Local Government TV

Friday, August 04, 2017

Nazareth's Downtown Manager Wows NorCo Council

Nazareth Downtown Manager Stephanie Varone wowed NorCo Council yesterday with a description of what she's done since being brought on board 3 1/2 years ago to revive the tiny borough's struggling shopping district. "This is really a success story," said NorCo's Economic Development Director, Tim Herrlinger.

Technically, Varone works for Nazareth Economic Development Comm'n. When she was first hired, it was for 20 hours a week. She now works 30. She is paid $20,000 by Nazareth Borough Council, with another $15,000 coming from Northampton County.

Describing Nazareth as "the little engine that could," she predicted that it could be "a little New Hope." She called her organization "the hub of all that's happening in Nazareth."

And here I thought it was poker machines.

Varone said that, unlike other downtown managers, she took no college courses in economic development. She instead studied marketing. "To me, Nazareth was a business that needed to be promoted," she said.

So how did Varone promote Nazareth?
  • She squeezed borough council for 40 banners in the downtown district to make the shopping district look good.
  • She created Nazareth Now, listing events and local businesses in a positive light.
  • At the county's suggestion, she started a farmers' market on Saturdays in the Nazareth Circle. It has grown from 6 to 27 vendors. Saturday is now the top retail day in the shopping district. But she warned that farmers' markets have grown 400% in the Lehigh Valley.
  • She's pursued facade grant opportunities with Northampton County, and has turned a $50,000 public investment into $140,000 worth of facade improvements.
  • She has personally recruited eight new businesses over the past three years, from the Xpresso Cafe to her own boutique, which she calls Smooch on Main. (That's where Ken Kraft buys his lipstick.) This is $797,000 in leases and a $2 million investment.
  • She persuaded borough council to build a municipal parking lot to handle foot traffic.
  • She has recruited two brew pubs, indicating that craft beer vendors usually develop a following. One of these, which may or may not be called Kerrigan's, is expected to open in December or January. A lease has been signed for a second brew pub, called Birthright Brewery, at 57 S Main Street, site of the former Nazareth National Bank. She expects to see it in business within 60-90 days.
Varone failed to mention that one of the businesses she recruited, the Run Inn from Emmaus, ran out. It is now a vacant storefront. An art gallery she touted is never open. The only things I see there are utility shut off notices. She also apparently had a hand in persuading a well-established pest extermination business, Rid-Et, to leave. She complained about a giant insect in the storefront window. While that may be counter to the New Hope image she is trying to create, it is precisely the kind of shop that makes sense to the practically-minded people who live in Nazareth. 

Varone admitted that Nazareth has had some bad press recently. You'll have this when a police chief chains and perp walks accused litterbugs while the Mayor is skimming from poker machines. You do tend to get a black eye when a council member obstructs a state police investigation into illegal gambling at the clubs. If truth be told, there's been far too little said.

She noted that she's been called a cheerleader, and that's true because I'm the person who called her one. "I like that, actually," she told Council, stating she is "flattered"

"I will do whatever it takes to have something positive in the news," she said.

I perceive my role a little differently. My first obligation is to be honest with my readers. That in the end is the best way to spur business growth.

I exposed corruption in Nazareth. This included a state grant for a private social club at which Council member Larry Stout is a bartender. It also included a grand jury investigation of then Mayor Carl Strye's little skimming operation.

At a borough council meeting, Varone called me "venomous" and a "cancer," so you know she's a pretty good judge of character.

She is a cheerleader, and a good one. She has made a difference in Nazareth. But businesses will stay away from a town full of corruption. Allentown is Exhibit 1 in that argument. Businesses will also avoid a top-heavy police department that is failing miserably. Exposing this wrongdoing may have short-term consequences, but in the long run, improves the economic climate. 

(Blogger's Note: I missed the first part of Varone's presentation, but watched it online.)

15 comments:

  1. They are easily wowed. The Republicans are big on spending county money on these business feel goo deals, yet they stiff county services. Time for a change for the better.

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  2. No change coming with no-show McClueless.

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  3. Bernie
    Do you know the name of which department issued that state grant for a private club?

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  4. Despite the scandals at Borough Hall, Nazareth remains a very nice community. It's clean, safe, has great schools, and property values are strong. I don't know what impact this woman has had. But Nazzy is pretty cool. Don't forget Martin on Main this weekend.

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  5. Trachea is gone and Trevor is on Megan's list time to stop with that.

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  6. She should run in a "write in" campaign for county exec! What did she want anyway, more money?

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  7. Ms. Varone is a political hack of the reigning corrupt government in Nazareth. Her cheerleading stunts tries to hide the rampant corruptness of the borough's top leadership.

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  8. Did this women do a power pointialism with the sales pitch that wowed the crowed from an advertisement point of view. Than I personally could never understand these micro-brew things popping up all over as the drinking of yeast waste products is not my cup of tea?
    Thhere is the main angle here that nobody seems to be looking at between the colurful facades, without maitenence and proper operating mechanics, the old addage of lipstick on a pig is the main theory of this denigration. Than there is the lowes and depot experience were there should be a real hardwear store front and center.

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  9. I applaud her efforts and give her credit for advancing the ball in a less than optimal political environment.

    As @6:32 says - Nazareth has a lot going for it despite a few zits and warts in the boro. I don't think Main/Broad will ever compete with the big box stores on 248 or 191, but 2 brew pubs maybe a another sit down restaurant or two will draw people in a little more regularly, create additional foot traffic that might support boutiques/specialty retailers.

    They should try to have the Farmers Market open on a Friday night once a month once the brew pubs are open. Wonder if they did something like that in conjunction with home football games at the high school... Parents could drop kids off at the game then drive/stroll over to Main for an hour or two...

    Scott

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  10. "Do you know the name of which department issued that state grant for a private club?"

    Yes, it was Commonwealth Financing Authority, one of the least transparent agencies in Harrisburg. It was Monroe County gaming funds, and the money was used for improvements at the legion. The borough was the applicant, but he $ was for the legion,and Stoudt voted for it in an obvious conflict. The legion is not only a private club,but has been cited multiple times for illegal gambling.

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  11. " Nazzy is pretty cool. Don't forget Martin on Main this weekend."

    I neglected to mention that in my story.I like Martin on Main quite a bit. It reminds me of Musikfest before it got so crowded and in many ways became a victim of its own success.

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  12. "She should run in a "write in" campaign for county exec! What did she want anyway, more money?"

    Nazareth has applied for a facade grant again this year, but she was before Council bc Herrlinger asked her to come and make a presentation. She did not decide on her own to go there. Although some of the businesses she recruits have failed, that's by no means her fault. She does deserve credit for making the effort.

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  13. Good on her for trying to polish the turd known as Nazareth but we all know you can't polish a turd.

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  14. Blogger Bernie O'Hare said...
    "Do you know the name of which department issued that state grant for a private club?"

    Yes, it was Commonwealth Financing Authority, one of the least transparent agencies in Harrisburg. It was Monroe County gaming funds, and the money was used for improvements at the legion. The borough was the applicant, but he $ was for the legion,and Stoudt voted for it in an obvious conflict. The legion is not only a private club,but has been cited multiple times for illegal gambling.

    August 4, 2017 at 11:45 AM

    Thank you Bernie.

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  15. TREVOR GEHRET report on it.!!

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