The mission of the Williamsport Business Association, a 501(c)(6) Non-Profit incorporated organization, is to recruit, retain and expand quality businesses while promoting the enhancement and growth of Williamsport businesses and to serve as a liaison between city businesses & city administration.
The Williamsport Business Association proudly serves both its members and the community. We are businesses and business professionals working together toward a common goal of shared prosperity, committed to playing a lead role in the ongoing renaissance of downtown Williamsport, and dedicated to supporting the success of our local businesses.
In addition to serving its membership with helpful services, programs, and networking opportunities, the Williamsport Business Association is deeply committed to the community, and is the co-host of our city's monthly First Friday Arts Celebration, when the streets of downtown Williamsport are filled with art, music, artisan crafts, live entertainment, family fun, and more.
The Williamsport Business Association also plays an active role in helping to coordinate many downtown Williamsport events such as First Saturday, Shop Small Passport program and Catch the Spirit shopping event, and more.
The Williamsport Business Association 2023 Board of Directors and Officers:
- Co-Chair – Tony Ecker
- Co-Chair – Judy Olinsky
- Treasurer – Erin Roush
- Secretary – Pennie Vanderlin
- Board Members - Jule Hanford, Suzette Mason, Paula Hedrick
About Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Music & the arts, alive & thriving. A cultural scene to rival most any city, in fact. An incredible history and rich heritage, including many "firsts." Fabulous dining, with over 35 restaurants & eateries in our downtown district alone. A vibrant nightlife, with plentiful and diverse pubs, taverns, microbreweries (like our national award-winning Bullfrog Brewery), nightclubs, and social clubs. Unique storefronts and eclectic shops. The birthplace of Little League Baseball and home of the annual Little League World Series and Little League Museum ... as well as being "home base" to the Williamsport Crosscutters, our Philadelphia Phillies affiliate team.
A college town, with Lycoming College and Pennsylvania College of Technology book-ending our lively downtown district. Impressive architecture and Victorians galore, and labeled as "Pennsylvania's mother lode for Victorian architecture by Victorian Homes Magazine. Breathtaking natural beauty and outdoor recreation & sporting abound, with Outdoor Life Magazine regarding Williamsport as the number one destination in Pennsylvania for outdoorsmen, and National Geographic Magazine considering the Susquehanna River Water Trail one of the best adventure destinations in the world. The very popular monthly "First Friday" celebrations of the arts and music that fill our downtown streets, sidewalks, and shops with art, artisan works, live music, and more. Fair-weather fun on the scenic Susquehanna River aboard the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat. Top-ranked schools with even higher-ranked music & arts programs, with the Williamsport Area School District listed among the top 100 in the country. Home of the Community Arts Center, downtown's crown jewel, which regularly plays host to world-renowned performers the likes of Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, Tony Bennett, BB King, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Willie Nelson, Bill Cosby, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, and countless more, as well as continually offering up Broadway shows & musicals, award-winning films & documentaries, family fun, special events, and performances by our spectacular Williamsport Symphony Orchestra.
Consistently ranked by Money Magazine as one of the top 300 cities in the country to live in, and listed as the sixth best-performing small city in the country by the Milken Institute. Wonderful attractions, with yearly fairs, festivals, and parades, special holiday events such as our delightful Victorian Christmas, downtown celebrations of Mardi Gras, St. Patricks Day, Independence Day, and Oktoberfest, intriguing museums, and countless sights to see & things to do for every age ... and a decided destination for custom jewelry aficionados. Friendly neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, and beautiful parks. Community pride. Cultural diversity. The perfect blend of metropolitan vitality and quaint country charm.
Our city is a great place to visit, and an even greater place to live, work, play, raise a family, run a business, and experience an exceptional quality of life. Enjoy Williamsport ... it's all yours!