Lewisburg Downtown Partnership Wins Grants, Promotes Regional Fundraising Campaign

The Lewisburg Downtown Partnership has secured $175,000 in state funding through Pennsylvania's Main Street Matters program, splitting the award between direct micro-grants for downtown merchants and a dedicated investment in new wayfinding and gateway signage across the borough.

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the funding as part of a broader slate of 81 community projects at a Main Street America Conference in Philadelphia. Lewisburg was selected to receive two separate grants: a $75,000 Business Improvement Grant and a $100,000 Implementation Grant.

The Business Improvement Grant will reach merchants through micro-grants capped at $5,000 each, available to businesses in the downtown district. Eligible uses include strengthening operations, fostering long-term growth, and making critical facade, structural, or interior improvements. The LDP is treating the program as a rolling opportunity and has been actively urging merchants to apply through its newsletters.

"The Business Improvement Grant program will directly support the hardworking entrepreneurs who are the heartbeat of downtown," said Ellen Ruby, executive director of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership. "We're excited to help them grow, thrive, and continue to enrich our community."

The full $100,000 Implementation Grant has been reserved for wayfinding signage projects. Planned improvements include brown historic street signs, an interactive downtown map, historic highway signs, and gateway signs at the intersection of Routes 45 and 15. Ruby called the investment transformative for how visitors first encounter the borough.

"This investment through Main Street Matters is a game changer for Lewisburg," Ruby said. "With these new gateway signs, we're inviting the world to discover the heart and soul of our community, our historic downtown and the people and businesses that make it so special."

Ruby added: "This is what happens when a community comes together. With help from Main Street Matters and the dedicated support of local leaders, residents, and business owners, Lewisburg is stepping into a new chapter of vibrancy and opportunity."

Alongside the grant news, LDP launched the Lewisburg Business Roundtable in February, a monthly gathering for downtown business owners and entrepreneurs focused on connection, collaboration, and economic vitality. The inaugural session was held February 23 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and was made available to view on YouTube.

The partnership also wrapped its 22nd Annual Ice Festival in early 2026, with the LDP noting that frigid temperatures did not dampen participation.

Downtown merchants seeking information about the Business Improvement Grant can contact the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership at (570) 523-1743 or visit the office at 328 Market Street in Lewisburg.