The Holidays Are Over...
... but your Downtown merchants are still here! Winter weather and the post-Christmas lull can be challenging for our restaurants and retailers.
Here's a New Year's challenge for you; shop at least one new Downtown store and visit at least one new Downtown restaurant this month. Your local, independently owned businesses will really appreciate it.
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Looking at the Past... and Future
Although there were challenges last year, we continue to see the entrepreneurial spirit shine. Downtown's momentum is unstoppable.
At the beginning of a new year, it's fitting to look back on what has been accomplished. In 2021:
- 9 businesses opened in the Downtown District in 2021 (De' Paris X Fashion, Eclectic Design & Antiques, Go Fish Sushi, Hawaiiowan Cafe, Jerilyn Horn Kitchen & Bath Design Co., Kyn & Co., Nana & Me, Thyme & Spice Co., Traces Boutique)
- Downtown Partners, Inc. celebrated 35 years of being an accredited Main Street Program.
- Downtown Partners hosted a video series, "Put It On Downtown's Tab", that showcased the local eateries and drinkeries in the Downtown District and encouraged the community to try a new establishment.
- Five buildings sold in the Downtown District that have opened or will soon open unique businesses that will make the Downtown even more vibrant.
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The Tama site broke ground and will soon be residential units with commercial space on the first level.
- Redevelopment continues at 100 N. 4th Street for new apartments as well as new first floor commercial spaces (Churchill Lofts).
- DPI partnered with Main Street Iowa to present Small Business Virtual Labs for Main Street Iowa program. This program helped with technical support for online presence, coaching and peer-to-peer roundtables for the small business owners.
- Small business owners were able to take part in the IASBDC Mobile Lab and learn from the experts about e-commerce and business operations. The also had the opportunity to join shopiowa.com to sell and create awareness of their products.
- 300 Washington, the old Typewriter building, was marketed with a RFP sent out for redevelopment.
- Rehab was completed on De Luxe Aesthetics through a grant awarded by Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant at 506 Jefferson. The rehab included façade restoration and upper story renovations.
- Downtown Partners hosted 46 event days in the Downtown District!
The community showed up for the Downtown in 2021! The passion the community has for Downtown was obvious in the attendance at events, and the interest in the Downtown preservation. This flourish of activity indicates the ongoing success of the Main Street approach to Downtown revitalization. Considering everything that has been accomplished in an unprecedented year, Downtown Burlington has plenty of reason to toot its New Year's horn a little louder in 2022!
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Downtown Partners Events for 2022
It's going to be a busy year!
April 3 - Spring Open House
May 5 - Jefferson St. Farmers Market through end of September
July 16 - A Very Vintage Market
September - 16 Sip, Taste & Stroll
October 21 - Witches Night Out
October 28 - Downtown Trick or Treat
November 6 - Holiday Open House
November 26 - Lighted Holiday Parade/Small Business Saturday
December - Santa's Cottage opens
December 8 - Living Windows
Additional events may be added along the way!
Contact Downtown Partners at 319-208-0056 for information about any of these events.
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TIGER Project - Preparing for Construction
On November 10 & 11, Downtown Partners, Inc. presented a 2 day session on "Surviving Construction" to support building and business owners in the Downtown district. With support from the City of Burlington, DPI was able to host Jay Schlinsog and Robin Bostrom from Main Street Iowa to facilitate round tables, peer discussions and consultations regarding the streetscape project.
A customized version of "Preparing for Construction Guide", outlining ideas and proposed implementation activities were delivered and will be utilized in the Downtown District.
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TIGER Project
The City of Burlington was awarded a $17.5 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant in 2018, with plans to use the money to revamp the Riverfront and Main and Jefferson streets in the Downtown District due to the flood mitigation and sewer separation project.
Portzen Construction, Inc. has finished work on the 800 block of Jefferson Street for the Winter and will be reopening the road. On the Riverfront, boat ramps are being poured and will continue work through the Winter.
Follow the most recent updates at:
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Photography Lightbox Loans
Thanks to a gift from the Small Business Development Center, Main Street District businesses can borrow a lightbox from the Partnership.
Utilizing a lightbox enhances small product photography helping to maximize the effectiveness of your business marketing.
Take your product photography to the next level!
Call 319-752-6365 for more details.
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Other great things happening in downtown...
Thank you to premier sponsor Bickford of Burlington and media sponsor, Pritchard Broadcasting for such a wonderful Living Windows event. Thank you to Standard of Beaverdale for sponsoring the horse and trolley rides. There are so many hands that help make Living Windows such a success. Thank you to the volunteers, businesses and community organizations that have created such wonderful memories Downtown!
Many thanks to outgoing Downtown Partners, Inc. board members Stephanie Bra keville with Klingner and Associates, P.C., Julie Lehman with Bijoux Confections and Eric Lee with The Som. Their service has been instrumental in making downtown Burlington a better place for all.
Mainstreet Iowa Small Business Lab is a FREE service designated just for businesses within the Main Street District.
If you want to connect with other small businesses, talk to experts or need technical advice, this lab is for you! Check out the website for additional details.
The Downtown Burlington, Iowa Facebook page has passed 11,000 Likes - hope you are among them!
The Port of Burlington Welcome Center is open; Sunday – Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM. The store is also 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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"Downtown Partners, Inc. is a volunteer-driven Main Street Program established to preserve and revitalize downtown Burlington while improving the quality of life for the community."
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 2021
Todd Darnall - Chair
McConnell Lofts
Jerry Johnson - Past Chair
Burlington Capitol Theater
Tom Burch - Treasurer
Farmers & Merchants Bank & Trust
Mercedes Ponce - Chair Elect
Titan Broadcasting & Digital Group
Kansha Tiwari
Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission
Diane Smrdel
Stitch 'n Smile
Matt Rinker
City of Burlington
Todd Ackerman
Two Rivers Insurance Services
Vanessa Watson
Great River Health
Suann Wells
The Beancounter
Coffeehouse & Drinkery
Alec Cornick
Universal Fitness
Angie Hedges
Heritage Hill Wellness
Chelsea Stevens
Burlington Vintage & Co.
Jerilyn Horn
Jerilyn Horn Kitchen & Bath Design Company
Jessica Gerling
City of Burlington
Chad Bird
City of Burlington
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