Hatboro Borough Council announced this week the return of Stephen Barth, president of Barth Consulting Group, a Doylestown-based economic development and revitalization consulting firm.

Barth will again assist the Hatboro community and its businesses after serving as the borough’s Main Street Manager from 2010 through 2018.

“Hatboro is uniquely positioned to capitalize on its continuing growth and the influx of new investment downtown,” Barth said. “As the community continues to expand this is an exciting opportunity for Hatboro to sculpt its future, support its businesses, attract new ones and capitalize upon its successes.”

Borough manager Diane Hegele told Glenside Local that over the next year Barth Consulting Group will work closely with Hatboro businesses and promote the community by courting and accelerating new investment.

“I’m excited to have him back on board with us. We wanted to show the business community that we’re invested in them. He’ll be meeting with owners to talk to them about their needs, assist with promoting businesses, and he’s going to work with some businesses that haven’t opened yet to help them along. I think he’s going to try to work with Gamburg’s as well as the Ross, both of which are empty,” Hegele said.

“He wants to put together a list of vacant properties and see if there’s a way to market and fill them. He’s also going to start making videos to tell our story and why you’d want to open a business here,” Hegele said, noting that Barth will begin his initiatives once the borough’s Main Street Matters grant is passed.

“He’ll be working one day a week. The hope is that the state will see the need to give the funding and award us the grant,” she said.

Borough Council designated $62,500 for Downtown Development. Hegele said Barth Consulting will receive an unspecified portion of that amount until the grant is awarded.

“Hatboro has experienced substantial growth since 2018 with many new businesses and land development projects completed or soon to be completed,” Council President Nicole Reichner said. “As Main Street evolves and grows the Hatboro Borough Council is investing back into and supporting the community and its businesses by helping to continue to shape our vibrant, walkable downtown.”

For more details about Hatboro’s up-and-coming small business scene, you can read our previous coverage here.

About Barth Consulting Group:

Barth Consulting Group is an economic development and revitalization consulting firm that partners with municipalities to create vibrant downtowns. BCG over the past 15 years has helped create over $800 million in new downtown development and investment, created over 3,000 new jobs, helped open over 400+ new businesses and secured millions in grant funding for communities.

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Photo: barthconsultinggroup.com