NEW BETHLEHEM, PA (RVO) – New Bethlehem Borough Officials along with Mayor Barrows and Redbank Renaissance, Inc have submitted an application to the Home and Garden TV “Home Town Takeover” contest. Local home and business owners are also encouraged to apply by the February 7th deadline at HGTVHomeTownTakeover.com

New Bethlehem Borough President Lisa Kerle, New Bethlehem Mayor Gordon Barrows and Redbank Renaissance President Sandy Mateer expressed that more submissions might help the Borough gain more recognition among the many entries that will be submitted.

Mayor Barrows shared “Several residents shared the contest with me on social media and I presented it at the next Borough meeting, encouraging officials to take action to showcase our community.” Barrows, while hopeful, also explained even if New Bethlehem is not chosen for this contest, community officials should take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to improve and support the New Bethlehem area and Redbank Valley community.

The contest is intended to help revitalize an entire town of under 40,000 in population “with a Main Street that needs a facelift” and “homes with great architecture longing to be revealed”. The program is to be led by Ben and Erin Napier of the hit HGTV series Home Town in a new series called “Home Town Takeover.”  The stated intent is “to help a community revitalize the place you call home.”

The entries require a limited number of photographs and a video.  The terms and conditions do not specify how the project will be funded but it is assumed based on the Home Town show that home and business owners will have to negotiate and pay for the work on their properties.  It specifically states that, “This application is not a solicitation for volunteer labor to revitalize your town.”

It also states that “any written material, photos or video can be used to exhibit, distribute, sell, license, modify and otherwise use and exploit the Submissions by any means and in any media throughout the universe in perpetuity, including the right to use your name, voice and likeness to the extent that they are included in the Submissions”.

New Bethlehem Borough, the Redbank Valley Chamber and Redbank Renaissance have all been working for several years to improve the appearance of properties in town with updated ordinances, stricter enforcement, ribbon cutting ceremonies, façade improvement grants, community clean ups, welcome signs and garden improvements and other efforts to welcome new businesses.

A visitor commented just on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020 to Sandy Mateer that town is looking much better than it did years ago.  The contest might help New Bethlehem Borough residents and businesses make even more progress, encourage property improvements and welcome new businesses.

Residents are encouraged to like & share the Facebook event to raise awareness of the contest: Facebook.com/events/2198563890453462

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MEETINGS:
New Bethlehem Borough meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at the Alltel/Windstream Building on Lafayette Street. Folks may contact the Borough’s office to be placed on the meeting agenda.

MISSION:
New Bethlehem Borough Council fosters business, community, and personal growth within the borough while maintaining the small town appeal and family friendly environment that makes New Bethlehem such a great place to work, live and raise a family.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
To learn more about Council’s Goals & Objectives, please visit: NewBethlehemBoro.com/about and click the ‘Mission’ tab.

CONTACT:
To contact any member of Council or the Borough’s office, please visit: NewBethlehemBoro.com/about and click the ‘Council’ tab. You may also ‘like/follow’ New Bethlehem Borough on Facebook for the latest news/announcements: Facebook.com/NewBethlehem

For more info, please visit New Bethlehem Borough’s website: NewBethlehemBoro.com

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