Bristol Rallies Voters For The Small Business Revolution Contest

Bristol Borough officials and residents gathered in the Good Will Hose No. 3 Fire Company Monday evening to rally votes for the Deluxe Corporation’s Small Business Revolution contest.

The rally attracted nearly 200 enthusiastic people from inside and outside of Bristol Borough. Elected officials, including nearly the entire Bristol Borough Council, Bristol Borough’s mayor and elected officials from Newtown Township, the Pennsbury School District and Falls Township. State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, State Rep. John Galloway, State Rep. Tina Davis and a representative from Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s office.

If Bristol wins the contest, the $500,000 grant will be put toward growing the small business community and marketing the town. Bristol would also get a nice boost from the exposure of being featured on the “Small Business Revolution” streaming series.

As of Sunday, the borough was 4,500 votes ahead of the four other finalists but local organizers said that lead could evaporate if voters don’t keep casting their ballot and expanding the base.

“We’re going to finish stronger than we started,” Bristol Borough: Raising the Bar Chairman Pezza told the crowd.

“There’s other people out that want to win and they’re not happy we’re in first place … we can’t slack off. We’ve got to get everyone to vote,” he said.

Falls Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Harvie, who grew up in Bristol Borough, told the gathered crowd his community is working to get the vote out.

Business owners were present in high numbers at the rally in addition to elected officials and residents.

“Words don’t describe it,” started Brian Adams, the owner of Trainpop’s Attic on Mill Street. “What we could get out of it and seeing the town come together like this is phenomenal.”

“We’re excited, but everybody needs to keep it up,” said Bruce Lowe, the co-owner of the King George Inn. “It’s nice seeing what everyone is doing to get the vote out.”

Business owners weren’t the only ones excited at the rally.

“I think it’s great and will provide a foundation for economic revitalization,” said borough resident Amy Mcilvaine.

Resident Don McCloskey was also in attendance, and aside from being fully supportive of the effort to win the contest, he mentioned how important a strong central main street is to the identity of a small town like Bristol Borough.

Bristol is competing against Georgetown, South Carolina; Kingsburg, California; North Adams, Massachusetts; and Red Wing, Minnesota.

You can vote by going to Smallbusinessrevolution.org every day and on every device you own until the contest ends on the evening of Thursday, February 16.