Sunbury's Revitalization, Inc. Awarded $40,000 USDA Grant
Sunbury's Revitalization, Inc. Awarded USDA Grant to Boost Downtown Businesses and Community Engagement
SUNBURY, PA — September 17, 2026 — Sunbury's Revitalization, Inc. (SRI) is proud to announce it has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. The funding will support a four-month initiative to strengthen small businesses in Downtown Sunbury, expand the ThinkSunbury community branding effort, and help retain jobs while creating new opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
The grant will be split evenly between two connected efforts. Half of the grant ($20,000), will fund Strategic Marketing & Communication Services delivered by Locable, a national small-business marketing firm. Participating businesses will receive hands-on marketing training, one-on-one coaching, and help building professional websites, so they can attract more customers with tools that are simple to continue using long after the project ends. The other half will fuel the ThinkSunbury community branding initiative, including local storytelling, short videos, targeted online advertising, and activities that bring more people to Downtown Sunbury.
While the project's primary focus is revitalizing Downtown Sunbury, any Sunbury-based business is welcome to participate and benefit, not just those located downtown. A group of businesses will receive direct, hands-on assistance such as marketing coaching and website development, and additional businesses, vendors, and organizations throughout the community will be able to use free tools built through the project, including the ThinkSunbury community website, an events calendar, a business directory, and a job board.
"This grant is about giving our small businesses the tools and confidence to grow, while making it easier for people to discover everything Downtown Sunbury has to offer," said Jody Ocker, Executive Director of Sunbury's Revitalization, Inc. "When our businesses succeed, our whole community benefits through more jobs, more foot traffic, and a stronger sense of pride in downtown Sunbury."
SRI encourages all Sunbury business owners and managers to get involved to make the most of this opportunity. Business owners interested in participating, or in learning more about how the project can support them, are invited to contact Downtown Manager, Sarah Bower at [email protected] and to sign up for and attend the ThinkSunbury Business Association. More information for small businesses is available at thinksunbury.com/small-business-assistance.
