Downtown Visions released the Downtown Wilmington App, a one stop shop for all the happenings in Downtown Wilmington, DE.
Image Credit: Common Deer
We rely on our local businesses to create thriving neighborhoods for our residents and visitors every day. During this time of uncertainty, we need to do all we can to support these businesses, and their staff, by:
purchasing gift cards
following them on social media
spreading the word about their offers
posting a positive review
Please consider helping our small business owners and #ShopSmall during this crisis and always!
Downtown Visions mission is to create, manage, and promote a quality environment for business development within our neighborhood by providing small business assistance through various initiatives. We strive to inform our community of the free resources available to them by a number of local and national agencies. If you have any questions on starting, or growing, your businesses in Downtown Wilmington DE, don’t hesitate to contact us!
The Delaware Division of Small Business, part of the Delaware Department of State, is a service-focused agency committed to supporting businesses starting and growing in Delaware. Small businesses can reach out to the Division for assistance in connecting to the resources and advice to succeed. The Division is a champion for Delaware small businesses and is here to help take companies to the next level.
Features an online portal to find and connect to organizations in Delaware who assist small businesses. Click here to visit portal.
The Division of Small Business also EDGE grants to eligible businesses to encourage development, growth, and expansion. The EDGE Grant program gives qualified small businesses in Delaware an edge by offering access to significant capital like never before. The business must have been in operation less than 5 years. This will give them access to capital up to $50,000 for the Entrepreneur Class and $100,000 for Stem based companies!
The deadline is Friday, February 28, 2020.
For more information, click here.
NCCCC hosts “Open For Business” sessions on the fourth Thursday of each month from 9:30 am - 11:30 am for small business owners to meet with representatives from their partner organizations. Collectively, these organizations provide a range of services that help start-ups advance their business model, reach potential customers, land government contracts, secure loans, meet state regulatory requirements and generally mentor entrepreneurs striking out on their own for the first time.
Next event is Tuesday, February 25, 2020 located at 920 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE.
The event is free, registration is suggested. To register, click here.
Downtown Visions also hosts Downtown Merchant Meetings one Tuesday a month for business owners within the Central Business District share ideas and connect with each other.
The next Merchant Meeting is at 9:30 am on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at Stitch House Brewery.
American Express® is teaming up with Main Street America to give 10 small business owners $10,000 each to help their businesses innovate in this evolving retail landscape. The American Express Future of Shopping Small Grant Program will celebrate small businesses across the country that are a vital part of their community. The program is intended to support small businesses that have demonstrated new approaches to traditional business strategies and those businesses looking to try out creative techniques, while also helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic commercial districts.
The deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
For more information, click here.
To see if your businesses is location within one of Delaware’s Downtown Development Districts (DDD), click here.
Every year, Delaware Today Magazine issues the Best of Delaware edition to spotlight local Delaware businesses in a variety of categories, ranging from food & drink to retail & services, that leave a lasting impression on their patrons. Readers and editors vote to recognize their favorite local establishments for their top-notch service and high-quality products.
Voting is now open for Delaware Today’s 2020 Best of Delaware class! To vote for you favorite Downtown Wilmington businesses, visit delawaretoday.com/vote and follow these simple rules:
1) Please limit your votes to Delaware-based businesses—no national chains
2) Businesses cannot incentivize votes with discounts, etc.
3) Votes originating from identical IP addresses will not be counted.
4) Please fill in the name and town of the business.
5) Please fill out at least 5 categories.
6) The Ballot closes on Jan. 26 at 5 p.m.
7) A special series of run-off voting will take place for the top vote-getters in the Food & Drink and Health & Beauty categories starting Feb. 3 and going weekly through March 15.
The results will be published in the July 2020 issue of Delaware Today and will be celebrated during their annual Best of Delaware Party, happening July 23, 2020 at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.
Last year, 18 Downtown Wilmington businesses were awarded the Best of Delaware title all thanks to locals like you who voted for them. Spread the word about all of the great places in Downtown Wilmington DE and vote now!
As we kick off 2020 and begin a new decade, let’s take a look back at the best year yet for Downtown Visions and Main Street Wilmington. 2019 was filled with growth for Downtown Wilmington, and we are thrilled to have aided in the progress.
Downtown Visions mission is to create, manage, and promote a quality environment for people who live, work, and visit Downtown Wilmington. We do this through a variety of initiatives, including our Main Street Wilmington program. As a Main Street community, Downtown Visions not only preserves historic buildings, but also focuses on small business recruitment, marketing, and promotion.
