downtown hershey association

What downtown hershey association does

The Downtown Hershey Association (DHA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation formed in February 2013 by community members to drive downtown revitalization in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The organization follows the Main Street Four Point Approach, concentrating on design, promotion, economic vitality, and organization to make downtown Hershey "walkable, bike-able, safe, and welcoming" while preserving Hershey's heritage. Its board comprises more than two dozen community leaders representing small and large businesses, local government, civic organizations, and residents, including named institutional representatives from The Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Penn State Health/Hershey Highmark, Milton Hershey School, M.S. Hershey Foundation, The Hershey Partnership, Derry Township School Board, Leader Center for Active Life, and Dauphin County.

DHA's core offerings are recurring community events and programs rather than technology products. The event portfolio includes Market on Chocolate (a farmers/artisan market), Music on Chocolate (a summer concert series), Hop Around Downtown Hershey (an adult egg hunt), Choctoberfest (a fall festival), the Holiday Celebration (including ChocolateTown Square Park activities and Letters from Santa), and Kiss Hershey Back (a community appreciation event). Supporting channels include a website (downtownhershey.com), the "Wrapper" email newsletter, Facebook events and groups (Downtown Hershey Townies, Business Community), and Instagram (@downtownhershey). The organization operates under permission to use the "CHOCOLATE TOWN U.S.A.!" mark from The Hershey Company.

Revenue is generated primarily through corporate sponsorships — 2026 Sustaining Sponsors (The Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Hershey Highmark), a 2026 Diamond Sponsor (UPMC Life Changing Medicine), event-level sponsors (William S. Bowman Trust, Country Meadows, Chocolate Avenue Grill, Shy Bear Brewing, Tanger Outlets), and tourism partnerships (Visit Hershey Harrisburg) — supplemented by membership, donations, and volunteer support. The organization is led day-to-day by Executive Director Michelle Emerick with a Market Manager (Tracy Brown) supporting annual market operations; financial figures, paid-staff headcount, and detailed funding disclosures are not publicly available.

Name

downtown hershey association

Legal name

Downtown Hershey Association

Website

https://downtownhershey.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Downtown Hershey Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in February 2013 that revitalizes downtown Hershey, PA through the Main Street Four Point Approach, running community events like Market on Chocolate, Music on Chocolate, Choctoberfest, and the Holiday Celebration, funded by corporate sponsorships and supported by a board of Hershey-area institutional leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Revitalization Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Food, Drink & Culinary Community Festivals (Community-Led) (MPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Downtown revitalization
• Community event programming
• Main street approach
• Nonprofit community development
• Business district enhancement

Headquarters

HQ city

Hershey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from Hershey-area businesses including sustaining sponsors, diamond sponsors, and event-specific sponsors. Sponsors receive recognition and visibility through the organization's events and marketing materials.
2. Membership and Volunteer Support: Revenue derived from community involvement including business community participation and volunteer hours that support organizational activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Downtown Hershey Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that revitalizes downtown Hershey, Pennsylvania through community events, beautification initiatives, and business attraction programs. It applies the Main Street Four Point Approach, focusing on design, promotion, economic vitality, and organization, to foster a walkable, bike-able, safe, and welcoming downtown that respects Hershey's heritage. Offerings include recurring community events such as Market on Chocolate, Music on Chocolate, Hop Around Downtown Hershey, Choctoberfest, and Holiday Celebration, as well as the Kiss Hershey Back appreciation event and The Wrapper newsletter.

Product overview

The Downtown Hershey Association is a nonprofit organization focused on downtown revitalization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of community events and programs including Market on Chocolate (farmers market), Music on Chocolate (summer concert series), Hop Around Downtown Hershey (adult egg hunt), Choctoberfest (fall festival), Holiday Celebration, Kiss Hershey Back (community appreciation), and The Wrapper newsletter. The organization follows the Main Street Four Point Approach to revitalization, focusing on design, promotion, economic vitality, and organization to enhance the downtown area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Market on Chocolate A recurring farmers market and artisan fair event held in downtown Hershey featuring local vendors, food, and crafts. It is coordinated by the Market Manager and brings visitors to downtown Hershey businesses.
• Music on Chocolate A summer concert series featuring live music performances at downtown Hershey venues, sponsored by local businesses including Country Meadows Retirement Communities (June), Chocolate Avenue Grill (July), and Shy Bear Brewing (August).
• Hop Around Downtown Hershey An annual adult-only egg hunt event where participants visit restaurants and businesses to find hidden eggs containing prizes, driving foot traffic to downtown Hershey establishments.
• Choctoberfest An annual fall festival celebrating chocolate and community in downtown Hershey, sponsored by Tanger Outlets at Hershey.
• Holiday Celebration Annual holiday-themed celebration featuring events such as ChocolateTown Square Park activities and Letters from Santa, drawing visitors to downtown Hershey.
• Kiss Hershey Back A community appreciation event recognizing and celebrating Hershey's local businesses and volunteers, sponsored by the William S. Bowman Trust.
• The Wrapper Newsletter An email newsletter delivering downtown Hershey news and events to subscribers' inboxes, available via sign-up on the organization's homepage.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered sustaining sponsor, diamond sponsor, kiss hershey back sponsor, music on chocolate sponsor (june), music on chocolate sponsor (july), music on chocolate sponsor (august), choctoberfest sponsor and regional tourism partner.

