In addition to a full schedule of daily, weekly, and seasonal marketing efforts, special situations often arise that call for a major overhaul or a minor tweak. A major overhaul was needed recently in High Point, NC, where the city spent months updating its dusty and out-of-date branding. Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, IN, a quick response…To read more — login/subscribe
Marketing a downtown effectively requires research, strategic thinking, community-wide soul-searching, and solid implementation. The payoff of all this work can be felt everywhere from more effective business recruitment to stronger tourism and more meaningful events. It’s a hard task, says Roger Brooks, head of Destination Development Association. He sees some common mistakes that downtown leaders…To read more — login/subscribe
With a prominent university and a thriving job market, Louisville, KY (est. pop. 602,000), has been performing well economically. New arrivals face a daunting task of learning to navigate the school district and other everyday issues. That's why the Chamber of Commerce Greater Louisville Inc. launched City Champs, which allows people considering a move to…To read more — login/subscribe
T-Mobile continues to provide 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 are…Continue reading
The availability of paint that shows up only when it’s wet has inspired whimsical, low-cost "invisible art" projects on sidewalks nationwide. Each project takes a slightly different approach. Seattle’s invisible art is humorous, while Huntsville, AL, aims to bring literature to the public art scene. "We wanted it to be something unexpected that community members…Continue reading
In Fort Lauderdale, FL (est. pop. 182,434), downtown leaders are organizing a “Get Back Downtown” event for September. The outdoor office party will urge office workers to return to their cubicles in the central business district’s office towers. In Columbus, OH (est. pop. 902,073), a downtown group likewise is marketing the city center by sprucing…To read more — login/subscribe
Welcome back to work Working downtown has many benefits and in Milwaukee, WI, this includes the annual Downtown Employee Appreciation Week. The event includes something for everyone from morning meditation and lunchtime giveaways to music and office challenge games. In 2020 most of the events were virtual, but downtown workers and the event will be…To read more — login/subscribe
Cities embrace land banks as blight-fighting tool — A land bank’s main goal is forcing ownership changes of buildings that have sat vacant for years or even decades, especially those held by owners who have died or disappeared. Read Frank Alexander’s report on land banks.
...Chalking tires of parked cars? You might be violating motorists’ rights — The age-old parking practice of using chalk to mark the tires of parked cars faces legal scrutiny — and it just might be unconstitutional. See a federal appeals court’s ruling against tire chalking. ...
Business plan competition offers support, spurs growth — The Downtown Sacramento Partnership runs an annual contest that solicits business plans from would-be retailers. The contest, Calling All Dreamers, gives one promising retailer a grand prize of $10,000 in cash plus more than $100,000 in services. Watch finalist videos from the contest below and click this link to see program guidelines. https://youtu.be/CffofZHDLH4 https://youtu.be/O28tGNJZiqE https://youtu.be/e5SJY4H2onA https://youtu.be/6PfzCGoggNM https://youtu.be/PNdkrMe9kkY ...
Fire suppression incentives — To encourage property owners to install sprinklers, the City of Frederick, MD, offers a Fire Suppression Incentive Program. See the details and application. ...
Public art encourages citizen involvement — The Lafayette sign in Lafayette, LA, was erected in 2017 as an interactive public art installation. Local nonprofit groups are encouraged to paint its letters to promote community events and awareness. Read the art guidelines. ...
Parking rate structure encourages turnover — The City of Spokane Downtown Parking Study presents a comprehensive package of recommendations designed to “facilitate growth and activity downtown, while making parking more convenient and user-friendly for residents, businesses, employees, and visitors.” ...
Grants, loans to Black entrepreneurs boost downtown — Memphis, TN, is a majority Black city whose developers are mostly white. The Downtown Memphis Commission has been taking strides to change that picture by making the ranks of property investors and merchants more diverse. Watch a video overview of the Downtown Memphis Commission’s award-winning program below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3zOowHCutU
...Imagining the future of downtown with community visioning — The community visioning session is a basic building block of community planning and downtown leadership. Read the full Community Visioning Handbook. ...
