Reading City Council Approves $1.2M Grant for Downtown Revitalization

Reading City Council has authorized a $1.2 million Main Street Matters grant application to the state, seeking funds to revitalize key downtown corridors. The funding, if approved, would be used for several initiatives in the 400 and 500 blocks of Penn Street and the 100 and 200 blocks of North Fifth Street, including facade improvements, business micro-loans and incentives for second-story residential development. Additionally, a portion of the grant is a planning grant to explore the creation of a new downtown management entity, such as a Business Improvement District (BID), to replace the former Downtown Improvement District (DID) that closed in 2020. Officials noted that the city is prepared to provide the required matching funds and that this initial application represents a starting point for more consistent, annual revitalization efforts.