Like any business, Lititz Improvement Inc. is out to make money. But there is also an altruistic side to Lititz Improvement Inc.

"Profit is not number one for us," said Dennis Beck, a member of Lititz Improvement Inc.'s board of directors. "We put money back into properties everywhere we can. Some of those buildings might not get tender loving care. We're keeping rents reasonable enough for businesses to keep operating and for people to keep living in their homes."

"(Lititz Improvement) is really focused on the beauty of downtown Lititz," said Crystal Crawford, properties manager for the business. "We really care about Lititz and the people who live there."

Headquartered at Crawford & Associates Real Estate, 120 E. Main St., Lititz Improvement Inc. owns 23 properties in the borough, many of which are located in the downtown shopping district. Those properties support nearly 100 rental units, 30% of which are dedicated to retail, professional and office use and 70% of which are used as apartments, condos or as residential spaces.

"Our mission is the same as it's been for 56 years," said Bill Oehme, who's been president of Lititz Improvement Inc. for five years. "We find properties - preferably in the downtown area - buy the buildings, make repairs as needed and do that for the betterment of downtown Lititz. For the most part, the properties we buy never go on the market. People know about us and our mission."

Lititz Improvement's restorative work has played a major role in Downtown Lititz's revitalization. Locals and visitors come to the local business district for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the hometown feel and the smalltown charm.

"(The downtown is) excelling; it's thriving," said Oehme. "There are towns that are very envious of what we are."

"It's better than it's ever been," said Beck.

When renovations are called for, Lititz Improvement Inc. employs the services of plumbers, carpenters, painters, repairmen and contractors, many of whom are based locally.

"When we buy the properties, they need some TLC, and some need more," said Oehme. "Some require major renovative updates. We have buildings that date back to the 1800s. These buildings aren't cheap to maintain. There always seems to be something going wrong."

"For me, I can't believe the changes in the buildings from how they used to look," said Beck. "That's the biggest satisfaction to me. We try to use custom materials, and we try to keep them historically authentic."

Overseen by a seven-member board of directors, the majority of Lititz Improvement's work is performed by Oehme, Beck and Crawford, all of whom are Lititz residents. The business also answers to 33 shareholders.

"No, a lot of people don't know who we are," said Oehme. "We are a privately held corporation, and those who do know we exist talk about it. We bought buildings cheap in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, and we fixed them up. We made good investments. We don't buy everything that comes up for sale. I'd like people to know we're around. I hope people will have more appreciation for our group."

Lititz Improvement Inc. was founded in 1970 by a group of seven local and civically minded businessmen.

"These seven businessmen met for lunch and talked about a lot of things, but the conversation always got back to the sorry state of the downtown," said Oehme. "So, they decided, 'Let's put our money where our mouths are.' They started Lititz Improvement with three buildings. Over the years, other people stepped into Lititz to help make it what it is."

"Lititz Improvement isn't the only game in town," concluded Oehme. "There are other people in Lititz buying up properties and fixing them. But we started the ball rolling."