
Annual Urban Centers Forum
To support appropriate revitalization and growth of the 16 Urban Centers, the Chester County Planning Commission, Chester County Department of Community Development, and the Chester County Economic Development Council host annual Urban Centers forums.
The forums are centered on topics that pose both challenges and opportunities for the Urban Centers. They are designed to present information and technical resources while promoting data sharing and comparing experiences through friendly communication.
2024 Urban Centers Forum
The 2024 Urban Centers Forum was held in October in a regional format with forums held at Parkesburg Borough Hall (Western Region) and the West Grove History Museum (Southern Region) with 10 urban centers participating in round table discussions with each municipality citing success stories and expressing challenges including but limited to the following:
- Parking and (attainable) housing continue to be key issues.
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are gaining interest, and require modifications to regulations to permit them but regulate them appropriately.
- Regulating and enforcing rental properties is a common issue for boroughs.
- Boroughs have a higher proportion of land that is non-taxable than townships which is a challenge (non-profits, etc.).
- Budget for Police/EMS/Fire is a challenge.
- Funding (basically everything) is an issue, and finding matching funds for grants.
- Municipalities face a growing number of unfunded mandates.
- The County's Vision Partnership Program (VPP) for planning projects and the Department of Community Development's Community Revitalization Program (CRP), which provide funding for capital improvements, were both cited as extremely beneficial to the urban centers.
2023 Urban Centers Forum
Historic, Habitable, and Hospitable
The 2023 Urban Centers Forum was held Thursday, November 2, at the STEM Academy in Coatesville and virtually via Zoom.
2022 Urban Centers Forum
Density, Diversity, and Discussion
The 2022 Urban Centers Forum was held Tuesday, October 25, at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus in South Coatesville and virtually via Zoom.
2021 Urban Centers Forum
Great, Green, Growing Small Towns
The 2021 Urban Centers Forum was held Tuesday, October 26, at Oxford Borough Hall and virtually via Zoom.
2020 Urban Centers Forum
Main Street R&R — Recovery and Restoration
2019 Urban Centers Forum
Your Town as a Destination
View eTools
View Fact Sheets
2018 Urban Centers Forum
Housing Choices In Chester County
2017 Urban Centers Forum
Parking Lessons Learned
2016 Urban Centers Workshop
Redevelopment of Underutilized Properties
2015 Urban Centers Forum

Building and Implementing an Economic Development Strategy in Your Town
Forum Deliverables: The Urban Center Resource Guide (2015) offers demographic and economic data of the 16 Urban Centers, as well as information about County programs and funding opportunities at the state, regional, county and )local levels