Downtown Development Corporation

THE LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (DDC) IS A PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE LONG TERM ECONOMIC HEALTH OF DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE AND REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY'S CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP. SINCE 1988, DDC HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN BRINGING TOGETHER BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS AS PARTNERS IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE'S REDEVELOPMENT AND LONG TERM PLANNING, WITH DDC SERVING AS THE LEAD ENTITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: DDC IS THE PRIMARY ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THE STRATEGIC VISION FOR DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. WHILE NUMEROUS OTHER PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS VISION, DDC LEADS THE PROCESS THROUGH CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ITS PARTNERS. THERE ARE THREE PRIMARY PILLARS THAT DEFINE DDC'S STRATEGIC APPROACH FOR DOWNTOWN'S FUTURE SUCCESS: 1) REBUILDING A RESILIENT AND VIBRANT DOWNTOWN WITH A HEALTHY MIX OF WORKERS, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS THAT REFLECT THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, 2) EQUITABLY ADDRESSING COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY, BOTH REAL AND PERCEIVED, AND 3) ENSURING THAT DOWNTOWN REMAINS THE UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT OFFERS AUTHENTIC AND DIVERSE CULTURAL, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE IN THE REGION TO ENJOY.IN 2022, DDC DEVOTED SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES SUPPORTING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF DOWNTOWN IN SUPPORT OF OUR BUSINESSES, DEVELOPERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING:- ANNUAL DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT: IN EARLY 2022, DDC RELEASED A NEW DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT WHICH EMPIRICALLY SHOWS THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG DOWNTOWN TO THE HEALTH AND VIBRANCY OF THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA. THIS REPORT PROVIDES BASELINE DATA FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWN.- DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN: DDC BEGAN INITIAL PLANNING AND FUNDRAISING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN, THE TEN-YEAR ROADMAP FOR DOWNTOWN'S FOCUS OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS ADOPTED AS DOWNTOWN'S NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. TO BE RELEASED IN LATE 2023, THE PLAN FOCUSES ON THE CONTINUED REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE AND ITS EDGE NEIGHBORHOODS, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE LINGERING IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS OF 2020.- AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) PROPOSALS: DDC CONTINUED ADVOCATING FOR DOWNTOWN TO RECEIVE A PORTION OF THE $388 MILLION IN FEDERAL ARP FUNDING PROVIDED TO LOUISVILLE. OUR FINAL PROPOSALS REQUESTED $16.4 MILLION TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, TO PROMOTE THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS, PARTICULARLY FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND TO PROVIDE DEDICATED OUTREACH SERVICES TO THE UNHOUSED POPULATION IN DOWNTOWN.- LOUISVILLE MEDICAL & EDUCATION DISTRICT (LOUMED): DDC CONTINUED TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE OPERATION OF LOUMED, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NORTON HEALTHCARE, THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HEALTH, AND JEFFERSON COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE WHICH WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL LANDSCAPE, AND EXPERIENCE FOR THE PARTNERS' PATIENTS, WORKERS, AND VISITORS. - BUSINESS SUPPORT: DDC CONTINUED ITS SUPPORT OF THE RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS LOCATED IN THE CBD, WHICH HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE SLOW RECOVERY FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC. KEY INITIATIVES IN 2022 WERE: 1) THE CREATION OF A NEW SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION AT DDC, DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PERSONALIZED SUPPORT TO EXISTING BUSINESSES AND TO ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES TO DOWNTOWN, 2) ESTABLISHING A NEW DOWNTOWN SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PRODUCT THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL LOAN FUND WHICH PROVIDES FLEXIBLE LOANS TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST NEW BUSINESSES OPENING IN DOWNTOWN, AND 3) CONVENING STANDING ROUNDTABLE GATHERINGS OF BROKERS, PROPERTY MANAGERS, AND MAJOR DOWNTOWN EMPLOYERS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES FACING DOWNTOWN.