By George Berkheimer, For the Bedford Gazette
Lindsay Salas began working with Downtown Bedford Inc. in 2018. She stepped into the role of Main Street Manager in 2022, leading and supporting projects that bring popular community events to Bedford and contribute to the quality of life downtown.
Q: How long have you had a connection to Bedford?
Salas: I’ve lived here since I was four years old. I graduated from Bedford High School and earned my Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Allegany College of Maryland. I’m now happily married with three wonderful boys. I spend much of my free time with my family here and at my kids’ sporting events, and I enjoy helping my sister with our dog rescue, Abby’s Angels Animal Haven.
Q: What are some of the highlights of your work with DBI?
Salas: We’ve secured some significant grants for downtown improvements, and we grew the Bedford Farmers Market from just eight or 10 vendors in 2018 to anywhere from 25 to 40 vendors weekly now. DBI distributed more than $12,000 in market vouchers to youth, seniors, veterans and others in the community in 2024, and increased that to $16,000 in 2025.
Q: How have events here changed and grown?
Salas: We transformed the one-day Chili & Soup Cookoff into a three-day Spice & Ice Crawl which now features ice sculptures, the cookoff, and a hot chocolate crawl. We introduced the Flower Crawl, a small and intimate “friendraising” event that brings people together in a meaningful way, and we coordinated the replacement of all of downtown Bedford’s Christmas lights, which were more than 25 years old.
Q: What other milestones has DBI achieved?
Salas: We’re celebrating recognition at the state and local level, including two 2025 Townie Awards (for Physical Improvement & Design and Organizational Excellence in Community Partnerships) from the PA Downtown Center, as well as the 2025 John Anderson Award from the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. Each of these milestones represents collaboration, dedication, and a community that truly cares about its downtown.
Q: What events are coming up?
Salas: We’re especially excited for our Holiday Open House, November 14-16, when downtown Bedford will be beautifully decorated for the season, with storefronts and public spaces reflecting the charm of a classic Hallmark-style town. Following that, our Shop Small Crawl promotion runs from November 29 through December 20, encourages residents and visitors to support our local businesses while enjoying the festive ambiance downtown.
Q: What opportunities will the removal of the dams from the Raystown Branch provide?
Salas: That will allow DBI to reimagine and expand programming along the riverfront and make it a more vibrant destination. The dams created flooding, safety concerns and an unattractive first impression for visitors traveling along Route 30. We’re already planning to leverage this valuable space to its full potential, with new outdoor recreation programs like guided kayaking, nature walks, and ecological education events. We’ll be holding riverfront cleanup and stewardship initiatives to engage community members. We’ll also be able to expand festivals and events because we’ll have more space for live music, 4th of July Fireworks, the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival, Jeep Infestation and other community celebrations. It will also improve parking and accessibility.
Q: What successes have you seen in DBI’s programming?
Salas: Response to our programs is overwhelmingly positive; we’ve seen steady growth across nearly every area. The Farmers Market and community initiatives draw more participants each year, and the Ticket Tournament fundraisers and Spice & Ice Crawl have become highly anticipated traditions. We see creativity and collaboration emerging within the community itself, with volunteers, business owners and local organizations constantly pitching new ideas for events, promotions and beautification projects.
Q: How’s the vacancy rate downtown?
Salas: The vacancy rate has declined noticeably in recent years. Marketing is relatively easy because we have a story of revitalization, community pride, and ongoing investment to tell. The arrival of Rebellion Books has enhanced downtown by providing another welcoming gathering space for the community. Ultimately, businesses want to be here because downtown Bedford is more than a location, it’s a place where entrepreneurship, culture and community spirit create a thriving, welcoming environment for everybody.
Q: What makes it all possible?
Salas: Our volunteers, committee members, board of directors, and Bedford Borough play outsized roles in making everything DBI does possible. Their dedication and creativity are the backbone of our success. It’s not about our grants or programs, the community’s spirit and collaboration drive downtown Bedford’s growth and we’re grateful for that.