T-Mobile continues to parcel out grants to small and midsized cities as part of its Hometown Grants program. The mobile carrier recently released details about its latest round of 25 grant winners. The awards of up to $50,000 went to recipients around the country with a wide variety of ideas. One theme: All the winners…To read more — login/subscribe
In Iowa City, IA (est. pop. 75,231), the Iowa City Downtown District is testing novel ways to serve existing merchants and recruit new ones. In one successful strategy, the Downtown District runs its own delivery service. It leases a vehicle and pays a driver, and deliveries are free from downtown merchants to customers within a…To read more — login/subscribe
In an effort to remove chronic troublemakers from its resurgent downtown entertainment district, the city of Las Vegas, NV (est. pop. 646,790), approved an “order-out corridor” in November. The policy seeks to cut crime by banning offenders who commit misdemeanors downtown from returning to the area to wreak more havoc. The Las Vegas City Council…To read more — login/subscribe
In Dublin, GA (est. pop. 15,889), the city is using a land bank to take control of longabandoned buildings downtown. In Newburgh, NY (est. pop. 28,444), a land bank has rehabilitated dozens of dilapidated structures, many of which dated to the 1800s. And in Flint, MI (est. pop. 96,439), a land bank has demolished or…To read more — login/subscribe
With the new year, comes an increased focus on business retention in many city centers. This trend, noted in Downtown Idea Exchange’s annual outlook article, reflects both the challenges of recruitment and the greying of business owners in many areas.Baby Boomers are retiring says Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center.…Continue reading
…every community. He explores the scope and dynamics of place branding, and provides a step-by-step process to research, define, and deploy a winning brand strategy. He explains how to create a unifying overarching place brand to embrace tourism, economic development and community pride. And he demonstrates how to bring… Continue reading
For a year and a half, visitors to downtown Sarasota, FL (est. pop. 55,103), could travel the district via black-and-teal electric cars. But the third-party operator of the microtransit service pulled the plug so quickly that its sleek little vehicles are still stored in a downtown garage. The microtransit service's departure underscored the reality that…To read more — login/subscribe
Global City Norwich is taking a multi-year approach to downtown revitalization and filling vacant commercial space. It all starts with welcoming the many diverse communities in this Connecticut city. Global City is a unique revitalization model, says Robert Mills, president of the Norwich Community Development Corporation. “Instead of starting off by just addressing empty storefronts…To read more — login/subscribe
The recovery from the coronavirus crisis threatens to be arduous and slow-moving. But architects Alan Pullman and Shannon Heffernan say there are steps cities and their downtowns can take now to speed the revival. Pullman and Heffernan, of urban design firm Studio One Eleven in Long Beach, CA, urge cities to use “parklets” and “flex…To read more — login/subscribe
In Chandler, AZ (est. pop. 261,149), city officials are combatting the coronavirus downturn by marketing local businesses to consumers. An “I Choose Chandler” video ad reminds viewers that the city’s restaurants, gyms, clothing boutiques, and barbershops are open for business. The spot takes a subtle dig at online retailers, and the campaign urges local residents…To read more — login/subscribe
