Sunbury invests in its downtown to support talent retention and attraction

Under the leadership of the nonprofit, Sunbury’s Revitalization Inc. (SRI), the city of Sunbury in Northumberland County is investing heavily in community development, building up small business owners while attracting and retaining residents. Since 1986, SRI has been primarily a volunteer-driven organization. Recently, through a series of grants and support from local organizations, SRI has been able to hire full-time staff to work toward its goals.

“We have developed a 5-year strategic plan this year specifically tailored for our community,” says Sarah Bower, Downtown Manager of SRI. “We plan to move forward with our ‘ThinkSunbury’ brand and apply for Main Street Designation in 2026.”

The SRI team wants to highlight everything happening in the city, from its locally owned restaurants and shops to its outdoor recreation and historic sites. Not only will these efforts attract visitors to Sunbury, but they will also highlight why it’s a great place to live or grow a business. 

Sunbury Plans to Showcase Its Strong Music Culture  

SRI’s focus areas this year will be highlighting the value of living downtown while attracting and developing businesses around the city. One key asset working in SRI’s favor is the existing music culture in the region.

One of SRI’s projects, the Albright Center for the Arts, has a vision to become a performing arts and community center. Sunbury is home to a lively music scene with live music at many bars and restaurants downtown. So, the Albright Center offers programs to support creative entrepreneurs. For example, the Tuesday Night Music Club is a place for a collective of tenured musicians to pass on knowledge and best practices as musicians, entrepreneurs, marketers, and business owners.

“Many bars and restaurants in Sunbury host local artists and offer open mic nights,” says Bower. “We want to showcase these events so residents and visitors know where to go to relax after a long day at work or on the weekend.”

By investing in Sunbury's live music culture, SRI supports local restaurants and event spaces. These efforts also contribute to talent attraction and retention efforts by showcasing how Sunbury is a fun place to live with plenty to do throughout the week.  

SRI Collaborates With Other Development Organizations 

While the SRI team is passionate about Sunbury, it recognizes the value of developing the Central Pennsylvania region as a whole. The team collaborates with other organizations to identify growth opportunities. 

“Other communities in our surrounding region face similar challenges,” says Bower. “It’s helpful that our organizations support each other, because when one community grows, everyone benefits.”

Bower herself is a great example of cross-team collaboration. As a student at Susquehanna University, she accepted an internship at DRIVE, becoming the organization's first intern. Over her five weeks with DRIVE, she attended property tours, learned about grant writing, and experienced several aspects of economic development.

“DRIVE exposed me to a lot of things that usually aren’t taught in college,” says Bower. “They let me jump in to try new things and were insanely creative in how they mentored me as their intern.”

Upon her graduation, the DRIVE team recommended Bower for the Downtown Manager role at SRI, where she is now thriving.

“Everything I learned at DRIVE is helpful here,” she says. “My internship definitely prepared me for this role.”

Bower is a case study in talent retention. The support she received from DRIVE and other community members after graduating from college helped her launch her career and discover a passion for the region. She is likely to remain in the area and make a positive impact here. 

Growing Central Pennsylvania is a Team Effort

This region is poised for growth because so many people are eager to work toward a shared vision for the future. At SRI, executive director Jody Ocker turned a volunteer role into a full department with paid employees. This wouldn’t have been possible without grant-writing support and private partners donating to the organization.

“Our supporters believe in what we are doing,” says Bower. “A lot of cities are doing cool things, but the fact that these companies see the efforts of a non-profit economic development is really special.”

Outside of SRI, the team at DRIVE continues to check in with Bower to see if she needs anything. Even though the internship is over, the professional partnerships and opportunities for collaboration remain.

“There is a whole community of people working toward a common goal,” says Bower. “So many people are collaborating to support the region and grow it.”

The best part is that anyone can contribute to the growth of Sunbury and greater Central Pennsylvania. Simply attending SRI events and concerts at the Albright, or stopping by a favorite restaurant when a local band is playing can have a positive impact, while also offering a fun time. Showing up is the first step toward making a difference. 

See The Impact of Collaboration on Central Pennsylvania

DRIVE is successful because of its partnerships throughout the region. Learn more about our work and how we support new entrepreneurs, existing companies, and enterprises expanding to the area. Our team can connect you to the resources you need and valuable partners that can help you reach your goals.

Contact us today and tell us about your business and community plans.