Lansford Borough may consider applying for a state program to develop and foster investment in its downtown business district.

Council President Bruce Markovich last week said he received information about the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Main Street Matters Program.

“I think we should apply for this Main Street program … and try to get something going downtown,” he said.

The program would provide funding up to $225,000 to communities for operational support to administer the designation strategy, which includes improving downtowns and increasing business opportunities.

Communities need to identify and demonstrate a sustainable funding plan to employ a full-time manager for at least five years, according to the program guidelines.

The amount of state funding available each year decreases over other the course of the five-year designation.

The Panther Valley Blueprint Community team had planned to apply for the CRIZ, or Community Revitalization and Improvement Zone, program, but may not be able to now, Markovich said.

The CRIZ program allows for incremental tax revenue generated by businesses within the zone to come back to the communities to reinvent in itself.

The PV Blueprint team, of which Markovich is a member, learned more about the program last month, but when the application period opened, there was no mention of multiple communities being able to join together, he said.

The PV Blueprint team had reached out to Sen. Dave Argall’s office, as well as DCED representatives, for clarification but had not heard back as of Wednesday.

“I don’t think the CRIZ is going to go anywhere right now at this point,” Markovich said. “But I think we need some type of program here in town.”

He pointed out that the borough had a Main Street manager years ago, and the borough should consider establishing the program again, he said.