Iowa City Downtown District leaders discussed the social, economic and health changes disrupting downtown businesses during the organization's virtual 2020 State of Downtown event on June 30.
Even as they celebrated a long list of community improvements, some of the most successful events on record and strong fundraising, Downtown Iowa City leaders acknowledged it has been a tumultuous year for local businesses reeling from the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests.
"This is an incredibly important year because we know that people's livelihoods are on the line," said Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD) Executive Director Nancy Bird at the organization's annual State of Downtown event June 30.
At the event -
held online instead of The Chauncey's Spare Me bowling alley - leaders vowed to find new ways to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, while supporting local businesses struggling to stay open during an unprecedented health and economic crisis.
"We're very conscious ... that it's important for doors to stay open and business to happen in some other alternative way," Ms. Bird said. "We're operating under, 'Let's see what we can do together and say yes, we'll just try it.'"
Ms. Bird said the ICDD was proud of its work to help lead businesses through the pandemic, including hosting a series of informational webinars, facilitating money-saving bulk ordering of post-pandemic necessities like hand sanitizer, and rethinking the downtown area to provide restaurateurs with additional outdoor seating. ICDD also launched a successful Support Downtown Businesses gift card campaign, which spurred more than $205,000 in local spending.
But the organization does not intend to stop there. ICDD has launched a new fund that could be used to fuel post-coronavirus innovations like the recent closing of a block-long stretch of N. Linn Street to create outdoor café seating for area restaurants, remove regulatory obstacles to attracting downtown tenants, and deliver direct grants to impacted businesses. Ms. Bird said ICDD will also "double down" on arts and culture to differentiate the downtown area from other urban cores.
In 2019, according to Director of Operations Betsy Potter, ICDD was responsible for $42,600 in spending for "arts-driven placemaking," including four new murals, a new "cool shade structure" in Black Hawk Mini Park on the Pedestrian Mall and a GreenState Credit Union-sponsored initiative that saw local artists reimagine public benches.
Ms. Bird also announced a revamp of the Iowa City Better Bridges Program, in partnership with the city of Iowa City, to support the business and nonprofit community with implicit bias, cultural intelligence, and other training to support inclusive environments. She said ICDD would also be reviewing its own programs, initiatives, campaigns and outreach to ensure it is welcoming the Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community.
"People of color, as business owners and patrons, are underrepresented in our downtown," said outgoing ICDD President Mary Kate Pilcher Hayek. "The downtown district embraces this revolution as it remains committed to finding ways to make our downtown more racially and culturally diverse."
Nighttime Mayor Joe Reilly said he has been having informal conversations with local bar and restaurant owners, encouraging them to analyze their business' "racial equality toolkit."
"What are your hiring practices? What is your promotion pathway look like? What barriers exists?" he said of the questions coming up in conversation. "We'd like to really have them do a self-audit and maybe [there are] things that they were blind to or unaware of,"
"This is a significant moment in time, and we have a lot of work to do in the future," Ms. Bird said.
The Bohemian Hotel brings 'free spirited and fun' vibe to IC
A before and after shot of the new pool area at The Bohemian Hotel, which opens tomorrow in Iowa City. CREDIT THE BOHEMIAN
The Bohemian Hotel in Iowa City, once known as the Highlander Hotel, will officially open its doors tomorrow.
The
97-guest room hotel, which has undergone a complete transformation, pays homage to the original 1967 Highlander Hotel and Supper Club with its '60s and '70s retro theme.
"This is the first time the hotel hasn't been affiliated with a chain since the first owners opened the hotel in 1973," said owner and operator Angela Harrington, in a release. "We are so excited to bring it back as an independent one-of-a-kind hotel; one that celebrates its history and where it is in the world. Iowa City is free spirited and fun and so is The Bohemian."
The 65,000-square-foot property features a fresh air gym with wall-to-wall glass sliding doors that open onto a new south-side patio. Giant garage doors adorn the pool's east façade, connecting it to the courtyard, with a variety of loungers and games.
Included in restoration efforts was the return of the pool bar, the preservation of the wall adorned with signatures of the hotel's many famous hotel guests including Micky Mantle and Joan Baez, and a new lobby bar, which aims to capture the vibe of the famous supper club.
Ms. Harrington says she doesn't anticipate any large events until 2021, but that "the resort has lots of space to enjoy a family vacation close to home this summer and a fun place for parents of college students and sports fans to stay this fall."
The Bohemian Hotel is located at 2525 Highlander Place.
Some small business owners are seeing sales creep up, but a new NFIB survey suggests there is a long road ahead. CREDIT NFIB
Almost half of small business owners anticipate the need for more federal aid, according to the National Federation of Independent Business Research Center, which last week
released updated survey results on small businesses' progress as COVID-19 restrictions have begun easing.
According to the national survey of NFIB members, 27% of small business owners reported experiencing a significant or moderate increase in sales due to eased restrictions in the states. Another 27% reported a slight increase and 42% of owners said sales levels did not change.
"There's good news in this survey: Small business owners are starting to see sales increase as customers get out and spend more money at mom-and-pop shops," said NFIB's Iowa director, Matt Everson, in a release. "However, it's going to be a long time before we're out of the woods. Many small business owners are reaching the end of their [Paycheck Protection Program] money and some are anticipating layoffs when that happens."
Of those small business owners who have applied for a PPP loan, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan or both, almost half of them anticipate needing additional financial support in some form over the next 12 months. A majority of owners (56%) expect they'll need less than $50,000 to support business operations in the near term, while roughly a quarter (27%) anticipate needing more than $100,000.
"We need to make sure we listen to our small business owners - nearly half of whom say will need more assistance to stay open over the next year - and make sure we are getting these job creating, economy stabilizing Iowans what they need to survive," Mr. Everson said.
