That’s the message Gov. Josh Shapiro shared on Wednesday when announcing the area’s designation through Pennsylvania’s Main Street Matters program in front of a crowd of many dozens at East End Coffee Co.

The program would open the community up to as much as $225,000 in grant funding that provides downtown business districts with the tools they need to create healthy, vibrant communities.

Shapiro – who was joined by Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Sigler and PA Downtown Center Executive Director Julie Fitzpatrick — spent the afternoon visiting Lewistown businesses like Downtown OIP and Paisley Bride.

“You have a great Main Street and one where I see great promise for the future,” Shapiro said. “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is all in when it comes to supporting your vision for what you’re trying to build here.”

Sentinel photo by ERIN THOMPSON
Gov. Josh Shapiro chats with Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rhonda Kelley Wednesday during a stop at Downtown OIP in Lewistown. Also pictured are Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development Secretary Rick Sigler and Mifflin County Commissioner Rob Postal.

Shapiro created the Main Street Matters initiative and secured $20 million as part of the 2024-25 bipartisan budget to invest in projects that improve infrastructure, boost local economies, and strengthen communities.

“Every main street is the beating heart of a community. It’s the place where people come and gather. It’s the place that — to me, shows the vibrancy and resiliency of a community – and I want you to know – main streets matter,” Shapiro said. Through the program, “we’re helping communities redevelop storefronts and build our sidewalks and improve facades and lighting and safety in the community. I want you to know that this stuff really matters.”

Shapiro introduced East End Coffee Co. co-owner Ryan Cherry, who was credited with leading the charge in breathing new life in downtown Lewistown when they opened in 2017.

“We started this not just to serve great coffee, but to bring the community back together,” he said. “No matter what your world view is; what your political view is; what your religious view is; different lifestyles under a common roof come together to make Lewistown, not just what it could be, but what it should be.”

Cherry described the vision he and his wife, Lillah, had for the business when they started.

Sentinel photo by ERIN THOMPSON
Gov. Josh Shapiro chats with Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation Executive Director Nick Felice Wednesday during a stop at Downtown OIP in Lewistown. Also pictured is Alyssa Brown of the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“We wanted to provide a location for those people that might not have had a home before. The artists, musicians, creators, creatives. We wanted to provide a place for you to get out and do your thing,” Cherry said. “We believe so much that divisive speech and rhetoric that we hear in the world today locally comes not just from the lack of community. It comes from not being face to face with your neighbor; not talking to people from an online echo chamber where everybody’s just reaffirming your beliefs. We wanted to create a space that would help offset that.”

Fitzpatrick recognized Jim Zubler, executive director of Downtown Lewistown Inc., who she said was instrumental in Lewistown’s revitalization efforts and Downtown Lewistown’s board chairman Jon Zimmerman, who recently passed away.

“Jon was a champion for Lewistown and a champion for downtowns and neighborhoods throughout Pennsylvania. We lost him just a few short months ago, but he will never be forgotten in the legacy that he’s left in this town,” she said.

Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish, who introduced Shapiro, said the Main Street Matters will support downtown revitalization through planning support, facade and business grants, accessible housing and development initiatives.

“It is targeted at creating vibrant, attractive communities and economic corridors through coordination between municipal governments, non-profits and community organizations.”

Sentinel photo by ERIN THOMPSON
Gov. Josh Shapiro chats with Downtown OIP customer Craig Rupert during a stop at Downtown OIP in Lewistown. Also pictured is Downtown OIP owner John Pannizzo.

Kodish said the new status links well with the previously-secured Enterprise Zone designation which includes Lewistown and Burnham boroughs and Derry and Granville Townships.

“The Enterprise Zone designation went into effect last October, and one would be hard pressed to find any community in Pa. with both of these designations in place at this time,” he said.

“Main Street Matters is an important addition to our community and we are very humbled and thankful for this recognition and opportunity.”

Main Street Matters is accepting applications for the next round of competitive funding through Aug. 31.

Because of this new designation, the borough’s revitalization organization Downtown Lewistown Inc. will implement its approved five-year strategy to target investment and development, and will focus on removing blight and improving greenspace and amenities.

With the recent purchase of the former Bon-Ton building by Geisinger Medical Group for the new Geisinger School of Nursing, DLI plans to leverage the Main Street designation to grow the nursing program and attract additional health professionals and medical businesses to invest in downtown Lewistown and Mifflin County.

Main Street Matters was created last year by the Governor as a key part of Pennsylvania’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy. DCED administers the program, which has built upon the success of the Keystone Communities Program. DCED has supported downtown Lewistown in the past through KCP façade grants and in 2019, DCED awarded $142,155 to Downtown Lewistown Inc. for a connector project linking West Water Street to the Kish Riverwalk, Victory Park, and Juniata River Trail.

Applicants who are eligible to apply for the latest Main Street Matters competitive project funding include counties, cities, boroughs, townships, towns, and home rule municipalities; redevelopment and/or housing authorities; nonprofit organizations including economic development organizations and housing corporations; community development corporations; and business, neighborhood, and downtown improvement districts and authorities.

Shapiro announced the first round of 81 Main Street Matters grant recipients in April.

Main Street Matters received more than 200 applications requesting more than $43 million in that initial round, underscoring the demand for more strategic investments in Main Streets across Pennsylvania.