Downtown Bellefonte Inc. works to bring more people, business to borough
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BELLEFONTE. -- From seasonal festivals to workshops that help entrepreneurs promote their businesses, Downtown Bellefonte Inc. is working to bring more people to the borough while helping local businesses grow.
The organization focuses on promoting Bellefonte's historic downtown, supporting local merchants and encouraging residents and visitors to spend time and money in the community, according to Tom Crist, community manager for Downtown Bellefonte Inc.
"We're trying to promote all the businesses and grow businesses so that they're successful and they stay within the community," Crist said.
The effort extends beyond business owners. Crist said the organization also works to create opportunities for residents and families to enjoy downtown through community events and activities.
With Bellefonte's Victorian architecture and growing population, Crist said raising awareness of what the borough offers is an important part of attracting visitors and bringing more foot traffic to local stores.
"We're just trying to drive the awareness and get more foot traffic in town," Crist said.
Downtown Bellefonte Inc. works alongside the Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce and Historic Bellefonte Inc. to promote the community and coordinate support for events throughout the year.
Rather than operating independently, the organizations pool resources and help promote one another's activities. Downtown Bellefonte Inc. also supports events organized by its community partners, including Victorian Christmas, the summer cruise and Fall Fest, which it helps organize with the Rotary Club.
The organization also helps with the winter market at Talleyrand Park during Victorian Christmas.
Crist said the collaboration among local organizations has been an important part of the community's recent growth.
"We're really working with all these organizations in Bellefonte together to really pool our resources and really support each other for each of their different events," Crist said.
Through a grant with the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, Downtown Bellefonte Inc. helps fund advertising to promote community events through radio, television, print and other media. The organization has expanded its outreach beyond Centre County to surrounding areas, including Blair County and Williamsport, to attract visitors who may not otherwise be familiar with Bellefonte.
The organization also works directly with entrepreneurs through its Springboard program, which aims to help people learn how to start and grow businesses in the borough.
Crist said Downtown Bellefonte Inc. tries to hold two Springboard events each year, connecting prospective business owners with local resources and information about opening a business.
The organization also offers educational opportunities for existing businesses. A planned advertising and marketing workshop, expected to take place in January or February, will give small-business owners the opportunity to learn from media professionals about promoting their businesses through social media, print, radio and other channels.
The workshop will be free to small businesses, Crist said, and will focus on helping owners make the most of limited advertising budgets. Participants will also have an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss which marketing strategies have worked for them.
Funding from Centre County helps support some of these efforts, Crist said.
While the organization works to bring more visitors into Bellefonte, Crist said local businesses can also stand out by offering products and services that customers might not find at larger retailers.
He pointed to Belle Mercantile as an example of a store carrying distinctive merchandise and locally made products, including goods from other area businesses.
Supporting those products can create benefits beyond a single store, Crist said, by helping local producers and merchants reach customers through a shared community network.
Crist said the organization listens to businesses about what they need and uses that feedback when considering future initiatives. He declined to single out one business as a specific example of the organization's impact, explaining that Downtown Bellefonte Inc. wants to ensure all merchants feel included in its efforts.
The organization also tracks the reach of its advertising through digital statistics, including information about where its content is reaching audiences and how people are engaging with it. Those measurements help guide decisions about future promotional efforts.
Community events provide another way to see the impact of bringing people downtown.
Crist cited a recent Wine and Spirits Walk organized primarily by the chamber, with involvement from Historic Bellefonte Inc. The event included 15 participating merchants and sold all 200 available tickets.
Participants received maps directing them to businesses throughout downtown, encouraging them to walk around and visit different stores.
For Crist, the event illustrated how an organized activity can introduce people to businesses they might not otherwise visit, even on a Saturday in October that did not coincide with a Penn State football weekend.
Downtown Bellefonte Inc. maintains a busy annual event calendar, with plans to continue improving existing activities based on feedback from attendees and vendors. Crist said the organization is focused on building on successful events and finding ways to bring more people into the borough.
He also sees opportunities to attract visitors from State College, which offers a different atmosphere because of its larger size and university presence.
Crist said Bellefonte has its own appeal, from its historic buildings to its locally owned shops and the sense of community that comes from residents supporting one another.
For residents who want to help local businesses succeed, Crist said the message is simple: attend community events, shop locally and support neighborhood merchants.
"Just continue to look and support your neighbors, and when that happens, the community gets stronger, and everybody wins at the end," Crist said.
Crist said the organization is proud of Bellefonte and plans to continue working with local businesses, residents and community partners to make the borough an even stronger place to live, work and visit.