In Wheeling, WV (est. pop. 27,066), a creative twist on a business plan contest has paid dividends in the form of downtown occupancy. Wheeling Heritage uses a community crowd-funding event to vet business ideas for downtown storefronts. The winning entrants get money to put toward their business concepts. The event, known as Show of Hands,…To read more — login/subscribe
Hartselle, AL, was looking for a way to lure people off Interstate 65 and into downtown. The solution: an electric vehicle charging station. The city partnered with Hartselle Utilities to construct the charging station near a public parking lot downtown. People may charge their vehicles at no cost, but will be charged for parking if…To read more — login/subscribe
Planning for the 54-mile Bridge to Bay Trail in the Port Huron region of Michigan began in the mid-1990s. Last year, the Metropolitan Planning Commission released its first plan update since 2008, creating a framework for completing the remaining half of the trail and better connecting it to the county’s downtowns. See the St. Clair…To read more — login/subscribe
Major transformation of Eugene, OR’s, downtown riverfront is underway, it will turn an inaccessible riverfront lot into a vibrant, active, and accessible riverfront district and community destination. Currently, the area is surrounded by several hundred feet of chain link fencing which is expected to be in place for at least a couple of years, says…To read more — login/subscribe
In Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, several organizations and the city have come together to position the downtown for reopening. “Over the years, we’ve had different groups working on the revitalization and development of downtown,” says Andrew Malcolm, City of Lethbridge, urban revitalization manager. “We felt that we could be more successful in promoting the amazing things…To read more — login/subscribe
While the pandemic has made it difficult for people to travel and vacation, staycations at local hotels enable them to get away without exposure to planes, trains, and crowds. Several cities are promoting staycations as their regions begin to reopen. The City of Indianapolis and Visit Indy have teamed up to launch a new campaign…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown Walla Walla, WA (est. pop. 32,731), has reopened after the coronavirus shutdown, but with a number of new twists. A block near Main Street is closed to traffic and is now a plaza for outdoor dining. Main Street itself will close one night a week. Sidewalk liquor consumption is now allowed, within limits. And…To read more — login/subscribe
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
