Education
The Pennsylvania Downtown Center is dedicated to making the Main Streets and Elm Streets of Pennsylvania into the best places they can be. That being said, we offer levels of classes for those interested in learning about the Main Street approach.
Community Revitalization 101
Community Revitalization 101 is designed as an introduction to the Main Street Approach to revitalization. It includes detailed insights into the four main components, Design, Marketing, Economic Vitality, and Organization, as well as discussions of mission, vision, basic nonprofit management, and the relationship between the PA Downtown Center, National Main Street Center, and the PA Department of Community & Economic Relations.
It is highly recommended for all new Main Street managers to take this course within the first 6 months of starting a new position, and required as part of a DCED Keystone Designation. It is also valuable for additional staff or board members to enroll.
Currently, the sessions are offered in Harrisburg and at our annual conference, (we are also exploring regional cohorts). Starting in Spring 2024, in addition to these one-day classes, new managers will be paired with an experienced manager to work as a mentor for 6 months following training.
Current Sessions Available:
Community Revitalization Academy
We also offer our Community Revitalization Academy. A five-session 200-level class that offers a deeper dive into the four points of the Main Street Approach, Organization, Asset Enhancement, Design, and Marketing, and a fifth session dedicated to Safe, Clean, and Green. These sessions are offered over a year and are traditionally scheduled in February, (virtually), and April, July, September & November in Harrisburg.
Cohorts for these sessions are currently rolling and can be started at any time during the year. These sessions are once again required for Keystone Designated programs and are highly recommended for corresponding committee chairs of local programs to attend.
Other Classes:
Additional webinars and sessions are available during the course of the year and are announced via the website and email messenger.
For other schedules of classes and pricing, please see our website for details. Discounts for both sessions are available to PA Downtown Center members and free for Keystone Designated Communities.
