Sunbury’s Revitalization, Inc. Shares Next Steps for Businesses Following USDA Grant Award

SUNBURY, PA – Following the announcement of a $40,000 USDA Rural Business Development Grant, Sunbury’s Revitalization, Inc. (SRI) is beginning the next phase of its ThinkSunbury initiative, focused on helping local businesses strengthen their marketing, reach new customers, and connect with resources to support their growth. 

Through a partnership with Locable, a small-business marketing firm, SRI is ensuring that businesses have access to more practical tools and opportunities to become more visible online and better connected to the community. The project will include hands-on support for a group of participating businesses, which may include one-on-one marketing coaching, training, and website development.

“Now is the time for our local businesses to get involved. Our six-month intensive marketing campaign kicks off at the beginning of 2027 and we need businesses to get involved now to be ready to take full advantage of these opportunities,” says Jody Ocker, Executive Director of SRI, “We have so much more potential as a community when we stop working in our own corners and start moving forward together.”

SRI is using the USDA grant to build momentum behind ThinkSunbury and expand its reach as a platform for promoting local businesses. The initiative will include increased traffic to their community calendar, business directory, along with a social media campaign looking to highlight local businesses, short videos about the community, and targeted digital advertising.

SRI encourages local businesses to take the following steps to get involved :

• Tell us what your business needs. Complete this short survey to share your marketing needs and help SRI determine the best times for upcoming webinars and in-person training sessions. https://impact.locable.com/widgets/contact_form_widgets/75e53712-07f4-4bc1-9a0f-31089c297aa7

• Join the ThinkSunbury Business Association. Attend the next meeting on November 16 at 6 p.m. at the Sunbury Market House to connect with fellow business owners, learn about upcoming opportunities, and discuss ways to support and promote Sunbury together.

• Connect your Social Media. Ensure your Google business profile is up to date then link it to your free Locable profile so you are visible on SRI’s business directory. Claim your profile here and explore how you can add your events to the community calendar. https://impact.locable.com/users/sign_up/?invite_token=kf0ufe2s

“We’ve taken the first step by securing this funding and building the resources to help our businesses grow. Now, we need our businesses to take the next step with us,” explains Sarah Bower, Downtown Manager of SRI. “This is an opportunity for businesses to get in front of more people, but it takes participation to make it work. We want our local businesses to see that when we promote Sunbury together, we create more opportunities for everyone to succeed.”

Local business owners interested in marketing resources, partnerships, or learning more about the initiative can contact Sarah Bower at [email protected], attend an upcoming ThinkSunbury Business Association meeting, or visit thinksunbury.com/small-business-assistance

ThinkSunbury!