Local catering companies see a rise in activity after reopenings
Local catering companies are starting to see an uptick in business after months of cancellations and postponements due to COVID-19, reports news partner KCRG TV-9.
Dostal Catering in Cedar Rapids says this is usually its busiest time of year between weddings, business events and graduations. Owner Jeff Mumm says they usually cater around 40 graduations every summer, but this year, they've done two. Jennifer Howell, owner of A Touch of Class, a venue and catering company also in Cedar Rapids, says people are just starting to schedule events again. Read the full story and watch the video here.
CBJ Editorial: Preventing a second shutdown
With businesses continuing to reopen and the weather warm and sunny, the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic here in the Corridor can begin to seem like a distant memory.
The reality is that the pandemic isn't over. In fact, it is spiking in some areas like Johnson County. The Gazette recently reported that Johnson County experienced double-digit increases each day for seven days, matching a seven-day stretch back from April 3-9.
This is troubling for overall public health, but also for its potential to impact the economy again just as it is starting to improve.
While everything is seemingly political these days, our encouragement that people and business leaders wear face masks in public settings - when appropriate and possible - is not. It is a simple plea to act with concern for your health and others so we can slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep the economy on the road to recovery.
Even with an increase in cases in the Corridor, we don't think that closing businesses again is a reasonable or realistic option. The public has been through a lot with closures, and its tolerance is wearing thin.
For better or worse, this will become another "public health versus the economy" debate. That is a difficult position for businesses and their owners to be placed in again. Our message is simple: Wear a mask when you can and practice social distancing, diligent hand washing and cleaning. We can get through this if we all pitch in and do our part.
Liability law takes right approach
Most employers are doing their part by implementing enhanced procedures and processes to prevent their employees from contracting COVID-19 at work. Some have spent thousands of dollars, others millions. Regardless of these efforts, there is no guarantee that it won't happen.
We were pleased that the COVID-19 Response and Back-to-Business Limited Liability Act was signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds. It provides much needed liability limitations on potential COVID-19 lawsuits for a wide range of businesses and organizations including restaurants, retail establishments, medical providers, senior care facilities and meat processing plants, provided they "substantially" follow public health guidance.
JD Davis, vice president of public policy for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) said the organization made passage of limited liability protection for businesses and manufacturers one of its top two legislative priorities in the latest shortened session of the Iowa General Assembly.
"We were concerned it could quickly become a blame game of who, what and when," Mr. Davis said. In addition to keeping America's food supply chain going, he pointed out that many manufacturers stepped up to meet the crisis head-on by converting production lines to produce personal protective equipment.
While restricting liability should never be taken lightly, this law was a good response to extraordinary circumstances. It will help businesses continue to battle this pandemic and get our economy back on track.
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Coffee, Calm, and Community, by Iowa City Area Development Group, 10-10:45 a.m., online. These weekly Tuesday coffee meetings will be a time to reflect, share resources and connect with other business and HR leaders. Free. To join the meeting, visit bit.ly/3fsjqsu.
Personal Branding Tips for Entrepreneurs, by Iowa Center for Economic Success, noon-1 p.m., online. Join the discussion on personal branding and your online presence. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2YXSjyS.
July 8-9
2020 Nonprofit Training DaysJ, by Association for Talent Development-Hawkeye Chapter, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., online. Event includes a keynote address by speaker and author Patti Seda and breakout sessions focusing on skills and strategies to apply in your professional or volunteer positions. Cost: $25. To register, visit bit.ly/2YK71dO.
July 9
Wake Up Marion, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 8-9 a.m., D-BAT Marion, 1783 Red Fox Way. Get to know the D-BAT Marion team while talking with other Marion Chamber members. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/3dsUvn2.
Understanding Remote Workers, by Project Management Institute - Eastern Iowa, noon, online. This program on remote workers will be led by Douglas Williams. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2YG9vIX.
Headlines from KCRG-TV9
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
The Johnson County Auditor's Office on Thursday said it will send every voter in the county a postage-paid absentee ballot request form for the Nov. 3 presidential election.
The Johnson County Auditor's Office said polling places will be open, but absentee ballot request forms will be sent to encourage voting from home, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mailings to Johnson County voters will be sent in four groups starting the last week of July. The first group will be rural areas and senior housing complexes, with high-turnover neighborhoods and Univeristy of Iowa residence halls receiving requests by early September. The auditor's office said by sending the mailing out in groups, the office will be able to use staff time more efficiently. But it will also give voters who are moving more time to update their voter registration addresses.
Some eye doctors across Eastern Iowa say they are getting more calls as the pandemic is forcing more people to work from home, staring at a computer all day. It's causing what they call Computer Vision Syndrome.
People can get blurry vision, headaches, and neck and back pain. Workers at Fitzgerald and Associates in Cedar Rapids say people can deal with it by changing their prescription to match the distance they are from the computer. Also get glasses with a tint or anti-reflective coating. This helps deal with eye strain. A person's posture can also lead to eye strain. "We don't want them slouching or leaning forward and lifting their head up," said Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald. "Because that's hard on the vascular system and the neck. So as a result, we talk to them about posture." Dr. Fitzgerald recommends people take breaks every 30 minutes, get away from their work space to move, look out the window or down a hallway, and to make sure to blink.
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
Your KCRG-TV9 First Alert Forecast
Dry weather moves in, lasting through the holiday weekend. As a ridge of high pressure builds the storm track moves to the north and the heat continues. Highs starting tomorrow will be near 90 with dew points near 70. Heat Index values are expected to be near 100 through Sunday. It looks like this pattern continues into the middle of next week.
ICDD: Winds of change sweeping downtown IC businesses
