20 reasons to locate your business in Kennett Square
1. Kennett Square is the center of a large and rapidly growing market of 41,065 persons living in 13,709 households (1990 census):
This market is made up of three rings:
A neighborhood (borough) market of 5,218 persons living in 1,936 households;
A community market of 15,997 persons living in 5,208 households in the four adjacent townships;
An extended market of 19,850 persons (6,565 households) living within 7 miles of the CBD.
An additional 24,402 persons living in 8,376 households in nearby sectors of Delaware
Thus, the CBD is at the center of a total market of 65,467 persons living in 22,085 households
2. Kennett Square's extended market experienced a growth of 13 percent from 1990 to 1996 (41,065 to 46,543).
3. Kennett Square is an affluent community with a median annual household income of $51,149 and a mean household income of $61,184 -- which is about 75 percent higher than the median household income of $29,069 for the State of Pennsylvania as a whole (1990).
4. Kennett Square serves a well educated market with 31 percent of the residents over 18 years who are college graduates -- two-thirds of whom have taken additional graduate or professional training.
5. The 41,065 residents of the extended area spent an estimated $287,000,000 per year in retail stores (1990).
6. Kennett Square is located at the heart of the Brandywine Valley which draws an estimated 2,000,000 visitors per year to the many national historic sites and events. Internationally recognized Longwood Gardens is only four miles from the CBD and draws over 800,000 visitors each year.
7. Kennett Square is well located to provide access to:
-Wilmington is within 25 minutes
-Philadelphia is within 60 minutes
-Baltimore is within 90 minutes
-New York is within 3 2 hours
8. Kennett Square is the Mushroom Capital of the World -- producing over 40 percent of the nations mushrooms and home of the annual National Mushroom Festival in September.
9. The Kennett Square area is a major equestrian center: It is...
-Home of the nationally recognized Willowdale Steeplechase,
-Home of the New Bolton Center: University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine.
10. The Central Business District is a nationally designated Historic District with quaint architecture and a walkable, tree-lined central business district that offers a pleasant and relaxed home-town ambience to browse, shop and dine.
11. Ample, affordable and convenient parking in the CBD's lots and garage makes shopping highly accessible and pleasant.
12. Kennett Square is on the move with many commitments to its success:
Genesis Health Ventures, one of the nation's leading providers of elder care management, recently completed its new $15,000,000 headquarters in the heart of the downtown,
A new YMCA has been completed at the edge of the business district,
The Borough has completed construction of its new streetscape design featuring period lighting and new sidewalks with brick paving accents.
16 new businesses have moved into the Central Business District in 1999 alone.
13. The Kennett Square Revitalization Task Force has spearheaded and is supporting a number of initiatives:
Purchased and is renovating a downtown building as an information center and as home to a number of community-based non-profit organizations.
Is working to encourage the location of new and improve existing businesses to serve the new wave of interest that is building around Downtown Kennett Square.
14. Kennett Square has the facilities and services in place to serve both businesses and residents:
Three Local Newspapers: The Daily Local News and Chester County version of the Philadelphia Inquirer, plus the weekly The Kennett Paper;
Seven Banks: Downingtown National Bank, First National Bank of West Chester, First Union, Keystone Bank, Main Street Bank, Mellon PSFS, Peoples Bank of Oxford;
The Area is served by two highly rated school districts: The Kennett Consolidated School District and the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District;
Five colleges/universities are located nearby: West Chester University, Penn State Great Valley, Lincoln University, University of Delaware and Immaculata College;
Kennett Internet Services, an Internet service provider (ISP) links Kennett Square with the cyber-world and fiber-optic cables are in place for high speed communications.
15. Kennett Square is well served with major medical facilities:
Brandywine Hospital (Coatesville)
Chester County Hospital (West Chester)
Chester County Hospital Occupational Health Center (Kennett Square)
Christiana Medical Center (Delaware)
16. Kennett Square is an excellent community to do business:
All of the available spaces in the CBD are well located for pedestrian shopping.
Favorable rent rates for commercial spaces -- currently $4.00 to $12.00 per square foot (GLA).
Favorable for-sale prices -- currently $60,000 to $170,000 for buildings 3,000 to 10,000 square foot of GLA.
17. Kennett Square is a business-friendly community that is committed to progress:
The Borough's new "Fastrak Program" provides a forum for open communications between the Borough and prospective businesses intended to eliminate some of the pitfalls often encountered by businesses seeking to locate or re-locate.
Favorable tax rates: Real Estate 1.75 mills, Occupation Privilege $10.00, Earned Income 2 %
Tax incentive programs are also available for businesses constructing new facilities in the Borough.
18. Kennett Square is an excellent place to live with easily accessible recreational facilities:
The Anson B. Nixon Park is an 82 acre park for family fun and community events with a large children's playground.
Three nearby golf courses: Hartfeld National Golf Course in Avondale, Wyncote Golf Club in Oxford, and the Kennett Square Country Club.
19. Kennett Square is rich in culture and entertainment:
The Kennett Square Symphony of Chester County is an all-professional orchestra that presents a regular series of concerts often featuring International artists. It also conducts free Children's Concerts and sponsors other youth-oriented musical activities. Kennett Square, which is the smallest municipality in the US to support its own symphony, has done so for nearly 60 years.
Three performance theatres are only minutes away: The Hedgerow Theatre in Media, the Media Theatre for the Performing Arts in Media, and the Three Little Bakers Theatre in suburban Wilmington. The theaters in Philadelphia and Wilmington are also less than an hour's drive.
The Kennett Square Historical Commission conducts House Tours and sponsors other historic activities while promoting a rich and colorful history including significant roles from early colonial battles to the underground railway and major figures in art and literature.
20. Kennett Square has a number of very active civic and professional organizations:
Business and Professional Women's Club
Kennett Square Revitalization Task Force
Kennett Square Lions Club (Double click for web site)
Optimist Club
Rotary Club of Kennett Square
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
Kennett Square Area Business Association.
