Holiday Open House
Kick off your holiday season with a favorite event - Downtown Burlington's Holiday Open House on November 8th from 10 AM - 4 PM (hours vary by business). Get a head start on holiday gift buying at your favorite downtown businesses and enter to win for the giveaway of $500 in Downtown Dollars. Need not be present to win, winner will be announced on Facebook the week of November 9th.
Holiday Open House is sponsored by Bark & Play Daycare and Suites .
Stop at these participating businesses to register for Downtown Dollars:
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Mainstreet Iowa Small Business Lab
This is a FREE service designated just for businesses within the Main Street District.
If you want to connect with other small business, talk to experts or need technical advice, this lab is for you! Check out the website for additional details.
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Lighted Holiday Window Display & Contest
Beginning November 28 - December 25, Light Up A Window!
In lieu of the Downtown Holiday Parade, downtown businesses will partner with parade entries to decorate downtown windows this holiday season. Beginning November 28th through December 25th the community is invited to stroll downtown on foot or drive by in their cars to vote for their favorite window display!
The Lighted Holiday Window Contest is sponsored by The Views of Burlington.
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Shop, Wine & Dine
November 13, 20 December 4, 11, 18
To make the shopping a little easier and a little more fun, your downtown merchants are open late until 8 PM on Fridays until Christmas! After shopping, stop by one of downtown's restaurants, breweries or wineries and enjoy the holiday season!
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DPI's Priorities & COVID-19 Statement
Over the past few months, COVID-19 has impacted the community in many ways that could never have been imagined. This includes downtown small businesses and their employees; Downtown Partners’ neighbors and friends. The Downtown Partners, Inc. Board of Directors would like you to know DPI is here to help downtown constituents navigate these tough times and will be focusing on the following items in the months ahead:
Listening to your Needs
DPI will be sure to provide a regular check-in with businesses to ensure owners and employee concerns are heard. DPI wants to listen to the needs of the downtown community to gather multiple points of view for how to move through the pandemic and solve issues that downtown is facing together.
Being a Resource
DPI wants to be a strong partner in developing strategies to safely return business to a new normal by providing businesses with resources. This may come in the form of notifying you about funding opportunities, bringing in speakers on current topics, assisting in transition to digital sales such as “Shop Where I Live”, or providing materials such as safety messaging throughout downtown e.g. signs and fliers. The team will provide a number of resources to assist you through this pandemic.
Promotion of Events, Business, and All Downtown Benefits
DPI will do everything possible to promote all aspects of downtown Burlington, so that the community doesn’t forget about all of the great local things offered. This includes promoting events or innovative/creative way to provide safe alternatives to an event. Some alternatives might include highlighting individual downtown businesses, providing updates on new projects happening, and showcasing all of the other amazing things about downtown.
Re-emphasize the 4 Point Main Street Approach
As a Main Street Iowa Community, DPI must abide by the Main Street Approach which focuses on economic vitality, design, organization, and promotion. The team will take this time to revisit and re-emphasize the 4 Points of Main Street approach with the Board of Directors, each of the committees, and downtown businesses to create a path for the future after the pandemic. This plan will help to create an atmosphere of partnership and collaboration with all of the downtown partners to ensure the downtown community comes out of this pandemic stronger than before.
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Santa's Cottage Letter Drop Off and Reading
Beginning November 28, children will have the opportunity to drop off a letter to Santa Claus at Santa’s Cottage in Downtown Burlington. Each week Santa will select a number of letters from children and read them via Facebook. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to see your child’s smile shine as they hear from Santa.
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County Seat Bench Project
We want to thank our local artists who donated their time and creativity to making our downtown beautiful! Lin Parks, Kay Weiss, Thomas Halls, Christine Williamson, Jeri Sparks and Frank Statler's works of art are now on display in the downtown area.
Thank you to our other volunteers who helped facilitate the move, Riley Paint Company for preparing the benches and the Art Center of Burlington who allowed the artists to use their facilities.
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De Luxe Aesthetics Awarded $75,000 Main Street Challenge Grant
Congratulations to Kari Patterson & De Luxe Aesthetics! Main Street Iowa & the Iowa Economic Development Authority awarded Downtown Partners, Inc. a 2020 Main Street Challenge Grant in the amount of $75,000 for the De Luxe Aesthetics project. The grant dollars will go towards the renovation of the new De Luxe Aesthetics building located at 506 Jefferson St. Congratulations! Be sure to follow De Luxe Aesthetics to stay up-to-date with how the renovations are going!
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Small Business Saturday November 28
Small Business Saturday is coming up on November 28 – but for downtown, it is EVERY DAY! Independent businesses are the backbone of downtown Burlington – in fact, nearly all of our businesses are locally owned and operated. They are a big reason why downtown Burlington is a distinctive destination. We have things you simply cannot find anywhere else.
When you support a locally owned business, whether it’s a retail shop, restaurant, or professional service, you are directly supporting your own community. These businesses are owned by your neighbors - the people who have personally made financial investments in seeing downtown succeed. They are entrepreneurs who know how important it is to have direct contact with their customers. They choose the merchandise, maintain the buildings, and pay the taxes. They are in business here because they believe in us, so let’s return the favor.
Unique products, personal service, keeping your dollars in the community – there are a lot of great reasons to shop independent and shop downtown Burlington!
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Other great things happening in downtown...
Thanks to all those who supported Downtown Partners with their contributions in the recent 144 Envelopes fundraiser. We sincerely appreciate the affirmation that our work IS making a positive impact.
Zaiser’s did a wonderful job with the downtown flower planters again this year. They are a beautiful part of our vibrant downtown. We’re grateful for funding from the John H. Witte, Jr. Foundation and Keep Burlington Beautiful that helps make it possible.
The Port of Burlington Welcome Center has reopened their doors. For the remainder of 2020 the Welcome Center will be open Thursday – Monday, 10 AM – 4 PM. The store is available online. Items may be picked up on site or shipped to any destination in the U.S. Follow the Port of Burlington Welcome Center on Facebook to stay in the know of when new products are added.
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"The mission of Downtown Partners is to preserve and revitalize downtown Burlington by enhancing its economy, infrastructure,
and historical and cultural features."
A Main Street Iowa Program
An Affiliate Program of the Greater Burlington Partnership
RiverPark Place
610 N 4th Street, Suite 200
Burlington, IA 52601
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Downtown Partners, Inc.
Board of Directors 2020
Julie Lehman - Chair
Laura Beckman - Past Chair
Alliant Energy
Ryan Nagrocki - Treasurer
Midwest Realty Group
Megan Bell
PZAZZ! Entertainment Complex
Stephanie Brakeville
Klingner and Associates
Tom Burch
F & M Bank
Janine Clover
Small Business Development Center
Jim Ferneau
City of Burlington
City Manager
Zach James
Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission
Jerry Johnson
Capitol Theater
Vanessa Watson
Great River Health
Suann Wells
The Beancounter
Coffeehouse & Drinkery
Todd Darnall
McConnell Lofts
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