Business Recruitment
This section explains how market analysis data can be used in the various steps of a business recruitment program.
Marketing, Branding, & Promotion
Marketing, Image, and Branding
March 2022 — This section of the toolbox uses market information gathered in Part I, “Understanding the Market,” to learn about your downtown’s key consumer groups and how to reach and serve them better. This includes understanding their perceptions of downtown as a place to live, work, shop and play. With knowledge of these consumer […]
Restaurant
National Restaurant Association Downtown Restaurants by N. David Milder, DANTH, Inc. March 2022 — Restaurants and culinary experiences can be extremely valuable additions to a downtown area. They serve downtown workers and residents as well as attract visitors to the center of the community. They serve both an economic and social role in the community, […]
Arts & Entertainment
Art and Entertainment events can draw people downtown and increase economic activity in a variety of business categories. These events can attract people downtown who normally would not visit.
Shaping Downtown After COVID-19 (Issue 194, June 2021)
June 2021 — This topic in Downtown Economics summarizes key points or “takeaways” from the recent webinar titled Shaping Downtown after COVID 19. The well-attended webinar highlighted examples of successful initiatives in four cities: Ithaca, New York, and Appleton, Eau Claire, and La Crosse Wisconsin. The following takeaways are presented without significant editing. You may […]
Latinx Immigration, Entrepreneurship, and Downtown Development (Issue 193, January 2021)
January 2021 — Small towns and rural communities across Wisconsin have markedly different experiences when it comes to their downtowns and main streets. Over the last decade, some Wisconsin communities have seen their downtown district become a lifeline to a rural renewal, while others have experienced decline defined by an exodus of businesses and disinvestment […]
Remote Work: A Trend that Might Impact Downtowns
Summary October 2020 — We offer a journal article discussion for planners, downtown revitalization professionals, and local Extension educators. This webinar focuses on the journal article “Remote Work: An Example of How to Identify a Downtown-Related Trend Breeze that Will Probably Outlast the COVID-19 Crisis” by David Milder. The article explores the economic impacts of […]
How Artists and a Public Space Can Create Unique and Safe Seating for Restaurant Carryout (Issue 192, October 2020)
An Innovative Response to COVID-19 October 2020 — If we have gained anything from the pandemic, one of the most important and hopefully long-lasting is the successful collaboration of public and private sectors. Place makers, community organizers, and city officials have all had to become more creative and think further outside the box than we […]
Creative Uses for Downtown Buildings in Small Towns: A Sample of Ideas to Bring People Back Downtown
About September 2020 — This report provides a sample of how downtown buildings in small towns can be put to productive use in generating activity and community pride. It is intended to stimulate new ideas for reusing buildings for retail, food and beverage, services, and community spaces. Situation Small town downtowns (in municipalities with less […]
Shaping A City, Ithaca, NY: A Developers Perspective
Summary May 2020 — Three-part discussion with the author: Session 1: May 21, 2020 video Planning and Consultants Power of RFPs to attract developers Formation of a BID for organizing your community Power of Feasibility studies—Housing, Retail, Office Build a Strategic Plan with community input and quantitative goals. Collaboration with large institutions and private developers […]
Downtown Business Mix Analysis: Midwest Cities with Population between 25,000 and 75,000
What types of businesses and services are located downtown today? What characteristics describe downtown differences in suburban and independent cities? What downtowns have a dense mix of businesses, employment, and residents? Introduction April 2020 — This study uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and business and demographic data to examine 259 cities (2010 population of 25,000-75,000) […]
Downtown Storefront Improvements Analyzing Return on Investment (Issue 180, March 2015)
March 2015 — Do downtown storefront improvement projects provide an adequate return to the property owners, outside investors, or public funding entities? If so, what are the returns in both economic and other terms? This article summarizes findings from 24 case studies of storefront improvement projects in Wisconsin over the past 15 years. While not […]
