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2011 Membership Letter
Who is the Hollidaysburg Community Parternship?
What does the Hollidaysburg Community Partnership do?
Why is the revitalization of Hollidaysburg so important?
What does becoming a Partnership member do for you?
Dear Friend,
Over the past several months, the Hollidaysburg Community Partnership (HCP) has undergone some significant changes in its funding structure. To continue to exist and operate, the non-profit HCP must now generate significantly more revenue than we have been able to do during the past 20 years of operation.
Given the new current situation where (1) the Hollidaysburg Borough only partially funds our all-volunteer activities, and (2) HCP will face the annual Borough budget review process where a majority of our Borough Councilors can and may vote to withhold all HCP funding, it is incumbent upon the HCP now to raise significantly more revenue if we plan to carry the torch as Hollidaysburg’s sole organization that brings various great events to our unique community.
The HCP organizes, runs, and is responsible for Winterfest, various parades, the Pumpkin Festival, the Hollidaysburg Haul race, the weekly Farmer’s Markets, the Sloppy Socks race, monthly Downtown Live! events, numerous streetscape projects, the Holiday Soup Sampling event, and Christmas Light-Up Night – just to name a few of the year round events that distinguish Hollidaysburg!
No ifs, and, or buts – we must immediately increase membership revenue and we are asking you please to join our organization and help us to retain and improve the quality of life we and our families enjoy in Hollidaysburg.
Some generous companies and individuals have historically helped by sponsoring certain events, but it is also necessary to raise membership fees to sustain The Hollidaysburg Community Partnership going forward.
Membership Fees for the 2011 Year:
Business with less than 10 employees $100
Business with less than 25 employees $200
Business with less than 50 employees $300
Business with 50 or more employees $500
Churches and Non-Profit Groups $50
Individual Community Member $35
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors
The Hollidaysburg Community Partnership
Who is the Hollidaysburg Community Partnership?
The Hollidaysburg Community Partnership (HCP) is a non-profit corporation created to address the economic concerns of the Hollidaysburg business district. Partnership members include businesses from Hollidaysburg and surrounding areas, the Borough of Hollidaysburg, Blair County officials, residents and other community organizations.
The HCP was formed in 1991 to protect the future of Downtown Hollidaysburg, and with support from the community and the Borough of Hollidaysburg the group filed an application with the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Main Street Program. In 1993 Hollidaysburg became an official Main Street community and hired its first Main Street Manager. Today, there are over 2000 Main Street Communities like Hollidaysburg across the country and nearly 80 recognized by the program in Pennsylvania alone.
Hollidaysburg is no longer in the administrative funding cycle available to Main Street Communities in the first seven years of the program. Hollidaysburg has now been designated a “Main Street Achiever”. An achiever community is one that has been successful with the program and still follows the criteria and guidelines of the main street approach. Hollidaysburg still receives programming assistance and is given priority consideration when applying for grants with the DCED but must sustain its own operating budget through membership, event revenues, fundraising and grants.
The HCP is a volunteer-driven organization. Without a steady stream of community support, both financially and through active volunteerism, the HCP will not continue to exist. The Main Street Manager is the only paid employee and is responsible for coordinating virtually all volunteer efforts.
According to the Main Street approach, the members of the HCP organize their efforts into 4 areas:
- Design – Enhancing the physical appearance of the business district.
- Promotion – Marketing the unique assets and historical characteristics to the community through special events, advertising and media relations.
- Economic Development – Strengthening the existing economic base of the business district through business retention and recruitment programs.
- Organization – Overseeing the operations of the HCP, recruitment of members and volunteers, and providing educational opportunities.
What does the Hollidaysburg Community Partnership do?
- HCP serves the Hollidaysburg Community as the Main Street Program and local Economic Development Agency, overseeing marketing, promotions, business retention, new business attraction and expansion.
- HCP serves the community as the local tourism information center.
- HCP coordinates the special events held downtown such as the Pumpkin Festival, Hollidaysburg Haul 5K Race, Winterfest Parade, Light-Up Night and various other festivities.
Why is the revitalization of Hollidaysburg so important?
- Main Street is the most important symbol of a community’s economic health, local quality of life, sense of pride, and preservation of community history.
- A vital Main Street retains and creates jobs, also creating a stronger tax base.
- Many consumers are tired of the homogeneity and impersonality of the chain stores and malls. People value personal attention, name recognition and the service of traditional commercial districts.
- Main Street is an ideal location for independent businesses which:
- keep profits in town
- support local community projects
- provide stable economic foundation
What does becoming a Partnership member do for you?
- Business listings and links from partnership and borough websites
- Partnership newsletters detailing upcoming events and promotions
- Access to committees and a Hollidaysburg business database
- Group marketing and advertising opportunities
- Assistance with business vacancies, recruitment of new businesses and networking opportunities
- Listing and description of your business in map to be displayed in Kiosk and distributed in participating businesses and HCP office
We need you!
Please join the Hollidaysburg Community Partnership today.
Application for Business Membership
Application for Individual Membership
