Little Estes Park, CO (est. pop. 6,248), sees far more vehicle traffic than most towns its size. As a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park gets 4.5 million visitors a year, most of them crammed into a tourist season from mid-May through October. “We have such intense traffic congestion,” says Vanessa Solesbee, parking…To read more — login/subscribe
St. Paul, MN (est. pop. 306,604), has long faced perceptions that its downtown is unsafe. The St. Paul Downtown Alliance has made strides on that front with an inexpensive makeover of downtown trash bins. St. Paul’s sidewalks are lined with decades-old concrete containers. Over the years, the garbage receptacles have been covered with graffiti. The…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown Mesquite, TX (est. pop. 142,874), positions itself as a destination for authentic local flavor. But the small business owners who contribute to the historic heart of the city don’t always have a sophisticated grasp of business management or how to tap into the resources that will help them succeed. To address this reality head-on,…To read more — login/subscribe
An eight-month road closure in downtown Hartford, CT (est. pop. 122,591), caused shoppers, commuters, and business owners to groan. While construction disrupted downtown businesses, the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID) used whimsical construction signs to make light of the inconvenience and to stress that this, too, shall pass. HBID recognized that traditional construction signs blend…To read more — login/subscribe
The M14 bus usually crawls across one of Manhattan’s busiest crosstown thoroughfares at 5 mph. After New York City officials barred car traffic along 14th Street, however, the buses suddenly zipped so quickly that bus drivers had to slow down to stick to their schedules. New York City’s promising results could offer an alternative to…To read more — login/subscribe
In Birmingham, AL (est. pop. 209,294), a downtown group is encouraging economic growth through porch parties, a street market for vendors, and pop-up space. REV Birmingham has been focusing on redevelopment of the Woodlawn neighborhood, a historic area located just east of downtown. From April through October, Woodlawn business owners and residents host monthly porch…To read more — login/subscribe
REV Birmingham provides guidance and a small stipend to encourage local residents and business owners to host Porch Parties and spur entrepreneurial growth. It’s easy says the organization: • Choose a 2nd Tuesday between April and October. • Invite your Woodlawn neighbors, family, and friends. • Host a small gathering in your front yard, back…To read more — login/subscribe
The renovation of a handful of highly-visible homes is being cited as a driver of the economic turnaround in Millinocket, ME. The Northern Forest Center launched the Millinocket Housing Initiative in 2017 with the goal of renovating 10 properties and providing housing options for staff at nearby Millinocket Regional Hospital. As of October, the initiative…To read more — login/subscribe
Local talent, local food, and local businesses were featured at the 5th annual Texarkana Dine on the Line event. The community-wide farm-to-table dinner takes place at 5 p.m. right down the double yellow on State Line Avenue. Tickets were $40 per person or $75 for two and were available on Eventbright. Local restaurants prepared the…To read more — login/subscribe
What could have been a messy and unpleasant situation has become an annual tradition and attraction in downtown Portland, OR. The problem is crows roosting in downtown trees at night. “Cars, sidewalks, benches, handrails, and just about everything else under the trees is fair game when Mother Nature calls, leading to concentrated splatters of bird…To read more — login/subscribe
