Chamber presents ‘ambassador’ street‑cleaning program; council discusses expansion and youth jobs

The Norristown Chamber of Commerce presented an update on the Ambassador/Block by Block street‑cleaning and outreach program and asked the council to consider continued support and potential expansion.

Brad McLaughlin, president of the Norristown Chamber, said the joint public‑private program — supported by the municipality, Montgomery County and the Chamber — has removed about 17,000 pounds of trash in six months and more than 900 trash bags. He described the ambassadors as a daily presence that improves the downtown experience, supports businesses and contributes to public safety.

“Think about that for a minute … that’s a lot of bags of trash,” McLaughlin said, noting November alone accounted for 5,200 pounds and 38 hours of special‑project work. Chamber and Block by Block representatives also emphasized the program’s data collection, training and accountability measures and said the team has seen little turnover.

Council members asked whether the program could create youth employment opportunities and expand to cover more blocks. Chamber representatives said expansion is possible but would require additional funding and staffing; they described potential special projects (events, holiday work, security detail) and noted that adding blocks would trigger a budget discussion.

Multiple public commenters earlier in the meeting — including Stephen Forster (Montgomery County director of commerce), John George and Don Ketchum — had urged continuing and expanding the program, citing improved cleanliness and positive business impact.

The council did not approve a specific budget increase in this meeting but discussed priorities including youth job pathways and ways to measure outcomes. The Chamber and its partners offered to provide additional data and the presentation materials for council review.