Downtown Raleigh Alliance

Calling all small business owners! ?? DRA is hosting our next Small Business Workshop this month, "Digital Tools for Small Businesses: Maximize Your Holiday Marketing." The workshop is focused on helping entrepreneurs make the most out of their digital marketing plans leading up to the holiday season. ?? Friday, October 25th ?? 9:30-10:30am Register for free ?? https://bit.ly/3pmy0tX

BIG PARKING NEWS ??? ?? Raleigh City Council approved a pilot for free 2-hour parking in 5 city-owned decks starting mid-November through early 2025! This decision stems from a recommendation in our Economic Development Strategy to better support small businesses and attract visitors downtown. Best part is? The pilot aims to begin mid-November, just in time for all the holiday shopping and festivities kicking-off downtown. As this is a pilot program, ongoing community participation and support is crucial for its long-term success. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this improved access opportunity and support the local businesses it aims to benefit.

Big things are underway in Downtown Raleigh! ?? Since we launched downtown's new Economic Development Strategy last month, we're already seeing exciting progress take shape. So far... ??? The Fayetteville St. redesign RFP (Request for Proposal) was released by City of Raleigh Municipal Government. ?? New public art crosswalks are going in across downtown to improve aesthetics and pedestrian safety. ?? Our Downtown Dinosaurs have been an early, successful pilot of placemaking to connect our museums and bring more families downtown. ?? Funding was allocated for replacing missing tree well grates, artistic wayfinding between major attractions, and expansion of the TRAC trash pilot to reduce rollaway carts cluttering our sidewalks. ??? City Council will receive an update tomorrow on considering 2 hour free parking in city-owned decks to make it easier to visit downtown. Want to learn more about the recommendations to improve downtown? Find the full plan & renderings here ?? https://bit.ly/4cEGG3P

Downtown Raleigh is the cultural hub of the region and the heart of North Carolina’s state capital ?? ?? We have a major opportunity to be THE destination for celebrating our state’s diverse and innovative culture through more consistent activations, branding, and storefront tenanting. How? ?? Embrace Downtown Raleigh as the state capital and reimagine Fayetteville Street as “North Carolina’s Main Street.” ?? Enhance our retail and storefront tenanting strategy by recruiting even more local and North Carolina-based businesses. ?? Celebrate our unique identity and distinguish what sets us apart with distinctive placemaking, wayfinding, and public art. ?? Bring in more events and programming to help to enliven our urban spaces by creating activity and excitement. Learn more about the Economic Development Strategy and stay tuned for more updates about the plan timeline, what’s in progress, and how you can contribute ?? https://bit.ly/3XRMzFk

We extend our deepest sympathies to our neighbors in Western North Carolina ???? Over the weekend, the state's Western region was hit with devastating storms and flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Thousands of people are now displaced and living without essential utilities due to major infrastructure loss. As Raleighites, we know the strength that comes from gathering together in difficult times so now, it's our turn to help. You can make a difference by supporting relief efforts and providing assistance to those affected across the beloved mountains of North Carolina. Ways you can give back right now ?? https://bit.ly/3zNn6on

Small businesses are the backbone of Downtown Raleigh ?? Our diverse, hardworking collective of independent shops makes downtown a standout destination for visitors and locals alike. In our neighborhood, they aren’t just stores; they are a vital part of a historic and growing community, helping to make the city better for everyone. Pop-Up Shops at Martin Street alum and former Storefront Upfit Grant recipient, Kimberly Thigpen of the Self Care Marketplace, is a shining example of this. She shares that her success in downtown is directly tied to one major thing: bringing people together. That is why we help facilitate Downtown’s Storefront Upfit Grant program. The aim is to break down some of the barriers business owners face opening, expanding, or relocating their retail stores to ensure more entrepreneurs have the chance to succeed and give back. This funding opportunity offers reimbursement grants of up to $15,000—depending on location and business use. Visit our website to learn more and apply by October 15th ?? https://bit.ly/3xErS0m Thank you to Downtown’s Storefront Upfit Grant sponsor Duke Energy Corporation!

Let’s have a chat ?? Join us for our next Downtown Rundown where community members can come together to ask questions, share ideas, and hear updates about all-things Downtown Raleigh — straight from the source. ?? Monday, October 7th ??Transfer Co. Food Hall RSVP for free ?? https://bit.ly/3HmdeRd

Hey, Raleigh! DYK it's your last week to play pickleball on a Dueling Dinosaur court? Don't let the dinos have all the fun! If you don't play, come & check out the INCREDIBLE art by Max Dowdle! With thanks to Downtown Raleigh Alliance for all of your support for this project.

Looking ahead, Downtown Raleigh’s vision for the future must be grounded in our partnerships and relationships we build with one another ?? Our new Economic Development Strategy outlines opportunities to grow partnerships and create fresh strategies to bridge missing or underused connections in the community. How? ?? Work with local partners to bring even more life science companies to downtown, further bolstering this industry and local innovation (ex. Linking NCSU’s Centennial Campus and downtown as complementary innovation centers) ?? Develop a specialized ecosystem for Minority-and Women-Owned Businesses that provides more financial support, more space for testing/pop-ups, and more internship opportunities ?? Broaden the overall business brand and appeal of Downtown Raleigh as a home to the highest concentration of creative and design-based firms in Wake County/the Triangle Learn more about the Economic Development Strategy ?? https://bit.ly/3MVU0WX

Yesterday was a BIG day for Raleigh. Red Hat Amphitheater will stay! Not only will it stay, but it will be gloriously better and the impact on our city will be overwhelmingly positive and long-term. I loved how citizens came together to debate the issues even though it sometimes got impassioned and contentious. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to Bill King and Downtown Raleigh Alliance for their grassroots work, to the City of Raleigh Municipal Government City Council for their unanimous voice, and to Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, for her leadership. It was nice to have a "morning after" meeting, to celebrate Red Hat Amp's staying, at our favorite social impact coffee place in town, 321 Coffee. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to dance like a buffoon at that first show at the new amp and to see Band Together NC community shows continue on there. If you are looking for some fun + a cause (mental health) this weekend, PLEASE join Niccole Winn Rosin and me at Band Together Presents: Black Pumas & Cory Wong w/ Young Gun Silver Fox & DJ Terminator!!! Tickets: [https://lnkd.in/edbZKqdB] The story: https://lnkd.in/etBKNUik