In Chicago and Reno, NV, downtown leaders are trying a new approach to homelessness. Instead of viewing homelessness as a criminal problem, these cities aim to guide troubled people toward solutions for their deep-seated issues. Both downtowns have hired social workers to work on the front lines. This new breed of downtown ambassadors is charged…To read more — login/subscribe
In addition to filling empty storefronts, a new free-rent program in San Francisco is attracting a fresh crop of local retailers. Under the program, city and business leaders offer up to six months of free rent, along with funding for start-up expenses. During the first round, landlords were hoping the economy was going to improve…Continue reading
In Quincy, MA, a redevelopment boom is bearing fruit at precisely the wrong time, at least from a parking perspective. To ease the squeeze, Quincy has implemented a variety of strategies. At one city lot, Quincy more than doubled parking rates before 5 p.m. and offered free parking after 5 p.m. The city worked with churches to…Continue reading
As part of the re-opening plans in Peterborough, England, the city council is providing advice for shoppers. The cathedral city joined the nation in re-opening doors to non-essential shops in mid-June. All Peterborough shops and public areas have been asked to complete the government’s Covid-19 risk assessment and to display it in their windows. The…To read more — login/subscribe
When Jason Duff was growing up in Bellefontaine, OH (est. pop. 13,574), his family owned a Hallmark card store downtown. The city center was thriving, and Duff recalls fond memories of working in his parents’ shop and learning to tie a necktie at the men’s clothing store downtown. But in the 1990s and the first…To read more — login/subscribe
It’s a familiar problem in downtowns throughout the U.S. — Large delivery trucks block traffic as the driver stops at the curb to drop off a single small package. In an attempt to address the congestion caused by package deliveries, some cities are experimenting with bicycles to get online orders to their final destination. One…To read more — login/subscribe
Now that you know which brand-building missteps to avoid, here is Bill Baker’s seven-step process for building an authentic brand that resonates: • Research the current climate. Market research is the starting point for any brand-building endeavor. Look at what competitors are doing, determine what consumers think, and interview stakeholders. It’s important to remain objective…To read more — login/subscribe
…Carol Lucas was formerly president of Fieldstone Alliance and Director of National Services for Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. She led the organization’s community forums program for six years. Carol has more than twenty-five years of consulting and training experience with nonprofit, government, community, and private sector organizations. Linda Hoskins… Continue reading
The Full Forward Business Competition in Florence, SC, is attracting successful business owners to open a second location or a new venture in the city’s downtown. The contest, which launched in May, was publicized heavily via social media, along with mailings to business owners statewide. One winning entry received $20,000 in cash for expenses related…Continue reading
As downtowns large and small struggle with heat-island effects, an experiment with solar-reflective pavement coatings is showing promise. Last year, the City of Los Angeles chose the Pacoima neighborhood for a test of the concept. The city formed a partnership with GAF, a roofing manufacturer, to cover some 700,000 square feet of pavement with a…To read more — login/subscribe
