Spring is on the way, and it’s time to celebrate — with flowers. Across North America, spring blooms take center stage at a wide range of events that draw visitors and locals alike. There’s everything from large-scale seasonal festivals (like tulip or cherry blossom festivals) and competitive flower shows (like the Philadelphia Flower Show), to…To read more — login/subscribe
Businesses couple-up for Valentine’s Day To mark Valentine’s Day and promote downtown shopping, the Greater Easton Development Partnership’s Main Street Initiative, launched Match Made in Easton. The 10-day program has downtown businesses coupling-up to offer unique deals and promotions to customers who present receipts from their partner shops. For example, a customer at Yellow Balloon…To read more — login/subscribe
In Hayward, CA (est. pop. 155,672), a grant program has been helping local restaurants go viral. Known as Hashtag Hayward, the program combines placemaking with content creation by social media pros. In two rounds of awards, the Hashtag Hayward program provided grants of up to $10,000 apiece to small businesses. The money was targeted primarily…To read more — login/subscribe
For nearly four decades, the Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival has transformed downtown Fort Worth, TX (est. pop. 976,932), into an open-air cultural destination. The four-day spring celebration draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, blending art, food, and live entertainment across 18 city blocks. The 39th annual event is scheduled for April 2026. The…To read more — login/subscribe
Residents of rural Snyder, TX (est. pop. 11,200), joke that the West Texas town is 90 miles from anything. Behind the self-deprecation lies community pride, which is illustrated by such clean and safe initiatives as Take Back Sparkle City. The National Civic League named Snyder a finalist for the All-America City awards in 2025. While…To read more — login/subscribe
Many city’s are striving to make their downtowns more livable and walkable, and for some that means carving out more space for trees amid the concrete. However, federal funding for urban forestry is fading. While the Biden administration prioritized climate change and tree canopies, the Trump administration has different priorities. Planning magazine reports on the…To read more — login/subscribe
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
