Downtown Idea Exchange

A decade ago, the downtown organization in Sioux Falls, SD (est. pop. 196,528), was looking for a way to boost business during January. Downtown Sioux Falls decided to try Burger Battle, a month-long contest that pitted downtown restaurants in a competition to create the best new burger. Participating eateries debuted a new burger, and diners…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Miami is in the midst of transforming unused space beneath the Metrorail tracks into a 10-mile linear park, urban trail, and exhibit space for public art. The idea was generated not by urban planners or elected officials, but by a Miami resident who calls herself “a crazy citizen.” Meg Daly has often repeated the story…To read more — login/subscribe

 

Crime is on the upswing in downtowns. Meanwhile, crime-fighting technology is growing more powerful and more widely accepted. Those two trends are intersecting in a growing use of license plate readers, or LPRs. The devices can be mounted on utility poles, streetlights, and public vehicles. In Indianapolis, city police are expanding their use of LPRs.…To read more — login/subscribe

 

With the US economy increasingly driven by the tech sector, a growing number of downtown leaders in mid-sized cities are looking for ways to spur innovation in their cities. One example is in Fort Wayne, IN (est. pop. 263,814), where a rusting manufacturing hub has been transformed into an innovation district. Another case study is…To read more — login/subscribe

 

In Coon Rapids, IA (est. pop. 1,244), the Main Street organization has transformed two grain bins into 360-degree murals that mark the entrance to downtown. “After many years of work, the new mural is a wonderful success, bringing a sense of place to a longstanding feature of the community,” says Katie Mason, executive director of…To read more — login/subscribe

 

T-Mobile continues to parcel out grants to small and midsized cities as part of its Hometown Grants program. The mobile carrier recently released details about its latest round of 25 grant winners. The awards of up to $50,000 went to recipients around the country with a wide variety of ideas. One theme: All the winners…To read more — login/subscribe

 

During the highway-building spree that began in the 1950s, many downtowns were disrupted in ways that were convenient for car commuters but damaging to public life and the urban fabric. Now comes a federal investment in undoing the infrastructure projects from the 20th century. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot provides $1 billion…To read more — login/subscribe

 

18 year old festival is re-branded The South Carolina Pecan Festival went on a brief hiatus as the Covid-19 pandemic shuttered much of downtown Florence, NC. Event planners and staff took advantage of the break to assess the event’s purpose, strengths, and weaknesses. This led to re-branding the event, developing a new name, logo, website,…To read more — login/subscribe