for a variety of development projects to help eliminate decline and act as financial gap filler for projects proposed within the Foundation's targeted neighborhood commercial districts. An applicant does not have to be a designated Main Street Community in order to apply for an Investment Grant. The total recommended maximum DIG per applicant should not exceed $50,000 per application. Eligible applicants include local governments, redevelopment authorities, non-profit economic development organizations and other non-profit organizations and business district authorities.

Non-profit economic development organizations, other non-profit organizations and business district authorities must have at least two years of satisfactory operational experience relevant to the experience required for this program and at funding levels greater than or equal to the amount of funding requested.

Given the many neighborhood commercial districts, the Foundation has determined priority areas where these activities should be funded. Examples of eligible activities include:

• Substantial rehabilitation of commercial structures
• Restoring commercial building facades and correcting code deficiencies
• Acquiring properties in historic districts or central business districts through a subsidized loan program in conjunction with local financial institutions
• Improving public sites in the Foundation's commercial target areas
• Creating local collateral items and other soft costs determined to be part of a larger project and necessary for the marketing and development of the downtown business districts (business district authorities/neighborhood improvement districts only).

Urban Core Loan Fund Support Program

Total Five-year program investment: $500,000

Generally, these grants-to-loans are grants to a local, public or private non-profit entity that are borrowed by the developer from the grantee and repaid to a local revolving loan fund. The municipality where the Anchor Building project is located must be a participant in the revolving loan fund. Anchor Building projects in the municipality located within or close by the traditional business district that supports the downtown must be given first priority consideration in subsequent loans of these repayments. Local loans must be collateralized with a reasonable security position. At its discretion in exceptional cases, the Foundation may consider approval of an Anchor Building Grant as a grant or equity in an Anchor Building project.

Eligible applicants include local governments, redevelopment authorities, non-profit economic development organizations, and other non-profit organizations and business district authorities. Non-profit economic development organizations, other non-profit organizations and business district authorities must have at least two years of satisfactory operational experience relevant to the experience required for this program and at funding levels greater than or equal to the amount of funding requested, as evidenced by satisfactory audits and evidence of municipal support through an executed cooperation agreement in order to apply directly for funds. Preference may be given to local governments and redevelopment authorities, depending on the activity. Given the many neighborhood commercial districts, the Foundation has determined priority areas where these activities should be funded.

*Loan support will include the financial support of existing loan fund or equity fund programs currently in service throughout the Lehigh Valley for either interest write down, gap financing, pre-development, etc. Programs must meet criteria guidelines and be recognized as a credible, economic development loan pool fund.

Elm Street Program Grants

Total Five-year Investment: $500,000

In coordination with the City of Bethlehem, and acting as the Fiscal Agent, the Elm Street Component of Valley Vision 2015 will allow communities to integrate a Main Street or downtown revitalization program with a neighborhood renewal strategy. The Elm Street program is designed to provide assistance and resources to those mixed use and residential areas in proximity to central business districts, to further enhance the downtown area and to improve the viability of older neighborhoods.

The Foundation and Elm Street Program will leverage three types of state grants, which are planning grants to prepare five-year revitalization strategies, operational grants and reinvestment grants to fund physical improvements recommended in the five-year strategy.

The Elm Street Program incorporates volunteer support, leveraging of private dollars, strategic planning, rehabilitation/reuse of existing buildings and streetscape improvements. Neighborhood involvement and a visible programmatic connection to an existing downtown revitalization program are required and must be demonstrated.

The Elm Street Approach between the City of Bethlehem and the Foundation, should be used as a guide in developing future partnerships with Lehigh Valley Municipalities and Elm Street Programs. The Foundation understands that no single approach or model can be optimal at all times for all communities. Therefore, the Foundation encourages communities to view these Guidelines as suggesting an approach to structuring revitalization efforts that has been generally successful over time. However, where communities have compelling reason for adopting alternative approaches, the Foundation will carefully evaluate these proposals and work with applicants to fashion a set of activities that meet the Program's objectives. Communities pursuing alternative approaches are encouraged to contact staff in advance to discuss their proposed alternative approaches and obtain guidance through the application phase of their projects.

• To revitalize neighborhoods in proximity to the existing downtown by improving the exterior appearance of the buildings and streetscapes.
• To formalize a connection between established residential neighborhood areas with downtown revitalization activities.
• To prevent neighborhood decline by developing a plan that includes the establishment of a sustainable community organization that will implement the five year strategy.
• To assist municipalities in preparing and implementing a revitalization strategy for established residential neighborhoods either in the vicinity of a Main Street Program project or in proximity to an existing commercial district.

Special Opportunities Community Grant Fund (S.O.G.)

Total Five-year Investment: $500,000

The following are eligible for SOG grants:

• Local government; including, but not limited to, counties, cities, boroughs, townships, and home rule municipalities.
• Municipal and redevelopment authorities and agencies.
• Industrial development authorities and agencies
• Non-profit organizations incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth.
• Community organizations engaged in activities consistent with program guidelines, as determined by the Foundation.

Eligibility of Projects

S.O.G. funds may be used for community revitalization and improvement projects within the Lehigh Valley.
Eligible projects must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Improve the stability of the community.
• Promote economic and/or community development.
• Improve existing and/or develop new civic, cultural, recreational, industrial and other facilities or activities.
• Assist in business retention, expansion, creation or attraction.
• Promote the creation of jobs and employment opportunities.
• Enhance the health, welfare and quality of life of citizens of the Lehigh Valley.

Projects for the sole benefit of a for-profit entity are not eligible for program funding. Grants may not be used to fund revolving loan programs. Repayment of debt not incurred as the direct result of the "project" is an ineligible use. Indebtedness incurred prior to July 1 of the fiscal year in which the grant is approved shall be presumed to not be indebtedness incurred as the direct result of the project and therefore will be an ineligible use.