Lansdale Banners Promote Businesses for PennSuburban 100th

Next time you are walking around or driving through downtown Lansdale—look up.
Banners advertising area businesses—and stamped either with the Lansdale Borough brand or PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce logo—have sprung up on the lampposts along Main Street, all in an effort to promote the chamber's 100th anniversary.
"We were looking for a way to be able to promote us in the community, even though we have grown beyond Lansdale," said Pam Kelly, PennSuburban executive director. "We wanted to celebrate our 100th along with the borough. Since the Chamber is really businesses, we wanted to give them the opportunity to be a part of the celebration with us."
Member and non-member PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce businesses were given the chance to purchase the 100th Anniversary ad. 
All in all, 38 businesses jumped at the chance, including The Reporter, Lansdale YMCA, The Culinary Arts Institute of Montgomery County Community College and Wes Carver Electric. Kelly said three participating businesses were non-members.
Kelly approached committees and Lansdale Borough Council to get approval for the partnership.
The banners will remain up through the end of October.
"It was something everybody was behind. It's a good think to celebrate the 100th Anniversary together," Kelly said.
The idea for banners came to Kelly as she drove through Ambler Borough, which have similar banners on its main street.
"We love the whole idea: the community would become more aware of who we were. It was an opportunity for the community to see what was going on," Kelly said.
Revenues from the banner event go back to the Chamber's members, Kelly said.
PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce is a non-charitable 501(c)(6) nonprofit, so all revenues go to operating expenses and members in the form of Chamber programs. Members pay dues each year, but revenue is also generated via the Chamber's 5K Race, for instance.
"We are all self-containing through events or business sponsorships," Kelly said.
The banner program is a one-time idea, at this point, Kelly said, adding future beautification had not yet been discussed.