***Congratulations to Emmaus!***
This Lehigh County borough was voted the top 87th place to live in the country by Money Magazine!

The Emmaus Main Street Program (EMSP) is a 501c3 non-profit corporation founded in 1995 with the purpose of preserving and revitalizing the historic downtown district of Emmaus. Since then, the scope of the program’s reach has grown to include the entire Borough of Emmaus.

The EMSP is a member supported organization serving over 300 businesses and 12,000 residents of Emmaus.

Emmaus is rich in character, culture and history. The EMSP works hard to maintain these qualities while promoting economic stability. Working with several community groups and the Borough of Emmaus, the EMSP assists in the research and study of local issues, the development of effective plans and goals, and the implementation of action items necessary for a healthy economic, residential and business environment.Â

The EMSP is governed by a 30 member Board of Directors. The board consists of an Executive Committee, an Organization Committee, a Design Committee, a Promotions Committee, an Economic Development Committee and 15 sub-committees. Sub-committees may also include non-board members.

Highlights of the EMSP –

• Community events - including Faschnacht & Forsythia Festival, Emmaus Heritage Days and the Emmaus Old Fashioned Christmas Festival;
• Monthly Merchant Meetings – opportunity for local merchants to meet and discuss topics such as cooperative advertising, parking issues, traffic or lighting concerns, ideas for future events, and more;
• The Emmaus CertiGuide Program – a 3 week training workshop helping to educate our merchants and residents on where everything is in Emmaus. ‘Graduates’ of the program will receive a window decal indicating they have been trained to help assist visitors, tourists and customers about how to get around Emmaus and find what they are looking for;
• Brough-wide Marketing Campaign - to promote Emmaus in the valley and to entice visitors to shop, dine and explore Emmaus;
• A Façade Improvement Project – making funds available to qualifying businesses to help underwrite the costs of renovating the exteriors of their buildings;
• A Downtown Development Project – working with several funding and supporting sources to establish a downtown ‘community center’ and to address the subsequent issue of parking;
• The Emmaus Community Guide – a comprehensive booklet filled with information on shopping, dining, exploring, borough official contact information; school district information; parks & recreation; community clubs/organizations and activities;Â
• Emma the Emmaus Triangle Community Quilt – a life-size mule decorated in red-white-blue triangles (representing the center of town) with names of residents and businesses ‘quilted’ in each triangle;
• Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies – the EMSP hosts a grand opening for new businesses and arranges press coverage;
• Business Recruiting and Development – the EMSP maintains a list of available properties and works with people interested in moving into Emmaus or expanding their business;
• The Emmaus Heritage Alliance Signage Project – the EMSP, as a member of the Emmaus Heritage Alliance, is collaborating on a signage project which will help identify Emmaus historic sites and provide direction as to their locations. The project includes a color tri-fold descriptive brochure;