WED Business Community Guide
The Main Line’s Chambers, BIDs & other local Merchant Support Associations
WED Main Line is local business network built on mutual support, regional pride, & creative excellence. We serve as a thematic bridge between the Main Line’s business districts and shopping centers, connecting businesses though purpose and niche as much as geography, enhancing and amplifying the work and impact of regional and downtown business support organizations.
Many WED Main Line vendors are affiliated with these organizations. We all benefit from their efforts. Through advocacy, coordination, and creative initiative, the staff, boards, and volunteers of these organizations foster community, commerce and cooperation, ensuring our Main Line downtowns and main streets thrive.
“We’re all in this together and we’re all better for it.”
—Jane Murray, Executive Director
Business & Professional Associations
Ardmore Business Association
Nina Greberman, President
Thomas Grady, Esq., Vice President
John Shon, Treasurer
Wally Heppenstal, Secretary
Harry Althouse, Board Member Emeritus
Ardmore, PA 19003
From https://www.ardmoreshops.com: “Founded in 1951, the Ardmore Business Association (ABA) has been a cornerstone of the community for 75 years, dedicated to promoting local businesses and fostering economic growth. As we celebrate our Diamond Anniversary, the ABA remains a steadfast advocate for the business community, working to enhance Ardmore’s vibrant commercial landscape.
The ABA organizes a variety of exciting events throughout the year, bringing the community together and creating opportunities for local businesses to thrive. Signature events include Ardmore Day, Networking Events, Spooktacular, Holiday Season Celebrations, the Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, the Ardbark Dog Parade & Costume Contest, Holiday Tree Lighting, and the Holiday Window Decorating Contest.
Led by a dedicated board of volunteers, the ABA remains committed to its mission of supporting economic development and strengthening the connection between Ardmore’s businesses and its community.”
Bryn Mawr Business Association
Karyn Bennett, President
Melissa Hawes, Treasurer
Luisa Ramondo, Secretary
Emma Allinson, Executive Director
PO Box 604, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
From https://www.brynmawr19010.com: “The Bryn Mawr Business Association (BMBA) is a group of commercial businesses, professional individuals, and non-profit organizations that share the common goal of driving economic growth, nurturing a sense of community, contributing to beautification efforts, and protecting the civic interests of Bryn Mawr, BMBA members, and its surrounding neighborhoods.”
Malvern Business & Professional Association
Tina Corrado, President
P.O. Box 1412, Malvern, PA 19355
From https://www.malvernbusiness.com: “The Malvern Business & Professional Association (MBPA) is dedicated to promoting the Borough of Malvern, and the business community which calls Malvern home. Our membership, located throughout the greater Malvern and Frazer area, includes unique retail businesses, professional services, home-based enterprises, non-profit organizations, and more.”
Narberth Business Association
PO Box 334, Narberth, PA 19072
From https://www.narberthonline.com: “The NBA is a group of Narberth business owners committed to making Narberth a great place to live, shop, eat, play, and do business. Our annual free family events include The Music & Arts Festivals, The Great Narberth Leprechaun Hunt, The Easter Egg Hunt, The Wednesday Night Concerts in the Park, The July 4th Celebration and Fireworks, The NarBARK Dog Parade, The Witches of Narberth, The Halloween Parade, and the Narberth Dickens Festival.”
Paoli Business & Professional Association
PO Box 334, Narberth, PA 19072
From https://paolibusiness.org: “The mission of Paoli Business and Professional Association is to bring value to Paoli businesses and to promote the safety and beautification of the Paoli community. The PBPA membership serves a diverse audience of citizens, including community leaders, entrepreneurs, business executives, employees and educators. It provides leadership and resources to local businesses and organizations and acts as a catalyst for providing information and activities for our members and the region. The PBPA teams up with similar organizations on the Main Line in a networking alliance. Each year this group sponsors a series of social get-togethers for members to meet and network with others from our partner organizations.”
Wayne Business Association
P.O. Box 50, Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: (610) 687-7698
From https://waynebusiness.com: “The Wayne Business Association (WBA) is a large vital group of diversified businesses and non-profit organizations. Established in 1939, the mission was, and still is, to promote the business, professional, and civic interests of the community.”
BIDs & Municipal Partnerships
City Ave District
Bryan Fenstermaker, President & CEO
Grant Himes, Main Street Manager
1 Belmont Ave., Suite 700, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610.747.0311
From https://cityave.org: “For decades, City Ave District was known as a corridor of office complexes spanning Philadelphia’s outer limits and the suburban Main Line. A lot has changed since then. Since its founding, City Ave District has worked on key initiatives in this area including capital improvements, public safety, marketing, and work with key stakeholders and partners to bring vibrancy to this area.
Seeing its potential, the City Ave Special Services District (City Ave District) was formed in 1999 to increase safety and secure its future. Featuring a unique partnership between the City of Philadelphia and the Township of Lower Merion, City Ave District paved the way for improved zoning and renewed safety that have ignited unprecedented growth. Resembling a small metropolis in and of itself, today’s City Ave District is brimming with new residents, shopping options, pedestrians, cyclists, and eateries not only along the main thoroughfare, but throughout the district’s six neighborhoods.
