EVENT UPDATES: Visit the Downtown District Staff in our NEW OFFICE located at Arts & Entertainment: Volume Live Music & Dance club is hosting a Speed Dating Night every second Thursday of the month. Pre-register by e-mailing Chris Parsley (djnutz75@msn.com), with your first and last name, e-mail address and phone number. For details, call (319)389-1507. 1/14: CR Chamber of Commerce is hosting seminar “Weapons of Mass-Seduction: How to Make Sure Your Advertising Doesn’t Bomb” on Jan. 14, at 8 a.m. at the Clarion Hotel & Convention Center ( 1/23: The 1/30: Those supporting the Access
1/8: 5:01 Club welcomes everyone to after-work happy hour this Thursday at Brick's Bar & Grill (
To make your reservation, contact Katie Giorgio at Katie.giorgio@gcrcf.org, visit www.lcnrc.org or call (319)365-8536.
Click here for the best information on rescheduled and relocated events from many downtown arts & entertainment venues and organizations affected by flooding.
Six-month flood recovery update from the
Alliant Energy to Continue Providing
Temporary Steam Service to Help with Transition
Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alliant Energy, did not secure the long-term customer contracts necessary to invest in rebuilding its Sixth Street Generating Station. The plant, which was severely damaged in the flood, has provided both electricity and steam to downtown
The news reverses some promising signs in September that the plant might be rebuilt, and it adds a new layer of uncertainty for downtown business and property owners. The Downtown District will continue to advocate for short-term rate subsidies and long-term permanent solutions that maintain competitive and reliable utilities for the central business district.
“While this news is disappointing, we must balance this update by acknowledging our recovery triumphs,” said Downtown District Marketing & Community Relations Director Quinn Pettifer. “New and returning businesses are opening every week, neighborhood planning and other forms of development continue to evolve, bringing to light what downtown has and will continue to offer the entire community.”
IPL plans to continue to use the temporary natural gas-fired package boilers at its
Neighborhood Planning Process Kick-Off
Jan. 10, 8 a.m., Crowne Plaza Hotel, Grand Ballroom
Please come to the Community Kick-off Event for the Neighborhood Planning Process on January 10, at 8:00 a.m. in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Grand Ballroom in downtown
The City is providing lunch at this event for everyone who registers by noon on Jan. 9. Register by calling 1-866-999-1224 or online at www.corridorrecovery.org/neighborhoods.
The Neighborhood Planning Process is a series of workshops and meetings where all residents develop ideas and create action plans for rebuilding and reinvesting in
- North River Area –
- Central Area – Downtown and Medical District (Near Downtown)
- South River Area –
January 10 Agenda:
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Review handouts and display boards
- Explain the Neighborhood Planning Process
- Brief Review of Phase I of the River Corridor Redevelopment Plan
- Small Group Work Sessions about the purpose, goals and outcomes of the Neighborhood Planning Process
12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Lunch provided to registered participants
- Presentation about sustainability and how it will affect
- Small Group Work Sessions about evaluation criteria for sustainable neighborhoods
- Presentation about neighborhood governance
- Explain next steps in the Neighborhood Planning Process
This Neighborhood Planning Process continues through May 2009. It includes:
- A Community Kick-off Workshop on January 10 at the Crowne Plaza Ballroom
- Three Interactive Workshops on Saturdays (January 31, March 21 & April 25)
- Four Area Meetings on Tuesdays (February 10, February 24, March 31 & May 5)
This is your chance to shape the block, the neighborhoods and the community you call home. Learn more about the Neighborhood Planning Process and register for the Jan. 10 event at www.corridorrecovery.org/neighborhoods or by calling 866-999-1224.
The Cedar Rapids Downtown District would like to welcome Leah Cohen to her new post as President of the Iowa City Downtown Association. Ms. Cohen has been the owner and operator of Bo-James Restaurant for 25 years. She also founded and chaired the Iowa City Alcohol Advisory Board and chaired the Police Citizens Review Board.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with Ms. Cohen in the promotion of both our downtowns and in the Corridor as a whole,” said Downtown District Operations Director Vanessa Solesbee. Cohen replaces Craig Gustaveson, manager of Austin Burke. The Cedar Rapids Downtown District, Priority One, and the If you are new the http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2ev7q43fo90wazc/start If you have lived in the http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2f9700tfouiidcu/start
Cedar Rapids Needs Help from Federal Lawmakers Outside of Iowa
The City of Cedar Rapids needs more funding from the federal government to help our community recover from the June flooding disaster. Our City Council and
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10 sq. miles of the City impacted by flood
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18, 623 estimated persons in flood-impacted area
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1,360 estimated jobs lost as a result of flood
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7,198 parcels of land flooded
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5,390 residential properties (51% rental, 49% owner occupied)
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$2.4 billion estimated damage cost to publicinfrastrucutre and flood management.
For anyone whose friends or relatives do not have the contact information for their U.S. Senators or House members and go to http://whoismyrepresentative.com, type in their zip code and get their lawmakers names and contact information.
Committed to Downtown
Full-page ads in The Gazette and the Corridor Business Journal marked the launch of our "Rebuild Downtown" campaign. Radio ads have begun, and the campaign will include other multi-media exposure as well. In order to be included on the "Committed to Downtown" list, flood-affected businesses had to confirm that they "plan to rebuild downtown and reinvest in the future of downtown." Some businesses signed up via this Web site. We reached others through a Business Recovery Survey conducted by the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown District. While more than 200 businesses already have signed up, we know that there are many more out there that will return to downtown and may want to be listed with the other committed businesses. To get your business name added to our list, tell us of your interest via our Contact Us page on this Web site, or by calling Mallory at the Downtown District at 398-0449 or mallory@downtowncr.org. The complete list will be kept on the Committed page of this Web site and will be updated as often as possible.
You need this shirt!
You've seen it around town, and you need one - the Rebuild Downtown t-shirt. We'll have them out at events around town -- Uptown Friday Nights, the Outdoor Drive-in Movie Series, Downtown Farmers' Markets, etc., and they also are at places such as the Chamber of Commerce (424 First Ave. NE), Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust (500 First Ave. NE), and the Bever Avenue branch of Guaranty Bank (across from Bever Park). All we ask is that you make a free will offering to the Job & Small Business Recovery Fund. We'll collect cash and checks made out to the Downtown District and deposit it in the fund. For more information, call the Downtown District at 319-398-8269 or use the Contact Us page.
Find us on Facebook!
Visit www.facebook.com/pages/Cedar-Rapids-IA/Cedar-Rapids-Downtown-District/10938374641 to become a fan of our Cedar Rapids Downtown District group! It's another fun way to receive fast updates about Downtown District events, programs and news, with a chance let us know what you're thinking by leaving comments, too! The Downtown District would love to have your support!
Some of the most amazing pictures we've seen were taken not only by local and national media, but citizens of Cedar Rapids. Here are a few of them.
