Hartsville, SC (est. pop. 7,422), has used a three-pronged approach to breathe life into downtown — partner with the local private university, promote the arts, and organize a farmers market. Michelle Brown, director of Main Street Hartsville, points to a town-and-gown link with Coker University, a private school of about 1,100 students. “By intentionally connecting…To read more — login/subscribe
Food festivals stimulate local economies by attracting visitors and spending, they promote and preserve local culture by showcasing food traditions, and they foster local pride. Many of the most successful food festivals are homegrown events that resonate with locals and attract curious nonlocals. A careful look at a community’s history, industry, and food producers will…To read more — login/subscribe
Fifteen years ago, American Express created Small Business Saturday to encourage consumers to shop locally on the last Saturday of November. This year, American Express is expanding its small business support with a grant program. The Amex Shop Small Grants Program will allow eligible small businesses to apply for one of 250 initial grants of…To read more — login/subscribe
Holiday Trail boosts local shopping The City of Kenora and the Harbourtown BIZ created the Kenora Holiday Trail, a shopping initiative designed to encourage residents and visitors to shop locally. Participants purchased the Holiday Trail Guide for $30. The guide featured one special gift available at each of 15 local businesses. The value of each…To read more — login/subscribe
It’s no secret that Downtown Denver’s commercial real estate market has experienced more than its share of struggles. The district’s total office vacancy was 33 percent as of the third quarter of 2025, according to commercial real estate brokerage Avison Young. Meanwhile, the Downtown Denver Partnership says the retail vacancy rate is about 30 percent…To read more — login/subscribe
The city of Baltimore, MD (est. pop. 565,239), recently spent $13.3 million to buy a hotel that will house homeless women. It’s just the latest example of local officials, downtown leaders, and homeless advocates seeking solutions to a stubborn crisis. Cities across the country have used federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money or other…To read more — login/subscribe
Across North America, downtown leaders are challenged by delivery vehicles. Amazon, FedEx, and UPS dispatch fleets of trucks and vans to drop off packages. Consumers increasingly order food and groceries for delivery. That means a lot of congestion and pollution, not to mention those vexing vehicles, hazard lights flashing, blocking traffic. As a result, city…To read more — login/subscribe
Since American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010, the campaign has grown to have a multi-billion-dollar annual impact on independent retailers nationwide. The event, celebrated on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving Day, provides an opportunity for downtown leaders to foster community engagement, and for independent businesses to shine. But moving foot traffic and dollars…To read more — login/subscribe
In the heart of downtown Fort Collins, CO, a five-point intersection was dramatically reworked to improve sight lines for road users and to address long-standing right-of-way confusion. The project received funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative. The grant program launched in 2019 giving up to $25,000 per locale for visual art interventions on roadways,…To read more — login/subscribe
