The idle progress on the former Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts has disrupted the borough's chance at getting a grant that would improve business storefronts.

At the Economic Development Committee and Communication Commission’s joint meeting Monday night., Borough Manager Timothea Kirchner announced that the Montgomery County Community Revitalization Board did not approve the borough’s grant request for facade improvement and way-finding sign program.

Kirchner said the board's primary reason for rejecting the grant was that the town had received a grant previously for the Lansdale Center for Performing Arts, but nothing moved forward with the center.

The facade improvement grant would have gone to improving storefronts in Lansdale, and the way-finding sign grant was intended to improve signs directing people to borough landmarks.

Also at the meeting, Mary Fuller announced the first sponsors for Founders Day.

Fuller, chairwoman of the Economic Development Committee, announced that Wisler Pearlstine, LLP, has given a $5,000 donation to the event, the second highest sponsor level.

The highest level of sponsorship, for $10,000, has not been filled yet, but will be the sponsor of the firework display at the end of Founders Day celebrations.

Sign-A-Rama has also donated up to $2,500 in signs for the event, and both Remington and Vernick Engineers and Minuteman Press have agreed to $1,000 donations.

Fuller said they also have patron level donations for anyone who wants to donate anywhere from $10 to $100. She also said they are expecting 10,000 to 15,000 attendees for the event.

“I won’t be disappointed if we shatter that number,” Fuller said.

Kirchner also updated the committee about the Madison Parking Lot Development Project. She said the Delta Development Group has been hired to help the Parking Authority with the project.

Delta was chosen because it met the Parking Authority’s requirements, one being the group's ability to interact with the community.

A meeting will take place July 27 at 6 p.m. in borough hall for business owners and residents to address concerns and give input on the parking lot project.

Fuller also said she was pleased with the turnout from the borough’s first town hall meeting July 14 at the Lansdale Public Library.

Fuller said about 40 to 50 residents, business owners, borough council members and borough employees attended the meeting to discuss issues in the town.

“I think people had a lot of good stuff to say,” Fuller said.

She said a big topic of discussion was the public’s concern over the appearance of storefronts in Lansdale and desire to see cleaner facades.

Fuller said the borough plans to continue with future town hall meetings, and the next one will be held at 7 p.m. on Aug. 16 at the Parks and Recreation Building on the corner of Seventh Street and Lansdale Avenue. She said they chose the bigger venue in anticipation of a larger crowd at the next meeting.

The next joint meeting for the Economic Development Committee and the Communications Commission will take place Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in borough hall.