SRI outlines downtown revitalization plan; asks Sunbury for initial $10,000 contribution and supports Main Street designation

Representatives of SRI (an anchor nonprofit for downtown work) briefed Sunbury City officials on a five-year downtown revitalization implementation plan that aligns with the city’s near-complete comprehensive plan and requested an initial municipal contribution to seed a downtown management program.

SRI’s representative said the organization will implement portions of the comprehensive plan through a dedicated downtown revitalization strategy and proposed a downtown manager position to coordinate property inventory, marketing and events. SRI presented an initial salary ballpark of about $45,000 a year for a full-time downtown manager and noted the Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s higher national recommendation; staff said the downtown manager would likely be located in the Albright Center or another downtown space.

Funding and designation

SRI told councilmembers it intends to apply for a Main Street designation in 2026, which would make the community eligible for operational funds from the state program: $75,000 per year initially for two years, tapering to $50,000 and then $25,000 in later years. SRI requested the city consider a $10,000 annual contribution to support the downtown manager and the downtown management program, noting the designation’s state funding is intended to be matched by local contributions and nonprofit partnerships.

Program elements and measures of success

SRI outlined measures of success tied to property utilization: forming a downtown task force, completing a property inventory, selecting priority properties, and tracking increases in occupancy or use year over year. SRI said the downtown management office would also handle marketing, events, training and designation applications.

Next steps

SRI said its strategic plan will be finalized in October and that action plans with timelines will begin this fall; the organization asked the council to consider a modest contribution for the first year as the program launches. Councilmembers asked about sustainability and long-term compensation for the downtown manager; SRI said communities typically supplement initial Main Street funds with municipal, nonprofit and business contributions to retain staff beyond early grant support.

Ending

Councilmembers did not vote on funding at the workshop. Staff said they will review SRI’s request and consider including a contribution in budget discussions, and SRI indicated it will return with finalized plans and timelines for implementation.