Economic Development Explored in New Perk Valley Comprehensive Plan

In the 2013 Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Comprehensive Plan Update draft , a new chapter has been added to the plan to increase the region’s tax base “so economic equilibrium between housing and employment can be reached,” among other recommendations for economic development.

According to Montgomery County Community Planner Marley Bice, there are 13,288 employed people living in the Central Perkiomen Valley region, comprised of Upper and Lower Frederick, Schwenksville, Perkiomen, Trappe and Collegeville, but only 975 – or 7.3 percent – work in the region.  There are 6,254 jobs available in the region, 84 percent of which are filled by those not living in the Central Perkiomen Valley area.

“A new economic goal – ‘to attract new businesses and support existing businesses,’ with specific action steps, has been drafted,” said Bice.

One goal is to “develop a specific brand” that makes the region a destination for ecotourism, with focus on the Perkiomen Trail and nearby destinations such as Evansburg State Park, Green Lane Reservoir, Spring Mount, Pennypacker Park and Sunrise Mill.

The plan suggests increasing the region's tax base, and creating jobs, by attracting new businesses that "reinforce the natural, cultural and historic brand," including restaurants, gift shops, clothing stores, art galleries, home accessories stores, wine and liquor stores, antiques and collectibles markets, music and book stores, sporting goods shops and bed-and-breakfasts and hotels.

These action steps towards economic development include creating opportunities for employment, increasing the number of cultural events in the region, and working together with the local Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC).

The plan suggests creating an economic development committee for the region and merchant outreach associations in the municipalities – similar to the CEDC, which helps to fill commercial vacancies in the borough and runs a full calendar of community and business events throughout the year. 

“A community of businesses has a much better chance at boosting a region’s economic growth than individual businesses operating without help,” according to the plan.

Shopping center redevelopment is also addressed in the plan, noting that older shopping centers in the area are now competing with newer and larger shopping centers in close proximity to the region.

The plan suggests that a shopping center redevelopment plan be created, lead by a steering committee, to strategize.

“Some of the strategies resulting from this planning process most likely will be rezoning for other types of alternative land uses,” according to the plan.

The planning commission is made up of representatives from each member municipality; Gib Williams of Schwenksville serves as the chairman, Dean Becker of Perkiomen Township is the vice chairman

The plan has been sent to each municipality for input; Trappe Borough will hold a public hearing on August 2 for borough residents; hearings in other municipalities will be posted as they are announced.

To read the full draft, click here.