Since 2017 AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) has distributed millions of dollars through its AARP Community Challenge grant program. As noted in the February issue of Downtown Idea Exchange, many familiar downtown projects are eligible for funding. In 2024 grantees included an alley transformation project in Vallejo, CA, accessibility improvements to a crosswalk…Continue reading
After years of running annual workforce recruitment campaigns, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, in Sioux Falls, SD, is trying something new. In late 2023, the foundation launched the Wish You Were Here campaign, which aims to attract Sioux Falls natives who have moved to other parts of the country. The February issue of Downtown Idea Exchange,…Continue reading
Following a New Year’s Day vehicle attack in New Orleans, Mobile, AL, is bolstering safety measures in advance of its annual Mardi Gras celebration in March. The attack in New Orleans, focused new attention on bollards as a routine part of traffic control for downtown events. However, in a cautionary tale for downtowns everywhere, New…Continue reading
Cities everywhere are encouraging the development of housing and hotels downtown. One noisy problem: City centers often lie adjacent to railroad tracks. And while the noise is tolerable in a 9-to-5 city where office workers go home at night, it can be disruptive in a 24-hour downtown. One solution is a quiet zone. Federal regulators…Continue reading
By all measures, the pop-up retail program in downtown Memphis, TN, is a success. Since its launch in 2020 over 35 stores have tested the retail market downtown. However, Brett Roler, COO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, cautions that downtown leaders who expect instant success are likely to be disappointed. Roler says his first hurdle…Continue reading
The city of Watsonville, CA, with a population of just over 50,000, reports a total of $8,879,604 in direct economic activity generated by local arts and culture organizations. This includes an average of $30.49 spent per person attending an event. That data is from Americans for the Arts. Every five years, the nonprofit takes an…Continue reading
Just a few months after Mishawaka, IN, enacted a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), the city council voted in December to expand the boundaries of the drinking zone. Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter reports that Mishawaka’s experience with public drinking mirrors that of other cities across the nation. First, state lawmakers, seeking to help downtowns recover from…Continue reading
Cities across the country have cracked down on disruptive electric scooter programs. Now Columbus, OH, is reining in its chaotic fleet. Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter reports that Columbus’ pool of bike and scooter rental services will be replaced next spring by a single vendor. Veo, the new provider, operates a variety of traditional bicycles and e-bikes,…Continue reading
In September, the Downers Grove [IL] Downtown Management Corp. hosted its annual women’s shopping event. Like similar events, the goal is a fun-filled shopping experience especially for women. But, as Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter reports, it’s also a fund raiser for local Parent Teacher Associations. Downtown shops and restaurants offer special giveaways, discounts, and demonstrations for the…Continue reading
