Burlington, VT (est. pop. 42,645), was long known as a picturesque college town with a healthy dose of liberal politics.But in recent years, Burlington has become afflicted by big-city problems, including crime and homelessness. The Progressive Party members of the Burlington city council, meanwhile, responded to the civil unrest of 2020 by slashing the size…
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The weeklong Dutch-themed Tulip Time Festival in Holland, MI, has been going strong for 87 years.This year, the festival and its marketing materials were updated to reflect a full calendar of experiential activities. "People don’t want to be on the sidelines watching," says Susan Zalnis, the festival’s marketing/public relations director. "They want to jump in…
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For Downtown Long Beach Associates, the secret to hosting over a dozen major downtown events each year, is to act as an event backer. The Downtown Event Sponsorship program makes $15,000 available to sponsor downtown events with funds that are awarded in amounts of up to $2,500. A multi-step application process ensures that all sponsored…
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Attracting retail to the city center is easier with staff dedicated to that mission. In York, PA, a creative funding solution has allowed Downtown Inc. to hire a recruitment specialist, and retailers are moving downtown. “We are a 28-year-old Main Street organization and BID so we are sort of a hybrid, which affords us a…
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…between transit planning, transportation engineering, and street design. The Transit Street Design Guide presents a new set of core principles, street typologies, and design strategies that shift the paradigm for streets, from merely accommodating service to actively prioritizing great transit. The book expands on the transit information in Urban… Continue reading
The Port Huron (MI) Downtown Development Authority hopes to have its new downtown-wide gift card in place in time for Small Business Saturday — the first Saturday after Thanksgiving Day. The DDA will spend up to $13,000 on a full year of service for the branded Visa card. The costs include a $7,500 start-up fee…
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July 9, 2020 — Downtown Walla Walla, WA, has reopened after the coronavirus shutdown, but with a number of new twists. A block near Main Street is closed to traffic and is now a plaza for outdoor dining. Main Street itself will close one night a week. Sidewalk liquor consumption is now allowed, within limits.…
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Downtown offers loans to struggling merchants — As the coronavirus shut down its city center, Memphis, TN, faced a mass extinction of small merchants. The Downtown Memphis Commission responded quickly, handing out short-term loans totaling $260,000 to 46 businesses. See Memphis’ application materials for emergency loans.
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Eight low-cost ideas downtowns are using to spur their recoveries — The Kendall Whittier Main Street program in Tulsa, OK, wants to support businesses that are struggling with little or no income. To keep businesses viable, grants will be offered to help make rent or mortgage payments. If awarded, the grant will pay rent directly to the landlord. See the Kendall Whittier Rent Relief Program application.
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The Frederick Historic District in Maryland encompasses the core of the city and contains residential, commercial, and religious buildings dating as far back as the late 18th century. See the details and application Given the construction methods, materials, and density downtown, fire safety is a concern. To encourage property owners to install sprinklers, the city…
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As part of its ongoing downtown revitalization effort, the City of Stoughton, MA, has launched a storefront and sign improvement program. The work will be funded by an almost $600,000 grant from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Massachusetts CDBG Program. The grant will provide funding for four full sign and façade…
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