main street Latest News

A week-long celebration of fashion in Philadelphia, PA, is promoted with Random Acts of Fashion, which take place on city streets and on social-media platforms.

Downtowns areas, business improvement districts, and Main Street communities will face a variety of challenges and opportunities this year.

Junior Achievement Manatee/Sarasota will host “Music on Main,” a family-friendly event on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, on Friday, January 4, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

MainStreetChamber™ announced that it will be opening a new local Chapter in Temecula Valley.

One small community finds that funding a staff position dedicated to business recruitment can pay off.

Increasingly, communities are realizing that being people friendly means being pet friendly, too.

Knowing your market potential, offering incentives, creating appropriate zoning, and facilitating connections all play a role in creating more housing...

A week-long celebration of fashion in Philadelphia, PA, is promoted with Random Acts of Fashion, which take place on city streets and on social-media platforms.

Access to office equipment, support, and networking bring budding entrepreneurs downtown and keep them there.

Find what is unique to your community and build on that to draw visitors.

For art to grace downtown streets it must be easy and inexpensive to maintain.

Downtowns areas, business improvement districts, and Main Street communities will face a variety of challenges and opportunities this year.

The San Jose Downtown Association shows busy working women that the downtown area has lots to offer them.

Junior Achievement Manatee/Sarasota will host “Music on Main,” a family-friendly event on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, on Friday, January 4, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Bristol, CT, development authority has assisted four restaurants and a bakery through its Downtown Restaurant Incentive Program.

New Haven, CT's Project Storefronts is bringing art and new businesses downtown.

From new construction to portable loos, downtowns are finding ways to provide this vital, if often neglected service.

A survey of downtown merchant's helps Main Street Chillicothe focus its efforts on the events that make the most difference for retailers.

Careful scrutiny of expenses has led to program cuts in some communities, more negotiating for the best possible prices, increased utilization of social networking sites, and many other changes.

Restaurant and retail pairings attract new customers downtown.

Packaging the downtown area as a tourist destination can be done in some unlikely locations. An article in the September issue of "Downtown Promotion Reporter" shows readers how.

The creation of an environment that embraces entrepreneurism should be a goal of every community economic development strategy.

To capture attention in San Jose, CA, the downtown association partners with developers to offer downtown tours with unique perks and experiences.

To meet local needs this community banded together to create and operate its own downtown department store.

Retail expert recommends hands-on training, handbooks and self-assessments to help small businesses thrive.

Alley improvements are being implemented across North America to enhance connectivity, beautify streetscapes, and provide gathering spaces. Some are grass-roots efforts spearheaded by volunteers while others are city-funded reclamation projects.

Long a staple of many downtown areas, fabric banners are giving way to more permanent metal banners.

For downtown business owners, dollars saved are just as important as dollars earned. Energy audits and efficiency upgrades are two ways that businesses can cut operating costs without impacting customer service.

Cash Mobs are popping up in downtown areas across the country.

In city centers around the country, the role of parking and the full range of benefits that it provides are coming into question and creative solutions are emerging.

David Feehan considers different approaches to measuring the success of the downtown organization.

Around the country, pop-up art spaces take many forms, but all aim to draw visitors to the central business district.

Central to the visual enhancement plan in Elizabeth, NJ, is a detailed evaluation of every downtown property, interviews with merchants and shoppers, grants for improvements, and an enhanced partnership with the city.

The February issue of "Downtown Promotion Reporter" newsletter features six steps to increasing event attendance with Facebook.

Downtown group focuses on revitalization efforts through community wide effort to transform vacant lot into a pocket park.

Culinary tourism spurs economic development across the country.

Converting public space into an ice rink provides variety and wonderful programming opportunities downtown during winter months when city centers are traditionally not as active.

This year, downtown organizations are considering new responsibilities and new revenue sources while preparing for the economy to rebound.

The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, AL, offers a range of micro loan programs to keep businesses open and jobs downtown.

To enhance offerings during the busy holiday shopping season, many downtown areas are developing annual holiday pop-up programs that enliven their streets, highlight available spaces, and give entrepreneurs a valuable outlet for showcasing products.

Communities across the country are mulling the benefits of modern streetcars. An article in the November issue of "Downtown Idea Exchange" provides details and case studies.

Downtown hospitality training program engages, energizes and enhances community pride in Lansing, MI.

Fouteen vacant storefronts are transformed into works of art for the winter holidays.

MainStreetChamber™ announced that it will be opening a new local Chapter in Temecula Valley.

Friday, just minutes before the deadline, we submitted an application for the COSE Business Pitch Competition. That made it five (5) applications [out of approximately 170 total submitted] that came as a direct result of efforts "up on Main Street".

Unique lending service is thriving enabling small businesses to get working capital to run their businesses

The farmer's market in downtown Salt Lake City, expands its offerings with an annual kick-off party, farm tours and a sponsorship program.

Creation of a downtown plaza benefits local citizens and many local businesses who provided much needed materials and skills.

Cash-strapped festival and event producers are getting creative about finding and enhancing revenue sources for their activities. Smaller portions is just one idea with big potential.

As small and independent downtown businesses struggle for survival, this new report provides proven strategies for business retention and recruitment.

There is a growing body of evidence that thoughtful investment in arts and culture initiatives can generate significant economic benefits for cities large and small.

A harbor-side festival finds ways to draw in new visitors by speaking their language.

Cowork spaces are popping up all over the country bringing workers into downtown areas and filling often chronically vacant commercial space.

Is america's future filled with doubt and confusion, instead of positive notions of capitalism. Do we need a infusion of fresh blood in our veins, to energize us? What's the solution, where do we go from here? Maybe Brandon Jarod can help us here!