LEDC History

The LEDC was formed in 1998 by a group of Lansdowne residents and business owners with support from Lansdowne Borough Council out of concern for the vitality of Lansdowne’s Central Business District, (CBD). At that time, most of the larger buildings in the CBD were vacant and in a continued state of decline. Store front vacancies were at record high levels and there had not been any new commercial development in the CBD in decades. The LEDC was formed as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation and received its designation as a public charity from the Internal Revenue Service effective September 21, 1998. The corporation was patterned after the model adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, (DCED), for the Main Street Program. Initially the corporation was formed with a nine member volunteer Board of Directors appointed by Lansdowne Borough Council. The Board of Directors was empowered to recruit new members and to replace retiring members. The corporation is allowed a maximum number of fifteen board members all of whom are volunteers and receive no compensation. All of the current and former board members are or were Lansdowne residents or Lansdowne businesses owners.

In 2005, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, (DCED), designated the LEDC as a Pennsylvania Main Street Program. The Main Street program is a nation-wide project of the National Trust of Historic Preservation that employs a comprehensive, community-led approach to revitalization. The Main Street platform is based on creating a comprehensive design for the downtown, promoting the community and businesses, encouraging economic activity through programs and events, ensuring economic stability and vitality with new businesses and industries, and maintaining a sustainable organization to help navigate changes in the community.

LEDC Current Structure and Activities

Since 2005, the LEDC has maintained its status as both a state and national Main Street accredited community. The LEDC conducts its activities through four Board-led committees: Economic Restructuring, Design, Organization and Promotion. Further information on their activities of can be found in the “Committees” section of LansdownesFuture.org.

A full-time Main Street Manager complements the talents of the Board and supports committee work. The Main Street Manager is responsible for establishing relationships with the Borough government and other organizations and coordinates the LEDC’s projects and programs.

Dedicated volunteers form the backbone of the organization. Board members regularly contribute 3,000 hours annually to LEDC business and its initiatives and non-Board volunteers regularly provide an additional 4,000 – 5,000 hours per year. Lansdowne is one of the most active Main Street Communities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation placed second with the greatest amount of volunteer hours. (Pennsylvania Downtown Center Top Performing Main/Elm Streets, 2010) The LEDC invites you to share your talents to help make Lansdowne a better place. The Main Street Program is based on community involvement. Please share your talents and contribute to Lansdowne’s continued evolution and success.