Sea Isle Revitalization

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Sea Isle Revitalization

Collegeville’s Main Street Manager knows how tough running a small business can be. She’s done it herself COLLEGEVILLE PA – Rachael Morrison, formerly the revitalization director of Sea Isle City NJ,has been hired by the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation as the new manager of the borough’s Main Street Program. Her work to revitalize Collegeville’s commercial area began last month and she’s already hit the pavement to introduce herself to local business owners.

A map of Collegeville's Main Street District

“We are really fortunate to have Rachael as our new manager,” corporation President Brian Dubas said. “She comes to Collegeville with significant experience in owning and operating her own business, as well as heading up Sea Isle Revitalization, a non-profit organization. We intend to take full advantage of her Main Street management, business and marketing skills.” Her office is located at 476 E. Main Street, Collegeville PA. Morrison has already paid her entrepreneurial dues. She started and ran for seven years a boutique clothing business called “Haven” on Landis Avenue in Sea Isle City, that municipality’s main street. During that period she also became promotions chairman for Sea Isle Revitalization, and worked for three years to promote the town’s entire business district. Her enthusiasm, ability to get things done and track record convinced Sea Isle Revitalization to create a full-time paid position for her as its director, according to Dubas Jasmine Live. Some of Morrison’s New Jersey successes included starting and running a 20-vendor farmers’ market, an “Artists on Landis,” promotion, an annual wine festival, “Harbor Fest;” special business nights, during which all Landis Avenue businesses conducted indoor and sidewalk sales; and “Mother’s Day” and “Girls” weekends that paired clothing and apparel store sales with promotions at restaurants and other businesses. Morrison relocated to the Philadelphia area last year to be closer to her family as her children grew older. “I am huge advocate of small towns,” Morrison said. “I grew up in a Navy family, and we moved frequently. You realize how important having a sense of community is to your quality-of-life. In ‘small-town America’ people recognize you when you walk down the street, and they stop and talk. The businesses you shop in know your likes and dislikes, and I believe you get the best products at the best price through them.” The corporation in 2010 commissioned the JGSC Group to perform a comprehensive market analysis of Collegeville’s entire business district in 2010. It created a detailed plan to create a more robust business district. Morrison has reviewed the plan, and hopes to get it started by attracting small clothing boutiques that would appeal to students and residents, as well as interesting niche stores to differentiate Collegeville from Providence Town Center. Morrison succeeds Linda Flederbach Jasmin Live, who left the Main Street Manager’s job at the end of 2011 to work full-time in her own business, Joe Paws Dog Bakery in Boyertown.