Representatives affiliated with Norristown Ambassadors and the new Clean and Safe Program gather for a photo on July 8, 2025 in Norristown. Pictured, from left, is Norristown Chamber of Commerce Founder and President Kym Ramsey, Operations Manager Andrew Scott and Brad McLaughlin, chairman of the Clean and Safe Committee of the Norristown chamber of Commerce. (Rachel Ravina – MediaNews Group)
Men in bright yellow shirts have been spotted around Norristown in recent weeks working on beautification efforts as the new Clean and Safe Program gets off the ground.
As a result of $400,000 in funding for a two-year pilot program authorized earlier this year, a three-person team made up of two ambassadors and an operations manager began working on improvements in the county seat last month.
“This is a partnership, and it’s making an effort already in the perception of Norristown being clean and also being friendly. It’s been life changing really,” said Kym Ramsey, founder and president of the Norristown Chamber of Commerce.
The initiative involves collaboration between Montgomery County, the Municipality of Norristown and Norristown Chamber of Commerce, with assistance from the Louisville, Kentucky-based Block by Block program.
The Norristown Ambassadors have focused on debris, graffiti and trash removal in “some of the gateways of Norristown,” said Brad McLaughlin, chairman of the Clean and Safe Committee for the Norristown Chamber of Commerce. Those high traffic areas include the Norristown Transportation Center, Montgomery County Courthouse and Main Street corridor.
Other areas include Main Street, from Arch to Markley streets; Swede street, from Lafayette to Marshall streets; Airy Street, from Cherry to Arch streets; DeKalb Street, from Lafayette to Chestnut streets; and Marshall Street, from DeKalb to Swede streets as well as Corson Street to Haws Avenue, according to municipal officials.
The team works to pull weeds, assist with landscaping, dispose of needles and waste, pressure-wash sidewalks, maintain public right-of-ways, and provide “friendly assistance” to those in and around downtown Norristown. The program’s safety component involves “daily officer patrols during both peak and off-peak seasons,” according to a statement issued by the Norristown Chamber of Commerce.
A brightly colored truck with the program’s slogan “cleaner streets, stronger communities, safer neighborhoods” has been seen at community events such as last month’s Juneteenth Jubilee Street Festival.
“We’re trying to change the perception that Norristown is not safe, and to get more street traffic … and residents wanting to live and enjoy and eat here,” Ramsey said. “And it always seems to come back as ‘Norristown’s not safe or doesn’t look clean.’ So this is our effort to help change that narrative.”
McLaughlin agreed, stressing that “public perception is a big focus” as he emphasized the strengths of the Norristown ambassadors program working to build community.
“It’s about improving the quality of life for everybody, which in the end, is going to benefit businesses, the residents. It’s bringing [it] full circle,” he said. “They’ve done an amazing job.”
Ramsey said she’s been “hearing positive feedback” from officials who’ve taken note of the cleanliness and friendliness in the county seat.“It’s just a different feel already in just 30 days,” she said.
The concept of revitalizing downtown Norristown through beautification efforts has been on the minds of community leaders for years, but Ramsey said it gained traction after Leonard Lightner came on to serve as Norristown’s municipal administrator. Ramsey said Lightner identified the initiative as a “catalyst for change” in the county seat.
“The Norristown Ambassadors program shows what can happen when we come together with clear purpose,” Lightner said in a statement. “This partnership between the municipality, the Norristown Chamber of Commerce, and Montgomery County is making a visible difference in how our downtown looks, feels and operates.
“We’re committed to building a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming community — and this is a step in the right direction. When we align efforts and take action together, progress follows.”
Lightner formally proposed the idea for a Clean and Safe Program to council members back in January and a “subrecipient agreement” with the Norristown Chamber of Commerce was later approved in a 5-1 vote. The agreement authorized municipal and federal COVID-19 relief dollars toward the Clean and Safe program, and cemented the alliance between the three entities.
The $400,000 encompassed $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and $100,000 from the municipality’s general fund, according to a municipal spokesperson.
Montgomery County also plans to financially contribute through “matching ARPA” funds for the program’s second year as part of an agreement with the Norristown Chamber of Commerce, a municipal spokesperson said.
Norristown Councilman Dustin Queenan was the sole opposing vote to the initiative as he questioned the cost and called for more transparency.
“We need numbers,” Queenan said as he cast his vote.
As the Clean and Safe Program continues to work in Norristown, organizers hope its success will help spur further development throughout the municipality.
“There’s a lot of great things happening in Norristown, and this is a piece of the puzzle to really bring it back to life,” McLaughlin said.
