Danville Business Alliance Announces New Executive Director
From Danville Business Alliance
The Danville Business Alliance (DBA) announced that it has selected Rebecca Dressler to be its next executive director, succeeding Jim Wilson, who retired on June 30.
Ms. Dressler brings a diverse background to the position, with experience in both the private and public sectors in marketing, business development, and financial planning, as well as serving as deputy treasurer of Montour County, and most recently as the DBA executive assistant. She is a lifelong resident of Danville and a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts in communications. She was chosen from a field of over 30 applicants.
The DBA is a member-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which partners with local businesses, government, community leaders, and residents to promote economic revitalization and reinvestment, historic and architectural preservation, better downtown housing, greater job creation, the growth of the arts, and expanding recreational assets in Danville.
Ms. Dressler will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the DBA and guiding its future initiatives that will continue the revitalization of downtown Danville. In the past decade the DBA has played a significant role in a number of notable downtown achievements:
– Creation of a downtown master plan, guiding downtown growth in the last decade;
– A net growth of 50 new and expanded businesses and over 300 new jobs;
– The establishment of the Danville Arts Council under the umbrella of the DBA;
– More downtown events, enhancing Danville’s reputation as a regional destination;
– Establishment of increased tax and financial incentives, such as Enterprise Zone Credits, overlay of a Keystone Innovation Zone, passage of a business district tax abatement program, and creation of a Qualified Opportunity Zone;
– National accreditation of the DBA nine years in a row by the National Main Street Center;
– Over $400,000 in streetscape improvements;
– 30 completed façade improvement projects;
– Plans and funding for redevelopment of Canal Park, the first step toward an arts district;
– A $1.75 million capital budget authorization for a community arts, events and conference center;
– Conversion of a quarter of vacant and underutilized downtown upper floors into market-rate apartments;
– The benefit of nearly $1.5 million in grants for badly needed revitalization projects; and
– DBA collaborations with more than 40 for profit and non-profit partners to improve the downtown business climate and attract $20 million in investment and reinvestment since 2008