- DOWNTOWN HOUSING: THE DOWNTOWN HOUSING ASSISTANCE LOAN FUND, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY DDC, ORIGINATED TWO NEW LOANS IN 2022 TOTALING $1.92 MILLION. THESE TWO ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECTS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS WILL BRING 115 NEW HOUSING UNITS TO THE GREATER DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD BY THE SPRING OF 2024.- PUBLIC SAFETY: DDC WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT (LMPD) IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF DOWNTOWN AND TO ADDRESS PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE SAME, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN THE LMPD FIRST DIVISION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND FREQUENT COORDINATION WITH LMPD'S DEDICATED DOWNTOWN AREA PATROL. AS MANAGER OF DOWNTOWN'S BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID), DDC BEGAN DISCUSSIONS WITH SEVERAL MAJOR EMPLOYERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO EXPAND THE BID'S HOSPITALITY & SAFETY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES A FRIENDLY PRESENCE ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN. A NUMBER OF NEW AMBASSADORS ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN THE EXISTING TEAM IN 2023 WHICH WILL ALLOW THE BID TO EXPAND ITS DAILY COVERAGE AND SERVICE HOURS.- DEVELOPMENT FACILITATION: DDC IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF MARKET AND DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH DATA WHICH HELPS DEVELOPERS MAKE SOUND INVESTMENT DECISIONS IN THE CBD AND ITS EDGE NEIGHBORHOODS. IN 2022, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWN CONTINUED TO GROW WITH 23 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UNDERWAY, TOTALING $479 MILLION, AND 30 PROJECTS ANNOUNCED, TOTALING $642 MILLION. TO FURTHER FACILITATE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, DDC ADMINISTERS TWO LOAN FUNDS WHICH PROVIDE CRITICAL GAP FINANCING FOR COMMERCIAL AND HOUSING PROJECTS IN DOWNTOWN AND ITS EDGE NEIGHBORHOODS.- PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION: DDC WORKS CLOSELY WITH A VARIETY OF PARTNERS TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND SEEK UNIQUE SOLUTIONS TO THE COMPLEX ISSUES ENCOUNTERED BY DOWNTOWNS ACROSS THE NATION. THIS INCLUDES FOSTERING DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT, GREATER LOUISVILLE INC., LOUISVILLE TOURISM, WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, LEADERSHIP LOUISVILLE, NULU BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, LOUISVILLE INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INTERNATIONAL DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION, HEALTH ENTERPRISE NETWORK, URBAN LAND INSTITUTE, THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER, AND MANY OTHERS.- 2022 GRANTS/ALLOCATIONS TO OTHERS: $7,500 TO "I WAS HERE INC." FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUGMENTED REALITY WALKING TOUR, $3,500 TO "YOU DECIDE, KENTUCKY!" FOR GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND $3,125 TO GLI IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY MARKETING PROJECT.

OTHER PROGRAMS: DDC PERIODICALLY PROVIDES SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE WORK IMPACTS DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE AND WHICH COMPLEMENT DDC'S MISSION. IN 2022 THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDED THE NULU BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, LOUISVILLE TOURISM, THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER, THE INTERNATIONAL DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION (IDA), GREATER LOUISVILLE INC. (GLI), LEADERSHIP LOUISVILLE, LOUISVILLE INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ALLIANCE, THE CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISM, AND THE HEALTH ENTERPRISE NETWORK (HEN).

