Quakertown looks to capitalize on ‘Classic Town’ title

More tourism and broader promotion to homebuyers and business ventures spurred Quakertown Borough to apply and become a member of Classic Towns of Greater Philadelphia.

By accepting Quakertown into the Classic Towns program, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission recognizes the first community more than 50 miles north of Philadelphia.

“Philadelphia Magazine was talking about us, and that is huge,” Tara King, executive director of Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce based in Quakertown, said of the reaction to being listed as a Classic Town.

King keeps regular tabs on social media and related websites and said the Classic Towns membership would dramatically increase Quakertown’s exposure.

“We do well locally, but this makes us more available on a regional basis. We want to draw people here from outside the local area,” King said of promotional efforts.

Increased marketing and publicity aimed at ramping up tourism, fueling new homebuyer interest and business development are the primary benefits to being part of the Classic Towns program, King said.

King coordinated the effort to apply for the Classic Towns membership in August. Quakertown will pay an annual membership fee of $2,500 to be part of Classic Towns and take advantage of the organization’s marketing and public relations programs.

“Tara gathered everyone together and brought them to the table to make this happen,” said Quakertown native Ed Scholl.

Scholl is Quakertown’s economic development consultant. Scholl said bringing new blood into the borough would infuse years of effort to reinvent Quakertown and brand it to a larger audience.

To be considered as a Classic Town, a community must have an active Main Street program or other type of management or business development system; and it must be engaged in smart growth and development in its immediate area, said Karen P. Cilurso. Cilurso is manager of community revitalization for Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in Philadelphia, and a Classic Towns spokeswoman.