A series of public art projects — including innovative lighting installations in formerly dreary underpasses — has helped Lynn, MA, shake off its malaise. In 2014, as part of a project to turn things around, the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency named the city as part of its Transformative Development Initiative. The state agency hosted a…Continue reading
In recent years, Elizabeth Cook noticed that building owners in Charles Town, WV (est. pop. 6,373), stopped applying for the city’s façade improvement grants. The problem? Every building owner who needed a grant had already gotten one. So Cook, downtown coordinator at Charles Town Now, came up with a plan to transition the program to…To read more — login/subscribe
Turn-key inflatables When it comes to radically changing the downtown streetscape, it doesn’t get much lighter, quicker, or cheaper than temporary installations of inflatables. Turn-key event producers offer giant waterslides, obstacle courses, and even public art installations. In February, Osuna Park in Peoria, AZ, welcomed the illuminated and inflatable “Light at Play: An Interactive Art…To read more — login/subscribe
Several new businesses planned to open in Somerset, OH (est. pop. 1,728), this year after getting a boost from a local entrepreneurial program. The village named the winner and three runners up for its second Pop-Up Business Competition.The winners include a vintage home decor store, an outdoor tour service, a health drink and retail store,…To read more — login/subscribe
In Madison, WI, a new program will provide a financial safety net for food cart operators doing business downtown. The program is among the winners in the latest round of pandemic-recovery grants from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). The awards provide short-term funding and technical assistance to cities seeking to adapt streets…Continue reading
Like many downtowns, Cleveland has struggled to adapt to post-pandemic patterns of commuting and visitation. As of September 2022, the city was getting 80 percent of the overall visits it experienced in 2019. And visits to office buildings had plummeted to just 61 percent of prepandemic levels. Given that harsh reality, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance…To read more — login/subscribe
New Orleans’ French Quarter once was the rare entertainment district that allowed revelers to drink while they strolled public streets. However, many small cities not known as party towns are getting in on the act, a trend that has been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic and the new reality of outdoor dining and drinking. In…To read more — login/subscribe
Transit systems nationwide are struggling to cope with a severe labor shortage that is hampering performance and hindering ridership, The Wall Street Journal reports. Rock-bottom unemployment coupled with a wave of retirements by baby boomer operators has left many transit agencies understaffed. Denver, for instance, needs dozens of train operators, while Minneapolis and St. Louis…To read more — login/subscribe
Johnson City, TN (est. pop. 65,598), just launched free Wi-Fi service in its historic downtown. The Appalachian Regional Commission approved a $27,500 grant to the Johnson City Developmental Authority that paved the way for the Downtown Johnson City Free Wi-Fi Program, the News & Neighbor reports. The developmental authority will provide additional funds over two…To read more — login/subscribe
