Fort Collins, CO (est. pop. 170,245), was a bike-friendly place going into the pandemic. Since 2018, it had been one of just four U.S. cities to earn a Platinum designation from the League of American Bicyclists. During the depths of the pandemic, the city raised its cycling game even more by further investing in its…To read more — login/subscribe
In an effort to breathe new life into downtown districts nationwide, two U.S. Senators and three Representatives introduced the Revitalizing Downtowns Act. The bill — which is supported by the International Downtown Association and by three dozen smaller downtown organizations — was sponsored by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D—MI) and Gary Peters (D—MI) and Reps. Jimmy…To read more — login/subscribe
Paducah, KY, is offering incentives to lure remote workers to town. Paducah, a folk arts hub and a UNESCO Creative City, joins other small and mid-sized cities in wooing white-collar workers by offering cash stipends and other incentives. Paducah’s program includes cash reimbursements of up to $2,500 for relocation costs, up to $70 a month…Continue reading
Back in 2016, New Haven, CT (est. pop. 130,257), launched a campaign to market locally produced goods by giving products a distinctive logo and promoting them under the Made in New Haven brand. As of mid-2021, the program is still going — although it has lost much of its momentum, one city official says. On…To read more — login/subscribe
Walkers explore cities, downtowns The Newark Downtown District puts feet on the street with the NDD Walking Club. The club is temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, but at its height, the club attracted residents, workers, and students to the free mid-day walks. The club typically runs from May through October and offers walkers three…To read more — login/subscribe
At the height of racial justice demonstrations in the summer of 2020, Washington, DC, officials expressed fears of vandalism and looting after protesters damaged storefronts and frightened off less boisterous visitors. However, as the pandemic has dragged on, DC officials have taken a dramatically different view of demonstrations. In 2021, protests have shifted from headache…To read more — login/subscribe
Greensboro, NC (est. pop. 296,725), will launch a downtown social district in March. Within its boundaries, visitors will be able to stroll while carrying alcoholic beverages in specially labeled plastic cups. Greensboro is one of a number of North Carolina cities that have enacted, or are considering, downtown social districts after Gov. Roy Cooper in…To read more — login/subscribe
Greensboro, NC, will launch a downtown social district in March. Within its boundaries, visitors will be able to stroll while carrying alcoholic beverages in specially labeled plastic cups. Greensboro is one of a number of North Carolina cities that have enacted, or are considering, downtown social districts after Gov. Roy Cooper signed a law in…Continue reading
Perhaps no city illustrates the challenge of downtown leadership as vividly as San Jose, CA. On the one hand, the city is the center of Silicon Valley, an affluent region where the typical home sells for $1.4 million and median family income is nearly $170,000. On the other, downtown has a problem with homelessness, and…To read more — login/subscribe
Downtown Denison, TX, hosts nearly 700 events a year, a brisk pace that generates a steady stream of activity. The hectic schedule has also forced downtown leaders to be mindful about how to pace the events so that they help rather than hinder downtown merchants. With so much happening in a small downtown, the challenge…Continue reading
