Vacant properties on N. 2nd Street in downtown Harrisburg
The first steps towards a redevelopment strategy for downtown Harrisburg are beginning to take shape.
On Monday, Harrisburg-area officials announced that an initial grant of $50,000 will be used to engage the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) to start the public engagement, planning and convening process for an eventual revitalization plan.
“This funding allows us to begin doing what revitalization requires most—bringing people together around a shared vision, said Ryan Unger, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC, in a statement.
The Harrisburg-based PDC is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing central business districts throughout the commonwealth. Last week, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA), a state-appointed body that oversees Harrisburg’s finances, voted to give $50,000 of its own funds to kickstart the planning process.
According to area officials, additional funding will be announced in early 2026 to conduct and complete a comprehensive recovery plan for the downtown, which has suffered major business and job losses following the pandemic and the loss of a large number of office and state workers to remote and hybrid work.
In addition to CREDC, the ICA and PDC, other partners in the initiative include the city and the area’s legislative delegation, which secured additional funds as part of the state’s 2026 budget.
“As we finalize the details on a significant amount of funding dollars we have secured, we look forward to announcing a downtown planning process that addresses both immediate and long-term priorities for Harrisburg city,” said Sen. Patty Kim (D-15), in a statement.
The goal is to complete a recovery plan, which then will serve as a blueprint to attract redevelopment funds into the downtown. A model is the plan for Pittsburgh, which eventually generated over $600 million in downtown investments, according to Unger.
“We can replicate the successes seen elsewhere in 2026,” said state Rep. Nate Davidson (D-103). “We just need to finalize a plan, which I am confident we will do soon.”
For more information on the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, visit their website.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
