Downtown Visions Awarded Grant From Bank of America to Support Main Street Wilmington Program

Downtown Visions was recently awarded a grant from Bank of American to support the efforts of the nonprofit’s Main Street Wilmington program.

From its inception, Downtown Visions’ mission has been to help ignite business creation, enhance service delivery of businesses within the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), and ensure the BID is aesthetically pleasing, clean, and safe at all times.

During 2020 as the City of Wilmington navigated the phased COVID-19 reopening process, DTV continued to guide the creation of small business support programs and offered services to help Downtown BID restaurants, retail shops, arts organizations, and businesses welcome back customers and clients in a safe, socially distant manner to once again thrive. 

The grant from Bank of America will be used to support DTV’s Main Street Wilmington Program, which provides the following services to the Downtown BID:

• Improve the façades and signage of businesses operating in Wilmington's Downtown BID and ensure authentic restorations of historic buildings by working with the City of Wilmington's Design Review and Preservation Commission and local historical nonprofits, such as the Delaware Historical Society

• Boost economic development of businesses operating in the Wilmington Downtown BID by providing COVID-19 focused marketing, event support, and event creation, such as Curbside Wilmington and the Dine Downtown Deal

• Continue with the visual transformation of Wilmington's Downtown BID to create a vibrant and visually pleasing shopping, dining, and living area through cleaning efforts

• Facilitate connections between civic officials, developers, and business owners to support strong economic growth and investment in the Downtown Business Improvement District.

This grant is part of Bank of America's philanthropic giving efforts in local communities. Awardees were selected for their commitment to addressing basic needs, medical response, and workforce development for individuals and families, in particular during the coronavirus pandemic; and Downtown Visions could not be more proud to receive this monetary support for Downtown Wilmington DE.

Did You Know Downtown Visions Hosts Merchant Meetings

Get to know the fellow business owners and marketing professionals in Downtown Wilmington. Collaborate on upcoming events, learn from your fellow neighbors and be the first to hear about upcoming positive changes to the vicinity.

Our next merchant meeting is Monday, November 19th, all are welcome to attend.

For more information on how Downtown Visions proudly serves the local business community, click here.

Start Your Business's Year Off on the Right Foot with Classes at the Delaware Libraries!

The Delaware libraries are hosting a series of Small Business workshops throughout January. Topics include:

• Using Customer Service as Your Competitive Advantage
• Identify Your Customers & Competitors Using Census Data
• Increase the Probability of Success: Own a Franchise

Questions on the upcoming classes? Email janet.wurtzel@lib.de.us

Downtown Wilmington is the Perfect Place to Start a Small Business!

Is one of your goals for 2018 to start a small business? If you are an entrepreneur already, or have a great new business plan, Downtown Wilmington, DE is the perfect place to make a home for your business.

With a current thriving small business community, new corporations and organizations constantly incorporating in the city due to the State's tax structure and hundreds of new residences currently being built there is so much opportunity within the city!

Here are some resources to help get you started:

Downtown Visions- From façade improvement to financial assistance guidance, Downtown Visions has several programs specifically designed for those desiring to start a new business in the city, check them all out here. 

Downtown Visions also has workshops and events for small businesses. To stay updated on upcoming events, be sure to subscribe and follow us on Facebook.

Small and Minority Businesses and Tax Assistance- resources for small and minority-owned business as well as networking information can be found here.

Programs through the City and State- A tax abatement program, relocation/workforce development assistance, Grow Wilmington Fund and loans, architectural and engineering feasibility work matching, technical assistance and more information on the Downtown Development District can be found here. 

Complimentary Business Advice with a Certified Mentor- and more, including complimentary workshops for small businesses, can be found here through the Score program.

Starting your business and looking to live close by? Here are lots of great apartment communities right downtown! 

Small Business Saturday Deals Happening in Downtown Wilmington, DE!

Downtown Wilmington kicks off Small Business Saturday with the Downtown Christmas Parade starting at 11AM. Afterwards, attendees are encouraged to stop by the Delaware History Museum for Free family activities and fun between 12:30pm-4pm . The Playhouse on Rodney Square has tickets on sale now for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer playing on both Saturday & Sunday. We encourage all to shop small at our local retailers and restaurants.

