In October 2009, a group of local organizations sponsored an Advisory Services panel from the Urban Land Institute to provide suggestions for improving and maintaining the economic health of Pottstown.
The sponsoring organizations included the Borough of Pottstown; the Hill School; the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation; Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc.; the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center; the Montgomery County Community College; and the Pottstown School District. One of the key recommendations from the final report, released in January 2010, was the creation of a new entity that can take the lead and focus on all aspects of economic development. As a result, The Pottstown Partnership was recently formed to unify the efforts of all the elements of local and county government. It includes the Borough; the School District; and the Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority. Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc. will serve as their executive agent.The Partnership shall seek advice and cooperation, as needed, from the Office of the Montgomery County Commissioners, Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Select Greater Philadelphia, and the Governor’s Office for Local Government Services. It will also work with all the various other organizations that can contribute to the overall development of the Borough of Pottstown, including local and regional financial institutions, hospitals, labor, arts and community organizations, the Chamber of Commerce, educational institutions, and public utilities serving the community. -Retired Marine Major General Doug O’Dell