After an extensive search, the Board of Directors of East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District are excited to announce the hiring of Katie Hanford (she/her) as the Avenue’s new Executive Director. Hanford will provide leadership to one of Philadelphia’s most well known and famous districts – as well as one of the most famous food streets in America. Hanford recently started her new position and is getting to know all the Avenue businesses, and she is working on gearing up for an exciting line-up of fall events that includes East Passyunk Fall Fest, East Passyunk Witch Craft Crawl, and new East Passyunk First Fridays. For more about the work of Hanford and the Avenue, make sure to visit www dot visiteastpassyunk dot com and follow @eastpassyunk on social media.
“We are excited for a new chapter here at the EPABID with Katie Hanford,” said EPABID Board President and Tildie’s Toy Box Owner Michelle Gillen-Doobrajh. “Her background in city planning, nonprofit work, and passion for small business development is a perfect fit for the Avenue.”
“A city thrives when small, independent businesses have the resources to act on their creativity and connect to their neighborhood,” said Hanford. “The businesses along East Passyunk have already created an amazing community. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to support their success and grow the Avenue’s impact on the city.”
From running youth development programs to advocating for independent music venues, a focus on people – and what makes communities thrive – has been a constant throughout Hanford’s career. As ED of EPABID, her focus will be on supporting all of the small businesses on the commercial corridor through events, grants, partnerships and more.
Hanford is a native of West Chester, PA. She studied Anthropology and Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington and recently completed her Masters in City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania. Hanford has lived in South Philly in the East Passyunk neighborhood for the last five years.
“I genuinely think East Passyunk is the best corridor in Philadelphia and South Philly is the best place to live!,” said Hanford. “A perfect Saturday for me involves exploring the city: trying a new restaurant or coffee shop, popping into a new store or walking around a new neighborhood or commercial corridor. I am a big fan of urban landscapes so I often bring my camera with me when I’m out and about. Most evenings are spent with friends, grabbing a bite, playing quizo or seeing live music. Philadelphia has one of the best music scenes in the country right now.”
When asked why she was interested and accepted this position, Hanford said, “It was in the second year of my City Planning program that I figured out I wanted to work in the small business world. BIDs were exciting to me because they combined so many aspects of what makes a neighborhood vibrant: supporting and marketing local small businesses, putting on events, retaining and recruiting new business, public space/placemaking interventions… the list goes on. My favorite part of this work is meeting the business owners and neighbors in the area. To be able to get to know all of the incredibly creative and generous people who make this neighborhood tick is something that’s really special to me. I am a people person at heart and wanted to make sure my work centered community building, so I’m grateful to be able to do this in my own neighborhood! I also wanted a dynamic job where I don’t do the same thing everyday, and that is certainly the case for this role.”
Hanford started in July and jumped feet first into going door to door to meet the diverse businesses along the Avenue while she supported the new weekly summer series, Passyunk Passegiatta. She is currently working with the Board, Events and Marketing Committees on a full slate of fall programs – as listed below. Look for Hanford and make sure to say hello if you see her at any of the following fall happenings:
* East Passyunk First Friday: Fridays, October 4th, November 1st, December 6th
* East Passyunk Witch Craft Crawl: Wednesday, October 23rd
* East Passyunk Fall Fest: Saturday, October 26th
For more about the work of EPABID, visit www dot visiteastpassyunk.com and follow @eastpassyunk on social media.
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