When an underutilized public building won’t sell, creative financing can attract new owners.An innovative project in Erie, CO, has converted a vacant historic building into a public gathering space while also serving as a catalyst for a significant sales tax revenue increase, and garnering media buzz with a Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence. After failing…Continue reading
Downtown leaders in Macon, GA (est. pop. 153,159), had an idea that seemed far-fetched. They hoped to spur interest in local merchants by printing their own currency, and then setting up a unique scavenger hunt based on the custom scrip. When local residents expanded the game to Facebook, and small businesses began hosting events based…To read more — login/subscribe
Scaling up downtown walking tours Downtown walking tours are a popular way to connect locals and non-locals with all that downtown has to offer. The Downtown Alliance, which manages Lower Manhattan’s business improvement district, created a Walking Tour Incubator Grant Program to spur the development of creative new tours and support budding tour operators. The…To read more — login/subscribe
In Millburn-Short Hills, NJ (est. pop. 21,699), Restaurant Week has turned into a springtime traffic driver. The event debuted in March 2023, then returned in March 2024. Restaurant Week is organized by Explore Millburn-Short Hills, a special improvement district, and involves some 40 restaurants and boutiques offering 60 specials. The offerings ranged from appetizers to…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown West Palm Beach, FL (est. pop. 117,000), has attracted a number of medical marijuana businesses. But as the city’s commercial and residential development booms, the Downtown Development Authority began to push back. In 2022, Raphael Clemente, head of the Downtown Development Authority, asked city officials to stop approving dispensaries. In 2023, the city commission…To read more — login/subscribe
…thoroughly updated information and new content. It covers timely issues and practical strategies including: avoiding burnout, accountability, professional networking, financial literacy, measuring effectiveness, and much more. Ideal for executive directors and board members, this practical guide also includes new cases and stories from the field and insightful tips sidebars…. Continue reading
Wheeling, WV (est. pop. 27,062), was recently recognized by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia for its façade grant program. Here’s a rundown of how the program works. First, applicants must submit the following information to the city: • Completed application See the complete façade improvement program guidelines. • Photographs of existing façade • Plans…To read more — login/subscribe
Summertime adventure pass Eau Claire, WI’s destination marketing group is encouraging visitors and locals to discover some of the many local sites with an adventure pass. The 26 locations featured on the pass include several downtown spots such as the Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market and downtown’s Sculpture Tour. Participants download the mobile pass and…To read more — login/subscribe
Valerie Marmone once ran a clothing boutique in Sacramento, so she knows firsthand how hard it is to operate a retail business in an era of tight margins and online shopping. In her post-entrepreneurial career, Marmone works as vice president of business development at the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. In that role, she runs the annual…To read more — login/subscribe