• Hershey Highmarksustaining sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Sustaining Sponsor. Healthcare provider affiliated with Penn State Health, supporting downtown Hershey events and community initiatives through sponsorship.
• The Hershey Companysustaining sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Sustaining Sponsor. The iconic chocolate manufacturer and namesake of Hershey, PA, supporting downtown revitalization efforts.
• Hershey Entertainment and Resortssustaining sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Sustaining Sponsor. Major entertainment and hospitality company operating Hersheypark and resort properties, supporting community events.
• UPMC Life Changing Medicinediamond sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Diamond Sponsor. Healthcare system providing premium sponsorship for downtown Hershey initiatives and events.
• William S. Bowman Trustkiss hershey back sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerKiss Hershey Back Sponsor. Charitable trust supporting community initiatives in downtown Hershey.
• The Leader Family Companiesmusic on chocolate sponsor (june)GTM or Marketing PartnerMusic On Chocolate event sponsor for June. Operates Country Meadows Retirement Communities, supporting community entertainment events.
• Chocolate Avenue Grillmusic on chocolate sponsor (july)GTM or Marketing PartnerMusic On Chocolate event sponsor for July. Local restaurant supporting downtown events and music programming.
• Shy Bear Brewingmusic on chocolate sponsor (august)GTM or Marketing PartnerMusic On Chocolate event sponsor for August. Local brewery supporting community events and music programming.
• Tanger Outlets at Hersheychoctoberfest sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerChoctoberfest event sponsor. Shopping destination supporting the annual chocolate-themed festival event.
• Visit Hershey Harrisburgregional tourism partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism organization that promotes Hershey as a destination, linking to Stay, Eat & Drink resources for visitors.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Main Street America: Main Street America is a national downtown-revitalization network that helps communities apply preservation, economic development, design, and promotion strategies. It is highly comparable as an ecosystem peer because DHA explicitly follows the Main Street Four Point Approach, although it is not a local operating competitor.
• Hershey Partnership: Hershey Partnership is a local economic-development and destination-marketing organization connected to the Hershey institutional ecosystem. It is a relevant ecosystem peer for local business and visitor activation, though its remit is narrower than DHA's broad revitalization role.
• Visit Hershey Harrisburg: Visit Hershey Harrisburg is a regional destination marketing organization that promotes Hershey-area stays, dining, entertainment, and events. It is comparable for visitor generation and event promotion, but it is an ecosystem partner rather than a downtown-management operator.

Regional players

• Downtown State College Improvement District: Downtown State College Improvement District promotes a walkable, economically active downtown through business support, beautification, and events. Its college-town district model is especially comparable to DHA's small, community-led footprint.

Direct peers

• Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. is a downtown management and economic development organization focused on business vitality, public spaces, and events. Its place-making and visitor-engagement mission is directly comparable to DHA's.
• Downtown Cleveland Alliance: Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a downtown development organization responsible for economic development, public-realm activation, and events. It is comparable through its coalition of local businesses, government, and community stakeholders.
• Downtown Columbus, Inc. Downtown Columbus, Inc. coordinates downtown economic development, public-space activation, business support, and event programming. It is comparable because it convenes businesses, residents, and civic stakeholders around a more vibrant urban district.
• Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership: Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership works on downtown economic development, public-realm improvements, and district programming. Its operating remit overlaps with DHA's focus on beautification, business attraction, and community events.
• Downtown Denver Partnership: Downtown Denver Partnership is a business improvement district and downtown-management organization focused on economic vitality, public-realm improvements, business attraction, and events. Its multi-stakeholder placemaking model closely matches DHA's community-led revitalization work.
• Downtown Madison, Inc. Downtown Madison, Inc. advances downtown economic development, public-space improvements, and event programming through business, government, and community partnerships. It shares DHA's placemaking and local-business attraction orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DowntownHershey
• Instagraminstagram.com/downtownhershey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/downtown-hershey-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about downtown hershey association