The City of Bradford’s Main Street Program has applied to
participate in a federal historic preservation program that could
bring more grant funds into the city’s historic district.
Main Street Manager Diane DeWalt explained Wednesday that the
Preserve America Communities Program “does tie in with the historic
preservation we have been working on for the past few years.”
“We have applied to become a Preserve America Community so we
can take advantage of the benefits offered,” she said.
Although it is a new program without a lot of established
history, DeWalt was able to name some of the benefits apparent with
membership.
“The program itself offers federal grant monies to communities
for different projects that would improve the downtown areas,” she
explained, “and they are not bricks and mortar projects. The one
that I was applying for had more to do with helping start another
business and helping market the downtown area for heritage
tourism.
“We do have a great opportunity in this area to draw more
travelers through here that could stop and enjoy the area,” she
said. DeWalt referred to events in the region that draw visitors,
such as the Zippo-Case International Swap Meet, the upcoming 125th
anniversary celebration of the American Refining Group’s Bradford
refinery, the Jeep Jamboree, the Kinzua Outdoor and Travel Show and
Autumn Daze Car Show.
“We have more and more of these events that are successful and
growing,” she said. “We are trying to build our heritage tourism to
bring more people into our area to visit, to showcase our historic
resources we have.”
To help bring people in, DeWalt is working to advertise in
conjunction with statewide events.
“There’s a lot of energy and attention going into tourism
through the state right now,” she said. “We are trying to tie in to
some activities that are more broadly marketed and take advantage
of the state efforts in promoting our area.”
Referring to the Preserve America Communities Program, DeWalt
said, “this is just another way to take advantage of that.”
The state’s Preserve America Communities Program is under the
auspices of the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission. The
Commission’s Bureau of Historic Preservation assists local
governments in applying for and achieving the designation of a
certified local government.
Bradford has been named a certified local government, DeWalt
explained. That designation opens the city up for technical
assistance and matching grants through the Bureau of Historic
Preservation.
DeWalt said that Michel Lefevre, a representative of the
commission, will be coming to Bradford for a City Council work
session at 6 p.m. Jan. 17.
“He’s coming up to review with city council and others all the
different aspects of being a certified local government, and also
talk about the benefits of having an active and vibrant historic
district,” DeWalt said.
She added that four new members have recently been appointed to
the city’s Historic Architectural Review Board, and Lefevre’s visit
will count as training time for those members.
“For the new council members, it will be a good review and will
help tie in some of the historic preservation commentary to how it
works in downtowns and the benefits of having a historic district
and the economics of having a historic district,” DeWalt said.