This past year we achieved our mission through a number of efforts supporting our small businesses. We held monthly Merchant Meetings for Downtown business owners to share ideas and connect with each other. We provided event support for city-wide festivals, like the Ladybug Festival and Downtown Brew Fest, and ongoing marketing support through our social media channels and blog.
Through our Facade Improvement Program, Cavanaugh’s received a grant from Downtown Visions, Comenity Bank and Bank of America to complete a major renovation process that restored their historic building to its former glory in honor of their 30th anniversary on Market Street. We also awarded a grant to LRS Capital Partners for restoring a longtime vacant property on 8th Street.
We also launched two new marketing campaigns to drive traffic during historically slow weeks. Made on Market and Market Made: 12 Days of Christmas were completely free for businesses to participate in simply providing an exclusive offer valid during the week of the campaign. In partnership with New Market Wilm, we handled the creation and promotion of graphics, posters, advertisements, and social media posts during the campaigns.
In March, we attended the National Main Street Conference in Seattle and was an American Express presenter for Small Business Saturday. During the conference, we were awarded a $500 grant towards our Small Business Saturday campaign in Downtown Wilmington.
In December, we hosted the very first Pop-Up Holiday Village and launched our holiday lights display in Willingtown Square. The Pop-Up Village took place after the Wilmington Christmas parade and drew over 600 visitors to the pop-up alone. Vendors saw a boost in sales and expressed positive feedback from the event.
“I thought the event went really well. It was well organized, and it gave us an opportunity to be exposed to new customers,” said Delaware Originals. “I really appreciated the tent being provided as this was a big plus!”
Last, but certainly not least, Downtown Visions celebrated the opening of 20 new businesses within the Central Business District in 2019. These businesses include: Dunkin, BoostMobile, DECO Food Hall, IM Coffee, Wildwich, Girard Craft & Cork, WHYY, Makers Alley, Torbet Social, Faire Market & Cafe, King Creative, Studio Nurture, Drip Café, Three Kings Kustoms, Blitzen, The Chicken Spot, El Diablo, Green Box Kitchen, Jet Phynx, Wilmington Land Bank Conservancy, and ArchCraft.
Downtown Visions works to show the world what an amazing place Downtown Wilmington, Delaware is every day, and we could not do so without help from our incredible community. Please consider donating to Downtown Visions and support our efforts to preserve, progress, and promote Downtown Wilmington all year long!
Market Made: 12 Days of Christmas is bringing you locally made specials and exclusive offers from your favorite Downtown businesses on December 12th through December 23rd. Check off the rest of your holiday shopping in Downtown Wilmington DE with these special promotions that celebrate all things Wilmington and support our local small businesses!
The Market Made specials include:
Academy for Peace: Stop the Violence Coalition Pop-up Every Saturday until December 21st
Bardea Food & Drink: Special $5-$8 Happy Hour Menu
Chelsea Tavern: 50% off the Delaware Destroyer Burger
Delaware History Museum: BOGO Admission
Ernest & Scott Taproom: 50% off the Taproom Burger
I.M. Coffee: $1 off Chai Charged Macchiato
La Fia Bistro: Free $20 Gift Card with Purchase of $100 in Gift Cards
Lafate Gallery: 25% Off Original Cultural Holiday Paintings
LOMA Coffee: $5 Avocado Turkey BLT
Makers Alley: Free $10 Gift Card With $50 Purchase
MKT: Apply & Become Eligible for Rent Credit
Morgan's of Delaware: $20 Off Purchase of $100 or $40 Off Purchase of $200
NextFab: 25% Off Your First 3 Months of Membership
Poppycock Tattoo: $15 Added For Every $100 Spent in Gift Cards
Spaceboy Clothing: Delaware Pride Bundle for $55 ($80 Value)
The Lofts at 2nd & LOMA: Free Application Fee
The Residences at Rodney Square: Apply & Become Eligible for Rent Credit
UDairy Creamery: Christmas Cookie Flight for $5.50 and Unveiling 4 New Flavors on the 12th, available through the 23rd:
Sugar Cookie Crunch – Sugar Cookie Ice Cream with Fresh Baked Sugar Cookie Chunks, Vanilla Icing Swirl and Sweet Sugar Crystals
Gingersnap Egg Nog– Eggnog Ice Cream with a Gingersnap Cookie
Mint & Cookies– Mint Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
Grandma's Fruit Cake– Orange Zest Ice Cream with Classic Fruit Cake Chunks
For more details on redeeming these promotions, click here! As a reminder, free parking options are available all holiday season long in Downtown Wilmington! Click here to learn more.
The Market Made campaign is proudly brought to you by Downtown Visions and Wilmington Alliance.
