From a pop-up drive-in movie theater to a downtown-backed delivery service, communities across the United States are coming up with creative ways to come back from the coronavirus crisis. In May, Main Street America announced that eight downtowns had won grants of $10,000 each for innovative proposals. The grants — to six small towns, one…To read more — login/subscribe
Hendersonville, NC (est. pop. 13,840), is preparing to reopen and welcome customers back downtown. Prior to the pandemic, the city was a bustling place with a narrow Main Street, planters blooming with flowers, and strolling pedestrians. But it wasn’t always that way. Back in the 1970s, Hendersonville’s historic Main Street was so empty and so…To read more — login/subscribe
From Maine to California, downtowns are limiting vehicle traffic on streets. As cities look for ways to lure visitors back downtown, and ensure space for social distancing, roadways are being repurposed as outdoor dining spaces. In Rockland, ME (est. pop. 7,190), the city closed Main Street for two weekends in June and turned over the…To read more — login/subscribe
The coronavirus pandemic has hit many downtown organizations squarely in the pocketbook. By emptying business districts for two months, the health crisis has deprived organizations of revenues from special events and parking, as well as throwing property assessments and government contributions into question. The harsh financial reality is forcing downtown leaders to take a hard…To read more — login/subscribe
The Downtown Main Street Business Improvement District in Hendersonville, NC, faces a tight budget next year. Sales tax revenues for the 2019-2020 fiscal year are likely to be off about 20 percent, falling from $250,000 to $200,000 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, says Downtown Economic Development Director Lew Holloway. That means the Business…To read more — login/subscribe
As the coronavirus shut down its city center, Memphis, TN (est. pop. 650,632), faced a mass extinction of small merchants. The Downtown Memphis Commission responded quickly, handing out short-term loans totaling $260,000 to 46 businesses. The program was designed to provide emergency funding for small businesses that might not have been able to receive larger…To read more — login/subscribe
For decades, packed trains and buses have served as a sign of economic vitality. Workers cramming onto public transit at rush hour reflected robust labor markets and viable levels of urban density. The coronavirus pandemic is changing all that. As the country reopens, transit officials are being forced to rethink how many people they can…To read more — login/subscribe
How transit authorities can make the commute safe: • Work with employers to change work hours. Rush hour and social distancing are incompatible, so transit officials have been lobbying employers to stagger workers’ schedules. • Spread the crowds. Many transit agencies have cut passenger limits but added train cars, a move that allows passengers to…To read more — login/subscribe
In a move to accelerate downtown’s re-opening, Eugene, OR, has streamlined the process for businesses to apply for outdoor dining permits. The temporary action eliminates the fees associated with applying and allows for same-day approval. “Using the outdoors, including sidewalks, parking stalls and possibly streets, is a way we can work together so patrons and…To read more — login/subscribe
Newport News, VA, has seen a sharp drop-off in sales tax revenue since the start of the pandemic and has canceled several capital projects including the construction of a downtown parking garage. Mayor McKinley Prince tells NPR that the city has to make some tough decisions. “You know we can’t jeopardize our safety services like…To read more — login/subscribe