Below are just some of the retailers offering exclusive specials and promotions in celebration of Small Business Saturday!

Artzscape
Black Friday & Small Business Saturday Sale: Free gift with purchase of $50 or more, plus, 10% off all artwork by Motion Illustrationz! Did we mention free coffee and donuts?!
November 24th & 25th only, 10am-5pm

Al's Sporting Goods
Thanksgiving Weekend Sale: Tons of athletic equipment at DEEP discounts. Check out their ad for more INfo!
November 24th (8am-8pm) & 25th (9am-6pm) only

Cocina Lolo
Buy $100 in gift cards, receive a free $20 gift card!
Valid November 24th - December 24th

CoreTen Fitness
Free $50 gift card with the purchase of any $50 gift card!
November 27th - December 1st only

Delaware Art Museum
Gift Certificates and Studio Classes availble for gift-giving year-round! Special donation greeting cards will be available for purchase during the Winter Arts Festival letting friends know a donation has been made in their honor at the Delaware Art Museum (shop holiday gifts from over 18 artisans while you listen to festive music by local choirs!)... 

The Delaware Contemporary Annual Craft Show & Taste of the Holidays
The December Art Loop brings tons of local gift options every year and this dual event is top on our list!  December 1st only

Delaware Historical Society
FREE Admission during Small Business Saturday and December Art Loop. Shop the Museum Store for unique Delaware gifts while you're there!
November 25th and December 1st only

Delaware Museum of Natural History
Buy a gift membership to DMNH, and get two free guest passes!
Thru November 30th
 
Kalmar Nyckel
10% Discount on all Sail Passes and Merchandise
Thru December 21st

La Fia Bistro
Buy $100 in gift cards, receive a free $20 gift card!
Valid November 24th - December 24th

LaFate Gallery
Two-Day Holiday Auction & Sale: Bid on original folk and abstract paintings by multi award-winning folk artist Eunice LaFate! Mugs, t-shirts, resin, jewelry, sculptures and note cards also available.
November 24th & 25th only, 11am-6pm

LOMA Coffee
$1 any-size drip coffee, plus, a FREE LOMA Coffee mug with a purchase of $25 or more during Small Business Saturday!
November 25th only, while supplies last

Merchant Bar
Buy $100 in gift cards, receive a free $20 gift card!
Valid November 24th - December 24th

Nextfab Wilmington
Four special Class Packs being offered for the holidays:

• $50 Make Your Own Cutting Board
• $150 Learning the Lathe
• $250 Woodworking Foundations
• $500 Complete Techniques 

Masala Kitchen
Receive a $30 gift card for only $25!
Thru December 31st

Morgan's of Delaware
Mention this ad and save $20 off purchases of $100 or more!
Excludes sale merchandise. 

INtheSpirit Holiday Party
This annual holiday bash benefits Wilmington families IN need AND brings together more than a dozen local artists and artisans for last-minute gift buying opportunities!
December 20th only

OperaDelaware
Gift certificates for OperaDelaware's 2018 Festival make excellent holiday gifts and are available from $50-$200!
 
Poppycock Tattoo
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Gift Certificate Sale: Every $100 spent, you get an extra $25! ($100=$125 $200=$250 $300=$375)
Nov 24th and Nov 25th only

Starbucks on Market                                                                                                                        Complimentary live music following the parade.

Studio One Eleven
10% off all services for new clients on Small Business Saturday
November 25th only

UDairy Creamery
Free Single Scoop Voucher for every $25 spent in store (gift certificates available in $5 increments!) during Small Business Saturday!
November 25th only, 8am-8pm

WiLDWiCH
$1.50 coffee drinks, any size, every Monday, all day! Mocha Latté, Cappuccino, Espresso, Machiatto, Coffee, and more. All from La Colombe coffee roasters. 
7am-4pm thru 2017

Women Business Center's Shop Small Marketplace
This marketplace during Small Business Saturday focuses on women-owned businesses and their products on display at The Delaware Contemporary!
November 25th only