With the US economy increasingly driven by the tech sector, a growing number of downtown leaders in mid-sized cities are looking for ways to spur innovation in their cities. One example is in Fort Wayne, IN (est. pop. 263,814), where a rusting manufacturing hub has been transformed into an innovation district. Another case study is…To read more — login/subscribe
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
Start planning for cookie season Downtowns across the nation will welcome cookie sellers to their streets in February. Since 1917 Girl Scouts have been selling the seasonal treats in January through April. Cookie booths are typically set up on sidewalks, in building lobbies, and in retail locations. For example, Sommerville, NJ, hosts scouts at Starbucks,…To read more — login/subscribe
Cities are increasingly using the arts to improve their downtowns and enhance economic conditions. In Cities and the Arts, editor Roger Kemp has gathered articles from a wide range of sources to demonstrate that when community investment focuses on the arts, business, commerce, and tourism will follow. … Continue reading
…articles on warnings and challenges for the future. In between, the bulk of the book is focused on best practices in economic development. These include ideas in leadership and strategy, marketing and branding, and capital and financing. Also included are many examples of classic economic development practices and contemporary… Continue reading
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
Several cities nationwide are testing solar-powered products that provide free Wi-Fi and smartphone charging stations while simultaneously gathering pedestrian activity and traffic pattern data. In Oak Park, IL, the first Soofa Core unit was installed in a city park last August, closely followed by units in three other urban parks. The device, located adjacent to…Continue reading
Advocates for pedestrian safety are pushing for a simple fix that promises to make crosswalks safer for those traversing streets on foot: Forbid motorists from turning right on red lights. The concept is gaining momentum and also generating political pushback. Right-on-red turns are already illegal in the tourist zone of Honolulu. After successfully testing no-turn-on-red…To read more — login/subscribe
Food tourism continues to grow Traveling to a destination specifically for its food and beverages is on the rise. The World Food Travel Association defines food tourism as “Traveling for a taste of place to get a sense of place.” In 2019, the global culinary tourism market was valued at $1.1 billion and is projected…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…Continue reading
