Advertising, marketing, and special events

BY THE NUMBERS:

  • Downtown Inc events have an annual economic impact of more than $1 million in our community, according to figures by Americans for the Arts (First Friday, Go Green in the City, Hanging of the Greens, Downtown Update, Downtown First Awards, Sweetest Pint Tasting Tours)

  • Over 58,000 people attend Downtown Inc events annually.

  • 70+ Downtown businesses participate in First Friday activities each month.

  • 8,000 copies of the quarterly Downtown York Magazine distributed to 146 downtown businesses, 11 county-wide locations, 300+ direct mailers, and 14 PA Welcome Centers and Rest Stops.

  • More than 28,000 followers on the Downtown Inc Facebook Page, with 135,000 people reached monthly, and over a million reached in the past year.

  • More than 8,500 Instagram followers, with an average monthly reach of 10,000

  • $265,000 spent in destination marketing efforts in 2022-2023.

    • Google Discovery Ads: 1.2M impressions, 4% CTR

    • Google Video: 65k impressions, 57% view rate

    • META: 592K impressions, 1.80% CTR

    • TikTok: 285K impressions, .14% CTR

    • Spotify: 65K impressions

  • Launched the distrx app with 70+ active downtown businesses.

  • Average 30+ ribbon cuttings for new businesses each year.

  • $12,000 in First Friday grant funds distributed each year.

  • Celebrate 12 Merchant of the Month winners each year.

  • Launched the Downtown Inc Ambassadors Program with 30+ active members.

  • Created and promoted listing of 97 Black-owned local businesses.

Beautifying the landscape, improving physical elements such as traffic patterns, public spaces, cleanliness, and walkability

recent highlights:

  • Built upon our partnership with the York County Solid Waste Authority and Powder Mill Foundation by entering into a contract with ABM Janitorial to fully staff our Downtown Clean-Up Crew, covering all 26 blocks of Downtown York with removal of litter, graffiti, weeds, cigarette butts, leaf and debris, gum, stickers and posters, etc.

  • Installed five artistic crosswalks along the York Heritage Rail Trail in Downtown York, increasing pedestrian safety, adding to the aesthetic appeal, and enhancing the experience for Rail Trail users.

  • Worked closely with the York County Economic Alliance to bring the Codorus Creek Beautification Initiative into the design and engineering phase.

  • Funded the replacement of five deteriorating trench drain covers to increase accessibility and enhance aesthetic appeal.

  • Installing new Downtown York wayfinding including 19 vehicular signs, 6 parking garage signs, 3 map kiosks, and 20 pedestrian signs.

  • In partnership with the City of York, the York County Community Foundation, and downtown’s three micro-districts: Market District, Royal Square District, and WeCo District, installed 104 new Historically Edgy pole banners representing the work of 11 local artists, throughout the downtown area.

  • Installed 18 new cigarette litter receptacles throughout the downtown thanks to a partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

  • Continued partnerships with the Garden Club of York and the City of York to plant seasonal plantings in 90+ hanging baskets and 230 on-street planters and to mulch downtown tree wells.

  • In partnership with the York County Economic Alliance, launched the York County Trail Towns Program.

  • Launched the Downtown Clean 15 Initiative.

Working with police and sheriffs to mitigate criminal and vagrant activity

A safe downtown hinges on open communication and effective collaboration with and between the police, sheriffs, elected officials, and the business community. We work towards this goal by taking on projects such as environmental design, addressing vagrancy and nuisance issues, community policing, and data collection and monitoring.

recent highlights:

  • Deployed an additional 130 law enforcement hours Friday and Saturday evenings in the summer, thanks to a partnership with Better York.

  • Released quarterly merchant safety tip sheets discussing interior safety, exterior safety, cyber security, and holiday shopping

  • Installed pedestrian flags at 6 key mid-street crossings, increasing the visibility of those using them while crossing.

  • Working with York City Police Department for the implementation of a Downtown Police Resource Center.

  • Served as main hub of communication between downtown merchants, downtown officers, and other community partners.

  • Lead downtown walking tours, connecting downtown officers with merchants and other business leaders.

Business recruitment and retention, capital projects, Land Bank Authority, development financing

recent highlights:

  • Regular communication with downtown merchants:

    • E-Newsletters: 900+ recipients

    • Facebook Merchant Group: 300+ members

    • Attendance at monthly micro-district merchant meetings

  • Host 11 BLOOM Business Series Workshops annually with 300+ business owners in attendance.

  • Through York County Economic Alliance launched BLOOM Classes:

    • 73 graduates in 2023

    • 56% of graduates are looking to start a business

    • 77% of graduates are women

    • 84% of graduates are BIPOC individuals

    • 67% of graduates have a household income of less than $50,000 per year

  • Provided $261,650 in BLOOM Business Empowerment Center Grant funding to 98 businesses in the City of York

  • Facilitated $3,492,989 in YoCo Strong Restart funds to 227 recipients in City of York in 2020 and $1,668,077 to 217 recipients in 2021.

  • Facilitated $1,190,000 in CHIRP funding to 51 recipients in City of York

  • Promote businesses across the three micro-districts (Royal Square District, Market District, WeCo District) on the Downtown York Facebook page (27,000+ followers), Instagram page (8,500+ followers), Twitter (4,900+ followers) and TikTok.

  • Host and promote annual Small Business Saturday with 39 participating shops and restaurants.

  • Launched York County Trail Towns Program with 13+ Trail-Friendly Designated Businesses in Downtown York