Downtown Ardmore is bustling with activity – new restaurants, retail, and development and to help usher it all in, a new leadership team at the Ardmore Initiative, the business district authority of the downtown.
“Watching and helping Ardmore blossom has been the highlight of my time with the Ardmore Initiative,” said Vilardo.
One of Vilardo’s early goals was to increase communication with stakeholders which she accomplished through regular in person merchant roundtables, stakeholder meetings, broker breakfasts, electronic communications and more. Under her direction, downtown Ardmore experienced a revitalization that firmly placed Ardmore, PA in the spotlight:
The organization was twice named as one of the top performing Main Street programs in the state
The launch of the first Downtown Dollars program in 2010 helped our businesses weather the Great Recession
The Initiative and Township secured over $300,000 in grants to support façade improvements, special events and marketing of Ardmore as a destination
Vilardo also worked to streamline the HARB approval process, by which property owners could make improvements. She is however most proud of her success in securing Community Development Block Grant funds via Lower Merion Township which are used to fund a Business Assistance Grant program for new or expanding retail or restaurant businesses in the downtown. To date, the Initiative has awarded grants totaling $165,000 to 8 businesses, resulting in the creation of over 100 new jobs in downtown Ardmore.
She may be officially retiring from the Ardmore Initiative but that does not mean Christine is slowing down. A former dancer/choreographer, as well as an avid traveler & scuba diver, Christine plans to continue to explore these passions and to work alongside her husband, Rich McGarvey, to grow and expand their business Aqua Hut Dive & Travel, located on Rittenhouse Place in Ardmore.
“I am looking forward to this next phase – having time to relax, to do volunteer work and to develop new interests. I’m also looking forward to continuing to advocate for the needs of small businesses but now in the role of small business owner myself.”
