Harrisburg, PA − June 18, 2026 − Today, leaders in the effort to revitalize Downtown Harrisburg gathered on the riverfront to announce the new MyHBG Create Your Community Grant Program. This grant program encourages the community to get involved right now and bring life and color to Downtown Harrisburg through creative tactical urbanism projects.
Tactical urbanism, a community-led approach to urban design, involves using short-term, low-cost projects to advance long-term city goals. Cities around the world have been using tactical urbanism projects to improve street safety, beautify their built environments, create new creative spaces, and engage their residents and visitors alike. These projects can include murals, artistic sidewalks, public art installations, temporary bike lanes and pedestrian plazas, pop-up events, and more. It provides the public with an opportunity to get immediately involved while the longer-term traditional planning process plays out.
“At its core, the MyHBG Create Your Community grant program is about empowering people to use their creativity to make Harrisburg a better place to live, work, and play. There’s no need to wait to roll up our sleeves—this program makes it possible to get out there right now and leave a positive mark on the city,” said State Senator Patty Kim. “I’m so grateful for the partnerships and funding that made it possible to bring this program to downtown Harrisburg, and I can’t wait to see the ways these projects transform our public spaces.”
“The City of Harrisburg is proud to support the MyHBG Create Your Community Grant Program because we know that great ideas often come directly from the people who live, work, and invest in our neighborhoods,” said Harrisburg Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams. “These grants empower residents, artists, entrepreneurs, and community organizations to turn creativity into action. Together, we can continue building a more welcoming and connected Harrisburg.”
“When we invest in our public spaces, we are investing directly in our city’s economic and social future. These grants are intended to create opportunities for ideas that can permanently transform how we interact with our downtown. A safer crosswalk, a vibrant public seating area, or a pocket park can completely change the energy of a block, driving foot traffic to small businesses and making Harrisburg an undeniably great place to live, start a business, and raise a family,” said State Representative Nate Davidson.
“Low-cost, community-led improvements consistently drive measurable increases in foot traffic, civic pride, and long-term investment. These mini-grants put that evidence into action, partnering directly with community members to make real, immediate change in our downtown and capital city,” said Ryan Unger, President & CEO of Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. “Every mural painted, every parklet built, and every pop-up activated becomes a page in the story of our revitalization, written by the residents, visitors, and workers key to its future.”
The MyHBG Create Your Community Grant Program is funded by a Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development Grant and is part of the Revitalize Downtown Harrisburg initiative. For more information on the revitalization of Downtown Harrisburg, visit www.downtownhbg.com.
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