Tamaqua’s recently hired Director of Community Development, Ann Marie Calabrese, strives to promote borough events and spread news that will have an impact on those who call Tamaqua their home.

Since beginning her journey in January of 2018, she has worked to manage a variety of grants, programs and projects as well as conversing with the community and its members.

“It’s been a learning experience all around,” she said.

Calabrese spends a large portion of her time looking for new ways to revitalize grants and programs already in place so that they can run more smoothly.

The City Revitalization and Improvement Zone Program has helped provide the community with opportunities that allow local businesses to grow since 2013.

By giving them the chance to expand into areas that otherwise would be left vacant, those who can take advantage of CRIZ are able to revive local economies through the creation of new jobs and the growth of state and local tax revenues.

Currently, Bethlehem and Lancaster are the only two other towns in Pennsylvania that are part of CRIZ. In an effort to learn more about how they operate the program, Calabrese plans to visit both towns in the near future.

She also works to benefit those in the borough with the Community Development Block Grant. The grant allows for the development of communities through the availability of modest housing and the expansion of economic opportunities through the use of federal funds.

Calabrese addressed some of the more challenging aspects of her job as well. “It’s a blessing and a curse,” she said in regard to the rise of social media.

Although the use of social media allows for more people to stay informed about what is going on in their community, it comes with its negatives as well.

Even though the use of social media is at an all-time high, it is still impossible to reach everyone. In an effort to combat this, Calabrese plans to experiment with a variety of different outlets to inform as many people as possible.

Aside from her duties as director of community development, Calabrese is also well-known for her career as a professional disc jockey and voiceover service provider that began in 1990. Along with performing at clubs, private parties, corporate events, weddings, commercials and narrations, she is also the 80s Guru at Magic 101.5 WMGH.

Calabrese is a new member of the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce and the owner of Coolbreeze Imaging, her mobile DJ business.

Calabrese also shares her time with the Link for Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties.

The combination of these skills allow her to push towards a brighter future for Tamaqua.