About Us
Building Up Our Community
WHO WE ARE
Somerset, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization founded as a Main Street Program. Main Street Programs are part of a collaborative movement (Main Street America) that is dedicated to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving the quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation.
Somerset, Inc. was founded in 1993 and has been serving Somerset, PA for more than 30 years. It is composed of passionate staff, board members, community, and business members who share a common vision for a vibrant and prosperous Somerset.
The Main Street Approach
Economic Vitality
ECONOMIC VITALITY focuses on capital, incentives, and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators that drive local economies.
Design
DESIGN supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart.
Promotion
PROMOTION positions the downtown or commercial district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics.
Organization
ORGANIZATION involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement, and resources for the district.
Our Mission
Somerset of the future will be a hub of business and community activity, set in environs of natural beauty and small town ambience. The number and diversity of businesses will offer specialized service and merchandise to residents and visitors, as well as employment opportunities. Somerset’s excellence as a place to live work, do business, and visit will be well known.
HGTV Application Video by Union & Main
What We do.
Somerset, Inc. is best known for the treasured community events it hosts in Uptown Somerset including Fire & Ice Festival, Uptown Chalk the Block, and Light Up Somerset. Behind the scenes, Somerset, Inc. does so much more.
- Organization: We cultivate partnerships between community partners and local businesses and as a result almost every project we take on is a collaboration. This collaboration looks like many things but includes merchant meetings, member meetings, and partner meetings.
- Economic Vitality: We facilitate facade grants, blight remediation grants, rent abatement grants, home renovation grants and have provided support to Somerset Lake & The Next Step Center. We renovated maintain Trinity Park, restore buildings, and remediate blighted properties.
- Design: We work with partners like the Borough of Somerset, Laurel Arts, and Somerset High School to make streetscape improvements, install public art, and plan cleanup days.
- Promotion: We host community events and activities that bring in 10,000+ people throughout the year, support the SoCo Farmers Market, market community businesses, and market SoCo (Somerset County, PA)