Rick Siger, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) secretary, recently spoke about how Gov. Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-2025 budget supports downtown business districts, creates jobs, and boosts the economy.
“The Governor’s bipartisan budget includes bold, meaningful investments — like $20 million for the new Main Street Matters program — to make Pennsylvania more competitive, grow our economy, and strengthen our communities,” Siger said during a tour of small businesses in downtown Bristol. “Our 10-year economic development strategy emphasizes the importance of investing in our communities to have a strong statewide economy. Main Street Matters will make downtowns more vibrant, help businesses thrive, and enable our main streets to achieve their full potential as economic hubs.”
The budget includes $15 million for tourism marketing, a $20 million investment in the Main Street Matters program, $20 million for small minority-owned businesses in Pennsylvania, and $500 million for site development.
Main Street Matters supports downtown business districts, main streets, small businesses, and local communities. Guidelines for the program are expected to be finalized next month. Administered through DCED, it replaces the Keystone Communities program.
Siger and local Bristol leaders visited Bristol Books & Bindery, HP Smoothie Bar, Isn’t She Lovely, The Forager Cheese Shop and Local Market, and Papa’s Pretzel Place.