As an organization, City Ave District’s mission is to guide the future of the neighborhood to its highest potential through public safety, capital improvements, thoughtful zoning and development, community engagement, and events.
City Ave District has become one of Greater Philadelphia’s most profitable commercial and professional hubs and a desirable place to live.”
Discover Haverford
412 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
Jeanne Angell, Executive Director
Sarah A. Cazella, Program Director
Lynn Fitzgerald, Program Director
From https://discoverhaverford.org: “Discover Haverford (formerly known as HPED) is a partnership between Haverford Township, business and property owners and Township residents.
Discover Haverford fosters economic growth in Haverford Township by supporting local businesses in a variety of ways, promoting Haverford Township as a destination, hosting events such as the Haverfood Festival, Shop Small Saturday and the Havertown Holiday Festival, and revitalizing our business districts and public spaces.”
Downtown Ardmore District
Alec Hersh, Executive Director
Ardmore Business Improvement District
50 Greenfield Ave, Suite 202 Ardmore, PA 19003
610-645-0540
From https://www.downtownardmore.org: “Founded as the Ardmore Main Street Program in 1988, in 1993 the Township of Lower Merion established the Ardmore Business District Authority as a municipal authority. Initially chartered for five years, the charter was renewed in 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and most recently in 2023 for 10 years. Originally known as Ardmore 2000, the organization currently uses the name Downtown Ardmore District.
Downtown Ardmore District is a Business Improvement District (BID) which provides community initiatives, capital improvement programs and services like street cleaning in a defined geographic area of downtown Ardmore. These efforts are funded through an assessment levied on property owners in the district. BIDs contribute to increased property values, decreased commercial vacancy rates and improved sales for local restaurants and retailers.
The Downtown Ardmore District provides services within the Downtown Ardmore Business District. The East-West boundaries span Lancaster Avenue from 233 E. Lancaster on the eastern side to 333 W. Lancaster and North Wyoming Avenue on the western end. The northern boundary of the district is the railroad tracks. The southern boundaries from west to east are: Greenfield Avenue to #62; Ardmore Avenue to #26; Cricket Avenue to #123; Rittenhouse Place to East Athens and including East Athens to Cricket Avenue.”
The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd
P.O. Box 717, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
From https://balacynwyd.org: “The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd—the civic association for Bala and Cynwyd—was established in 1906 and chartered in 1912. Since then, the Neighborhood Club has continuously worked to preserve the residential character of our neighborhoods and to promote community engagement in civic life.
The Neighborhood Club is a 501(c)(4) organization, and is managed by a volunteer Board comprised of 14 Directors and 6 Officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Solicitor and Immediate Past President).”
Regional Chambers & Tourism Boards
Main Line Chamber of Commerce
Bernard Dagenais, President and Chief Executive Officer
175 Strafford Ave; Suite 130, Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: 610-687-6232
Fax: 610-687-8085
From https://www.mlcc.org: “The Main Line Chamber of Commerce strives to strengthen the economy by extending our members’ reach into the community through collaboration, support, education and advocacy.
The Chamber represents the interests of more than 900 companies located primarily in the Pennsylvania counties of Delaware, Chester and Montgomery. It is one of three regional chambers in the immediate Philadelphia vicinity and serves a wide variety of business interests, from sole proprietors to growth-stage companies to the largest corporations throughout the Delaware Valley. Because of the vibrancy of the Main Line region as a great place to live and operate a business, companies with little or no physical presence on the Main Line have also gotten involved.
Chamber members all share an interest in seeing a stronger economy, which the Chamber helps achieve by providing energizing networking opportunities, compelling programming, effective advocacy and by working in partnership with some of the region’s most forward-thinking organizations.
The Chamber helps promote businesses in the region. It looks out for their interests in dealing with government. And it strives to preserve the quality of life that makes the Main Line special.
A stronger business community translates to a better quality of life, thanks to jobs, business taxes, purchasing power, volunteerism and philanthropy.”
Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board
1000 First Avenue - Suite 101, King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone: 610.834.1550
Fax: 610.834.0202
Email: info@valleyforge.org
From https://www.valleyforge.org: “The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board is a private, non-profit membership sales and marketing organization which actively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by promoting patronage of its member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services.
The Board represents more than 400 member businesses throughout Southeast Pennsylvania.
The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board was established as the Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau by the Montgomery County Commissioners in 1963, making it the officially chartered tourism promotion agency of Montgomery County. It was an agency of Montgomery County until 1999, when the County Commissioners voted to privatize the bureau, while maintaining fiduciary oversight through appointment of the agency's volunteer board of directors.
The Board is now a private organization. Funding comes from a combination of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grants, membership dues and a tax imposed on visitors occupying the County's more than 9,200 hotel rooms. The Board does not receive funding from Montgomery County.
Visit Delco
1501 N Providence Rd, Media, PA 19063
From https://visitdelco.com: “Visit Delco’s mission is to build Delaware County's image as a regional destination and to inspire people to visit, meet, play and stayover. We promote the abundance of diverse experiences, attractions and accommodations to residents and visitors in order to boost the quality of life and economic success of the county.”
Would you like your business association or organizations included in our guide? Interested in partnering with us, co-sponsoring an event, or talking about other creative ways we can work together to help your members?