A past small mural installation in Harrisburg (Photo by Dani Fresh)
Moving forward on a plan to revitalize downtown Harrisburg, local and state officials announced a new grant program Thursday designed to bolster public art and pop-up installations.
The “MyHBG Create Your Community” grant program will award between $500 and $2,500 to applicants for “mini” low‑cost community-driven projects that enhance downtown public spaces, improve safety or strengthen the neighborhood’s identity.
Ryan Unger, president and CEO of Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, said at a press conference Thursday that these grants are designed to spur imaginative public spaces. Undertakings could be things like murals; artistic sidewalks, crosswalks or alleyways; public art installations; or pop-up plazas, parks or events.
Ryan Unger, president and CEO of Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, spoke at the event.
“We’re excited to engage with the artistic community here in our city,” said Unger, noting grant applications will open on Monday.
He added that applicants are encouraged to come up with their own ideas for projects.
“We don’t have any kind of predisposed ideas of what we will see,” he said.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, small businesses and community groups with nonprofit sponsors. Grants exceeding $2,500 may be awarded to applicants who demonstrate significant project impact and deliverability.
Once awarded, groups are expected to implement their short-scale projects within three months. Because many projects will be implemented in public spaces, Unger emphasized that the revitalization group will help applicants coordinate plans with the city of Harrisburg and PennDOT and that the application review committee will include city leaders and employees.
The public installations can last anywhere from a day to a year-and-a-half, according to Unger.
Edquina Washington, Harrisburg’s new economic development director, said that the program employs a concept called “tactical urbanism,” a city-building approach that uses short-term, low-cost projects to create momentum for long-term change.
Edquina Washinton, Harrisburg Economic Development Director
“The projects will provide a unique opportunity for all community members to take an active role in redesigning the visual tapestry of the city of Harrisburg,” Washington said. “We invite everyone to unite in creating your community, neighborhoods, community groups, organizations, businesses.”
Washington noted that project ideas throughout the city are welcome, although downtown projects “will strongly be encouraged.”
The city will engage in the efforts itself, she added, by working with King Prolifik (artist Bryan Hickman) on a painted electrical box at Pine and Front streets at Riverfront Park. The project was orchestrated by Harrisburg’s Mikell Simpson of Capital Rebirth. The city will also put in planters at Front and Forster streets in the coming weeks, she said.
State Sen. Patty Kim noted Thursday that, while the entire revitalization of downtown Harrisburg is expected to take between 10 and 20 years, these short-scale projects can make a difference today.
“We can customize our city the way we want to see it, to put our creativity in, and to really highlight our artists,” Kim said.
State Sen. Patty Kim
Kim gave an example. She said that Justin Browning, the owner of several businesses along downtown Harrisburg’s N. 2nd Street corridor, put a painting of a butterfly on a vacant building he owned and that, while it was a small thing, she’s seen it bring smiles to people posing with the artwork for social media.
“We’re going to try to amplify that,” Kim said.
The grants are funded through a partnership with the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
The “My HBG Create Your Community” grant program was created in partnership with Harrisburg, DCED, Kim, state representatives Dave Madsen and Nate Davidson, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and Visit Hershey Harrisburg.
Applicants can apply by visiting downtownHBG.com, where all information about downtown Harrisburg’s ongoing revitalization project has been consolidated.
Applicants must pay for projects up front and then will be reimbursed for the cost of the project.
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