DOWNTOWN PROJECTS & SUPPORT SERVICES: DDC ENGAGES IN A VARIETY OF PROJECTS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS MEANT TO INCREASE THE VITALITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF DOWNTOWN. ADDITIONALLY, DDC PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT TO A VARIETY OF NON-PROFITS AND DOWNTOWN ORGANIZATIONS TO FACILITATE UNIQUE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CBD. IN 2022, THESE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES INCLUDED:- MANAGEMENT OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID): THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (LDMD), DDC ADMINISTERS AND OPERATES THE DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE BID THAT PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES TO THOSE PROVIDED BY LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE DAILY CLEANING OF THE DOWNTOWN RIGHTS OF WAY, SAFETY AND HOSPITALITY PATROLS, GRAFFITI ABATEMENT, BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMS, AND PUBLIC ART PROJECTS. IN 2022, THE AMBASSADOR TEAM CLEARED APPROX. 124,200 POUNDS OF LITTER AND DEBRIS FROM THE SIDEWALKS AND ALLEYS, CLEANED UP 550 BIOHAZARDOUS MATERIALS, ABATED MORE THAN 2,157 GRAFFITI TAGS AND STICKERS, AND HAD APPROX. 14,000 RECORDED INTERACTIONS WITH GUESTS AND VISITORS AS A RESULT OF ENHANCED HOSPITALITY ENGAGEMENT.- CLEAN COLLABORATIVE: DDC CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH LOUISVILLE METRO'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE "CLEAN COLLABORATIVE" INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY'S CLEANLINESS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. TO HELP WITH AREAS OF DOWNTOWN OUTSIDE OF THE BID, PUBLIC WORKS EXTENDED ITS CONTRACT WITH DDC FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR TO PROVIDE AMBASSADOR CLEANING SERVICES IN OFTEN NEGLECTED PARTS OF THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, DDC'S CLEAN COLLABORATIVE TEAM OF AMBASSADORS CLEARED APPROX. 13,200 POUNDS OF LITTER AND DEBRIS IN THESE AREAS.- BEAUTIFICATION AND ART INITIATIVES: IN EARLY 2022, DDC ENGAGED A CONTRACTOR TO ASSIST WITH EXPANDING PLACEMAKING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE AND APPEAL OF DOWNTOWN'S STREETS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDED EXPANDING DOWNTOWN'S FLOWER POT PROGRAM, ADDING NEW ARTWORK ON FORGOTTEN DOORS AS PART OF THE EXISTING ALLEY GALLERY PROJECT, LAUNCHING THE NEW STREET GALLERY PROGRAM THAT FEATURES THE ARTWORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS ON SIGNAL CONTROL BOXES, AND IMPROVING THE LANDSCAPING AND APPEARANCE OF DOWNTOWN IN GENERAL.- UNDERPASS LIGHTING: DDC STARTED A MAJOR, MULTI-YEAR PROJECT TO INSTALL PROGRAMMABLE, MULTI-COLORED LED LIGHTING UNDERNEATH I-65 WHERE IT CROSSES THE MAJOR STREETS THAT ARE THE GATEWAYS BETWEEN THE CBD AND THE NULU NEIGHBORHOOD. THESE LIGHTS WILL CREATE INTERESTING AND FUN WAYS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO INTERACT WITH THESE SPACES AS WELL AS PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY AND FEELING OF SAFETY. INITIAL FUNDING WAS SECURED FOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION WITH THE GOAL OF BEGINNING INSTALLATION OF THE LIGHTS IN THE LATTER HALF OF 2023.- WALKING TOUR PODCASTS: FUNDED BY GRANTS FROM REPUBLIC BANK & TRUST AND ITS FOUNDATION, DDC BEGAN CREATING NEW AUDIO WALKING TOUR PODCASTS FEATURING SIGNIFICANT LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN AND NARRATED BY PROMINENT LOUISVILLIANS. THE FIRST SEGMENT, HIGHLIGHTING HISTORIC WEST MAIN STREET, WAS COMPLETED IN 2022 WITH TWO ADDITIONAL PODCASTS PLANNED IN 2023.- DOWNTOWN BANNER PROGRAM: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LDMD, DDC DESIGNED AND INSTALLED MORE THAN 500 NEW STREET POLE BANNERS THROUGHOUT THE CBD TO HELP CREATE A SENSE OF PLACE AND NEIGHBORHOOD. THE "DOWNTOWN IS"-THEMED BANNERS PROMOTE THE VARIETY OF REASONS DOWNTOWN IS UNIQUE.- PEDESTRIAN & VEHICLE WAYFINDING: WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOUISVILLE TOURISM AND LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT, DDC DESIGNED NEW SIGNAGE FOR A DOWNTOWN WAYFINDING SYSTEM TO HELP THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH DOWNTOWN NAVIGATE ITS STREETS. TO BE INSTALLED IN MID-2023, THE NEWS SIGNS WILL REPLACE AN AGING SYSTEM THAT IS MORE THAN TWO DECADES OLD.- HOMELESSNESS AND PANHANDLING ENGAGEMENT: ONE OF THE TRAGIC, LINGERING CONSEQUENCES OF THE PANDEMIC WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THROUGHOUT LOUISVILLE. DDC REMAINED ENGAGED WITH OUR PUBLIC, NON-PROFIT, AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO DEVELOP NEW STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX ISSUES SURROUNDING HOMELESSNESS AND PANHANDLING IN THE URBAN CORE, WITH A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON REQUESTING OUTREACH SUPPORT FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED.- FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS: THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, DDC PROVIDED OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE, INCLUDING THE GREATER LOUISVILLE PRIDE FOUNDATION, THE SOUTH 4TH STREET DISTRICT ASSOCIATION, AND THE LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION.- 2022 GRANTS/ALLOCATIONS TO OTHERS: $10,500 IN SUPPORT OF GREATER LOUISVILLE PRIDE FOUNDATION FOR THE MUHAMMAD ALI HOMETOWN HERO BANNER AND $735 IN SUPPORT OF THE LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION.

MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS: WITH THE DELAYED RETURN OF WORKERS BACK TO THE OFFICE, DDC'S FOCUS IN 2022 WAS ON CREATING VIBRANCY THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN AND COMMUNICATING TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY WERE MISSING BY NOT BEING DOWNTOWN. WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AND GENEROUS DONORS, DDC UNDERTOOK THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES IN 2022:- DDC HOSTED EVENTS: DDC DEVELOPED TWO NEW MAJOR EVENTS IN 2022 DESIGNED TO BRING MORE PEOPLE ONTO THE STREETS AND BACK DOWNTOWN. "FOOD TRUCK WEDNESDAYS" LAUNCHED IN JUNE AND CONTINUED WEEKLY THROUGH OCTOBER, SHUTTING DOWN A BLOCK IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AND PROVIDING A FUN ATMOSPHERE AND ADDITIONAL LUNCHTIME DINING OPTIONS. BEGINNING IN OCTOBER, DDC PRODUCED A MONTHLY NIGHT MARKET SERIES CALLED THE "SOUTH 4TH NIGHT MARKET", WHICH FEATURES LOCAL VENDORS, FOOD, AND LIVE MUSIC FOR DOWNTOWN'S EMPLOYEES, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS TO ENJOY. BOTH EVENTS WILL CONTINUE INTO 2023. WITH A DONATION FROM HUMANA, DDC PARTNERED WITH LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT TO BRING CYCLOUVIA TO MAIN STREET. THIS EVENT CLOSED TWO MILES OF MAIN STREET RUNNING THROUGH THE CBD TO MOTORIZED VEHICLES AND LET PEOPLE BIKE, WALK, OR SKATE ON THE ROADWAY WHILE ENJOYING VENDORS AND ACTIVITIES ALONG THE WAY.- DDC SPONSORED EVENTS: DDC PROVIDED FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO BRING UNIQUE AND DIVERSE EVENTS IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN 2022, THESE EVENTS INCLUDED THE NULU BOCK FEST, WATERFRONT PARK FRIDAY FOOD TRUCKS, THE KENTUCKY CRAFT BASH, NULU FEST, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, THE WOMEN'S CUP, LIGHTS ON MAIN, WATERFRONT PARK BRUNCH BY THE BRIDGE, CINCO DE MAYO, THE SUMMER BEER FEST, THE ASIAN NIGHT MARKET, THE KENTUCKY LATIN MUSIC AWARDS, JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS, THE MELANNAIRE MARKETPLACE, LIGHT UP LOUISVILLE, AND FREE MOVIE NIGHTS AT THE KFC YUM! CENTER.- THE BAIRD URBAN SPORTS PARK: SPONSORED BY BAIRD, DDC PARTNERED WITH LOUISVILLE PARKS & RECREATION AND THE YMCA TO TURN A VACANT REDEVELOPMENT SITE ON HISTORIC WEST MAIN STREET INTO A NEW SPORTS PARK VENUE FEATURING TWO PICKLEBALL COURTS AND WIFFLE BALL FIELD FOR LEAGUE PLAY. FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE LEAGUE PLAY TWO TIMES A YEAR AND EXPANDING THE HOURS OF THE PARK TO ALLOW FOR WALK-ON OPEN PLAY AT THIS UNIQUE DOWNTOWN LOCATION.- DOWNTOWN CINEBUS: FUNDED BY DONATIONS FROM LOUISVILLE CIVIC VENTURES AND OTHER PRIVATE DONORS, DDC WORKED ON RETROFITTING A CITY-DONATED SURPLUS AMBULANCE INTO A MOBILE PROJECTION VEHICLE FOR COMMUNITY USE THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN FOR EVENTS, OUTDOOR MOVIE SCREENINGS, AND ART ACTIVATIONS. COMPLETION OF THE REFIT IS EXPECTED IN THE SPRING OF 2023.- THE BOURBON DISTRICT: DDC CONTINUED TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE BOURBON DISTRICT, A WALKABLE URBAN EXPERIENCE FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE TASTE OF KENTUCKY. IN 2022, DDC BEGAN WORKING WITH LOUISVILLE TOURISM, THE KENTUCKY DISTILLERS' ASSOCIATION, AND LOCAL BOURBON ATTRACTIONS TO EXPAND AND INTEGRATE THE DISTRICT WITH OTHER BOURBON EXPERIENCES IN THE REGION. DDC ALSO PROVIDED ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO SEVERAL DISTILLERIES LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A NEW STATE LAW ALLOWING DISTILLERIES TO OPEN SATELLITE TASTING ROOMS.- DOWNTOWN MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: IN THE SUMMER OF 2022, DDC HIRED A NEW MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR TO FOCUS ON SHARING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT DOWNTOWN'S REVITALIZATION AND WHAT DOWNTOWN HAS TO OFFER TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS ADDITION TO THE TEAM ALLOWED AN EXPANSION OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, WEBSITE CONTENT, PRESS RELEASES AND PRESS CONFERENCES, AND PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO TELL THE DOWNTOWN'S STORY. DDC ALSO LAUNCHED A DOWNTOWN TESTIMONIAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN WHICH FEATURED LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS EXPLAINING THE VALUE OF DOWNTOWN FOR THEIR BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES.- FRIENDS OF DOWNTOWN: DDC LAUNCHED ITS FRIENDS OF DOWNTOWN FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN AS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH BOTH BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN. FRIENDS CAN HELP DOWNTOWN THROUGH DONATIONS TO DDC, THE GIFT OF THEIR TIME DURING VOLUNTEER EVENTS, OR BY AMPLIFYING WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT DOWNTOWN THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER CHANNELS.- 2022 GRANTS/ALLOCATIONS TO OTHERS: $59,000 IN GRANTS AND IN-KIND DONATIONS FOR 17 UNIQUE AND DIVERSE EVENTS THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.