Starting in July, diners and shoppers in downtown Nashville, TN (est. pop. 692,587), will pay a bit more for burgers and T-shirts. Tennessee lawmakers and the Nashville Metro Council approved an increase in the downtown sales tax rate to 9.75 percent from 9.5 percent. The tax increase will generate $2.4 million to be spent on…To read more — login/subscribe
Innovative public out-reach has piqued curiosity and boosted public input for downtown plan updates in Laguna Beach, CA. Building on successful Plan Van workshops in other cities while also highlighting Laguna’s downtown trolley service, the city offered Plan Trolley workshops. The trolley, loaded with information about the Downtown Specific Plan including, display easels, and public-input…Continue reading
The renovation of a handful of highly-visible homes is being cited as a driver of the economic turnaround in Millinocket, ME. The Northern Forest Center launched the Millinocket Housing Initiative in 2017 with the goal of renovating 10 properties and providing housing options for staff at nearby Millinocket Regional Hospital. As of October, the initiative…To read more — login/subscribe
A new mural trail being created in Stockton, CA, is strategically designed to encourage people to take selfies and share them on social media. The project will eventually feature 15 giant "postcards" at sites intended to draw pedestrians through the city center while also providing education about local history and culture. "People don’t really buy…Continue reading
Just over a year ago, Racine, WI, resident Dustan Balcom started the Facebook page, Ask me why I love Racine, for people to share what they love about the beleaguered city where they live and work. The next step in his campaign was to convert a downtown construction enclosure into a giant chalkboard where people…Continue reading
Just six hours after the Downtown Dayton Partnership in Dayton, OH (est. pop. 140,638), unveiled a gift card promotion, the cards had sold out. It was a rare glimmer of good news in an otherwise-difficult time both for downtowns and for brick-and-mortar retailers. Downtowns across the country tried similar promotions and reported robust results. Dayton’s…To read more — login/subscribe
Louisville Downtown Partnership launched a multi-pronged advertising campaign in February. The goal is to drive community support for the downtown district. “Downtown is critical to the success of the community as a whole, so to remind people we’re here, and ready to welcome them back as soon as they are ready to come back, we’re…To read more — login/subscribe
When Evan Kaufman became executive director of the Hopewell Downtown Partnership a decade ago, the small city’s core was struggling. The neglected downtown of Hopewell, VA, was filled with rundown buildings. Food options were sparse, and locals didn’t think downtown was safe. "In Hopewell, it was beyond downhill," Kaufman recalls. "It had already passed the…Continue reading
Spaces which allow people with common interests to share ideas, equipment, and knowledge are becoming part of the urban fabric in many communities. Makerspaces provide individual work space, meeting space, networking opportunities, and equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, milling devices, and other items that individual entrepreneurs might not be able to afford on…Continue reading
Toccoa, GA (est. pop. 8,328), boasts a thriving downtown and a bustling historic theater. It has even carved out a niche as a setting for filmmakers looking for an iconic courtroom and Main Street. The turnaround came only after the rural town decided to tear up a downtown pedestrian mall, and to remove the ugly…To read more — login/subscribe
