GETTYSBURG WELCOME CENTER RECEIVES CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION

Architectural Rendering by Connor Phiel

Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates

Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (right) meets with Jill Sellers, President of Main Street Gettysburg (left) and Rich Farr, CEO of Rabbitransit (middle) to discuss the Gettysburg Welcome Center.

Gettysburg, PA (March 15, 2024)

The Borough of Gettysburg is honored to announce the award of $1,272,436 in Congressionally Directed Funding for the construction of the Gettysburg Welcome Center project.

In February 2023, on behalf of the Borough of Gettysburg, Main Street Gettysburg submitted a Congressional Appropriation Request to both the House and Senate. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, and Representative John Joyce, M.D. jointly forwarded the application for Community Project Funding under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the FY2024 Budget. 

On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a “minibus” for six appropriations bills including Transportation-HUD, by a 339-85 vote. On Friday, March 8, 2024, the Senate cleared full-year appropriations for those six bills, by a 75-22 vote. President Biden signed the measure into law on March 9, 2024.

Congressman Joyce personally contacted Manager Gable and Main Street President Sellers to announce the appropriation. Senator Casey’s senior staff also contacted Manager Gable regarding the news. “We are grateful for this generous funding to build a legacy project in the heart of Gettysburg, which will enable the Borough to serve residents and the millions of visitors that come to Gettysburg annually,” said Borough Manager Charles Gable, “and it will be completed in time to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday in July 2026.” The award, combined with local fundraising, will provide for construction to begin in later this year in 2024.

 The Gettysburg Welcome Center is a $1.5 million public facility project, which will create greater accessibility and walkability throughout the historic district. The project is in the center of downtown and will provide tourism, transportation, event, and volunteer information, as well as public restrooms. Plans include ADA-compliant facilities. The building site at 340 Baltimore Street was generously donated to the Borough for this purpose by Tim Shields, founder of Future Stake, Inc.

To ensure operational sustainability following construction, Main Street Gettysburg has partnered with Adams County Community Foundation to create an endowment fund. The endowment goal is $1 million.

To donate to the Gettysburg Welcome Center Endowment Fund, contact Main Street Gettysburg at 717-337-3491, or online at www.mainstreetgettysburg.org/donate; or Adams County Community Foundation at 717-337-0060 or online at www.adamscountycf.org.

DESTINATION GETTYSBURG DONATES $100,000!

DESTINATION GETTYSBURG DONATES $100,000!

Destination Gettysburg President and CEO Karl Pietrzak and Destination Gettysburg Board Chair Nathan Mares present a $100,000 check to Adams County Community Foundation President and CEO Ralph Serpe and Main Street Gettysburg President and CEO Jill Sellers. The funds will support the operations endowment campaign for the Gettysburg Welcome Center.

January 16, 2024 

Destination Gettysburg donates $100K to Welcome Center project

Main Street Gettysburg plans to open building by 2026

To invest in the future of the community and tourism industry, Destination Gettysburg recently donated $100,000 to Main Street Gettysburg to kick off the operations endowment campaign that will support a downtown Welcome Center.

The Gettysburg Welcome Center, to be located at 340 Baltimore Street between Steinwehr Avenue and Lincoln Square, will serve as a hub for tourism and event information and provide public restrooms.

Destination Gettysburg will further support the initiative by staffing the welcome center with visitor service representatives and supplying the facility with brochures and other informational materials.

“We see the new welcome center as a key touchpoint for visitors and residents, where they can get information on everything to see and do in Gettysburg and Adams County, get questions answered, and orient themselves as they explore our area,” Destination Gettysburg President and CEO Karl Pietrzak said.

Donations like Destination Gettysburg’s will be key in helping Main Street Gettysburg reach its capital goal of $1.5 million for construction costs and endowment goal of $1 million for operations. Local grant match funds total approximately $425,000 currently.

“Partners like Destination Gettysburg are enabling the sustainability of the facility to benefit the community for generations to come by contributing to the endowment,” Main Street Gettysburg President and CEO Jill Sellers said.

Main Street Gettysburg has been working toward this project since 2017 and is also collaborating with the Borough of Gettysburg, Adams County Historical Society, Adams County Community Foundation, the Gettysburg Foundation, and other community organizations to develop a joint venture responsible for operation of the facility.

“Gettysburg does not currently have an information center downtown,” Sellers said. “Gettysburg’s major economic driver is historic tourism, and Baltimore Street plays a major role in moving people to experience the historic attractions and unique places of interest. Its health and accessibility are critical to economic stability and growth.”

Main Street will launch a capital campaign this year to support the welcome center project, with a goal of opening in time to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026.

“Destination Gettysburg is proud to partner with Main Street Gettysburg on this much-needed project and looks forward to the Gettysburg Welcome Center being an anchor for our visitors and community,” Pietrzak said.

Destination Gettysburg, the official destination marketing organization of Adams County, Pa., promotes Gettysburg and Adams County as a premier travel destination to benefit and enhance our community by sharing history and creating new experiences.

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