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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowDowntown Indy Inc. is launching a new marketing and social media campaign to encourage residents to come downtown and patronize businesses.
And on Friday and Sept. 11, dozens of community leaders will spend the day cleaning and sprucing up the area as part of the effort.
COVID-19 has kept much of downtown population away, and social justice protests that turned violent in May left their mark on the area, with many residents saying they don’t feel safe there. The marketing campaign is being launched about a week after Downtown Indy and the city of Indianapolis announced that $750,000 from the city’s downtown tax-increment financing district will be spent on additional safety measures in the Mile Square.
Downtown Indy Inc. in partnership with Section 127, unveiled a new city-wide initiative, called Back Downtown, that encourage residents to patronize downtown businesses and reinvigorate downtown
In addition to banners that will be placed around downtown—starting with Monument Circle on Friday—Downtown Indy is promoting a short video intended to inspire people to visit the area.
“This concept serves as a rallying cry and inspires residents to discover downtown again,” Downtown Indy said in a news release. “It promotes the interconnection of all downtown residents/attractions and the power of a united front. Downtown is a thriving place. Play, eat, shop ‘Back Downtown.’ Additionally, the double entendre is the notion that residents and businesses support or Back Downtown.”
The organization did not say how much it’s spending on the campaign. It coincides with a $1 million marketing campaign by Visit Indy and the city to attract Indiana residents living outside of Marion County to visit Indianapolis.
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Where is Chris B? Hete you have it in the IBJ where people say they don’t feel safe downtown.
We don’t feel safe so don’t go downtown anymore. We used to frequent the area.
It’s the end of August and now there’s a push to” inspire” Hoosiers to visit downtown Indy? Will the list of community leaders include Mayor Hogsett and the deputy mayors? So $750,000 to pay for increased security and then an additional undisclosed amount to add to the $1 million spent to entice Hoosiers from all around Indiana to spend time in Indy. It looks like $2 million to get people to just show up.That money could have been spent better. Maybe none have that would have to spent on “enticing ” people to go downtown , IF the City- council and the mayor’s office had made better decisions at the onset and supported local businesses immediately after the chaos. Maybe that spending can include to increase the number of port-a-lets from 9 to 16 in the downtown area for those needing a bathroom ( vs. just using the alley or sidewalks), as reported in the Sunday edition of the Indy Star.
“COVID-19 has kept much of downtown population away…”
No, violent protests, riots, lawlessness, homeless people, and a politically driven coronavirus sanctions has driven people away.
Not according to Chris B from previous postings. EVERYTHING is due to Covid 19. Check out story on possible putting/shooting gree being built downtown.
As someone who works downtown and who has continued to work there throughout the pandemic, I can attest that outside of one night in May there are no riots and lawlessness. Is downtown struggling, yes but what it needs is those of us that live outside the county to support it and not spread false perceptions. The key to a great city is a vibrant and active downtown, it attracts economic development and talent and all the things that make Indy a great place to live.
Waste of resources.
I agree
How stupid are these people to think a marketing campaign will attract people to downtown? They, the Mayor and the City-County Council are completely oblivious to the situation. It seems to be clear to everyone, except our city leaders, that people will not return to downtown until the trash and excrement are cleaned up, they are not harassed by the homeless and the drug addicted, the boards on businesses come down, and there is a police presence ENFORCING the laws. People will only return when the city is clean and people feel safe. The issues are really easy to identify. Instead our weak leaders resort to marketing campaigns, commissioned studies and feel-good programs in lieu of real action steps. Waste of money, clueless Mayor, and absent City-County Council.
I can’t wait until Covid-19 is over and Downtown is full again! No leaders are to blame other than those that work in Washington DC, especially the White House. He’s the cause of the horrible spread of this disease, and could have done a lot more to stop rioting. Stop blaming local leaders on things that are happening across the country.
John L. Nailed it!!! I think they need to deal with the panhandling as well.
I agree with, “I can’t wait till Covid-19 is over and Downtown is full again. But as usual you liberals are excellent with the slight of hand and miss direction that places blame on others. Only one local leader is to blame for directing our protectors of life and property to stand down and watch as thugs tore our city apart. Shameful as he was being protected and doing who knows what peoples lives we at stake and businesses tore apart. This is what is creating the fear that keeps us from enjoying life around the circle. Michael D.
Wesley H. – A mayor and an associated legislative body, like our city-county council, are elected to manage the city, not the US President or the Feds. The Federal-State-Local structure is the way our government works. The mayor is the first person accountable to the local people that elected him/her to lead and make decisions in the best interest of the entire community. Remember, after the first night of rioting, Mayor Joe did nothing differently to contain a second night of riots, which has contributed to the current state of downtown. No doubt, Covid-19 is the major factor. We can debate the causes and who is to blame. But, strong, competent leaders don’t blame others or play the victim. They handle the situations they are given and get things done. Our leaders are doing a poor job responding and managing the problems we have.
Every downtown in the country is struggling and I can’t see how this isn’t just a waste of money because unless COVID and unemployment is resolved which extends some sort of stability in the market, this won’t change. COVID goes away and a lot of problems fix themselves, or at least plaster over them enough to pretend they don’t exist.