PHOTO PROVIDED Downtown Lock Haven is seen during a street closure.

LOCK HAVEN — Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. Manager Melissa Dally and the non-profits board of directors are looking to continue making positive improvements to Lock Haven’s central business district while continuing to support the small businesses that call it home.

Dally is hoping a recent change in its membership model can help support the initiatives the organization is looking to achieve throughout 2025 and well into the future as it sets longterm goals.

As usual, businesses have the opportunity to renew or become a member of DLH for $125. This membership provides a business with promotional opportunities through the organization’s social media and other marketing initiatives.

“Businesses are part of a promotional initiative through events and activities that drive foot traffic and increase community participation downtown,” Dally explained.

Events include summer street closures, the annual Haven Holidays and Small Business Saturdays in the winter, holiday-themed Sip and Shops, Sidewalk Sales and other events peppered throughout the year.

PHOTOS PROVIDED Sidewalk sales are one of many events held by Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. during the warmer months.

Members are also featured on the non-profit’s website — www.lockhaven.org — to further help garner exposure.

“They’re on the Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. website which shows community unification. Everyone can see what makes Lock Haven unique. How (a business) is a piece that makes up the community,” Dally said.

Dally has also revamped the individual membership slightly, naming it “Friend of Downtown Lock Haven.”

Individuals that would like to help with the organization’s beautification efforts, event organization and more, can become a member for $25 per year. Friends of Downtown Lock Haven can also have the opportunity to volunteer with the organization to help with events and other projects.

New this year, however, is an annual sponsorship model created by Dally to help fund projects through the year — from events to beautification efforts and more.

BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Members of the Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. Board of Directors and DLH Manager Melissa Dally are pictured during a recent board meeting.

The levels are broken down into three categories: Side Street Sponsor for $225; Main Street Sponsor for $600 and Business District Sponsor for $1,200.

Each level brings with it extra perks that may not have initially been included in a regular business membership such as having your businesses logo or name listed for sponsor pages and promotions for specific events like Final Friday Street closures, recognition on social media, radio and newspaper advertisements during project installations and being featured as a “business of the month” on Downtown Lock Haven, Inc.’s page.

Dally said the tiered sponsorship option would replace the typical sponsorship requests that DLH would send out prior to specific events. Instead, the funds collected at the start of the year would be allocated to these events in advance to streamline the process.

Dally said sponsorships are perfect for larger businesses or corporations to showcase their community pride.

She noted that, although regular memberships are important and assist with the work DLH does, it can’t sustain everything and these sponsorships build upon a strong foundation that already exists.

PHOTOS PROVIDED Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. is always grateful to its volunteers that help beautify and keep the area clean and looking great.

“We want people in the business district to stay, we want quality live music, special events and other things to give people the chance to come down, stop in the stores and grab a bite to eat,” she said.

These sponsorships, and regular memberships, also help support beautification projects downtown that increase the appeal to those visiting.

Dally explained this can include the flower pots placed on the meters — which the non-profit organizes each year, lighting, decorations and facade design.

“When it becomes a place people locally want to come to, you can also begin to see others from outside the area interested to come here too,” Dally said. “I think everyone can agree that Downtown Lock Haven is charming and we can continue to enhance that.”

The beautification projects that are funded through memberships, sponsorships and donations also can help Downtown Lock Haven align itself with the Clean and Green Initiative, Dally said.

This initiative includes the placement of dog bags along the street for residents to pick up after their pets; incorporating recycling containers and more.

Outside of beautification projects, sponsorships help the organization put together many of its popular events.

DLH is already gearing up and planning for a number of events throughout 2025.

This includes Final Friday Street Closures on May 30, July 25 and Sept. 26; the Best of Clinton County Festival and parade on June 21; scarecrow displays from Sept. 1 to Nov. 4; the Moonlight Market on Main on Oct. 5; and the Haven Holidays parade and Small Business Saturdays kick off on Nov. 29.

You can watch DLH’s website and Facebook page to keep up with updates regarding the themes and more about these events.

These events, Dally said, are helpful in bringing folks downtown and encourages them to explore what the central business district has to offer.

“We have our community events and those are important. But a strong part of the work we’re doing as an organization is to really promote shop local, eat local, get services done local,” Dally said.

Downtown Lock Haven, Inc.

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205 E. Main St.,

Lock Haven, PA 17745

www.lockhaven.org / 570-748-1576