May 2023 Downtown Meet Up Minutes

Published:

May 11, 2023

Category:

Downtown Development Division

Contact:

Telia Butler - 270-393-3617

Location:

Bowling Green, KY

The May 2023 Downtown Meet Up was hosted at the City's Neighborhood & Community Services community room on Wednesday, May 10 at 3pm. Here are the Minutes from that discussion.

The May 2023 Downtown Meet Up was hosted at the City's Neighborhood & Community Services community room on Wednesday, May 10 at 3 pm. Here are the Minutes from that discussion.

1. New website reminder - www.bgkydowntown.org  - all public-facing businesses offering Eat & Drink, Shopping, Entertainment, and Overnight Stays are featured. Plus Events, News, and a Blog. Submit events thru the Event Submission button – it takes less than 5 minutes to submit; blog content ideas and schedule coming soon; we have a marketing strategy to get eyes and drive site traffic. ALL the resources—parking map, food truck FAQs, Fountain Square Shop & Dine Guide, etc. live on the Resources section of this new site! We will be updating the site every few weeks, so please be patient if you ask for a change or update.

2. April major event recaps –

-White Squirrel Arts Fest organizers were pleased with the inaugural year and have already reserved Circus and Fountain Square for the same weekend in 2024

-Tequila & Tacos sold out with 1,500 tickets and the Hot Rods plan to grow that event to match the 2,500 tickets sold for Bourbon & Brewfest

-Sky Science Fest has reserved Circus Square for the first weekend of April 2024 to align with the Solar Eclipse happening that weekend

-Corvette Museum event goers have been receiving the Fountain Square Shop & Dine Guide when they check in at registration – Corvette is planning more downtown events in 2024 for its 30th-anniversary event over Labor Day weekend (Corvette Caravan sells out the City with over 5,000 Corvettes). Corvettes from NCM Michelin Bash were downtown throughout April 27-30 weekend, merchants reported at least 20 seen. You may see more Corvettes this weekend for the NCM’s Vets n Vettes event – used to be scheduled in November around Veterans Day, but registration dwindled and they’re trying a new date.

3. Duncan Hines Days event maps, traffic impact, and street closure updates -

These maps are posted here to the City site traffic impact section, on the DHD main site, and on the Downtown site. Will send the digital version to everyone in the Minutes, along with all local media and DHD steering committee members – inviting them to please share with all their event goers, ticketholders, stakeholders, etc.

-Downtown Traffic Impact Map – June 8

-Downtown Kickoff Events & Parking Map – June 8

-Downtown Traffic Impact Map – June 10

-Downtown Events & Parking Map – June 10

-Eats & Beats Music Fest Map

-Sign Up Genius for Volunteers is on the Contact section of the DHD site – here’s a link to sign up for time slots throughout the entire week of June 5-11 at events around BG and Warren County. Please share with any clubs or groups that may be searching for community service opportunities!

-There are many other events being hosted by community partners and attractions—please visit the full event roadmap here: https://duncanhinesdays.com/events/

-There are 23 restaurants and food trucks signed up for Restaurant Week so far. Please encourage any to participate. It’s free. All they need to do is fill out the form on the DHD site to be included in the Restaurant Week section of the website. They will receive a window cling with a participation designation and a QR code that directs all scans to the Restaurant Week featured section online.

There are campaigns to get eyes and traffic on the DHD site in place: 4 billboards, paid social media boosts on Facebook and Instagram, radio and TV PSAs running all over town, and listings in Ky Living, Ky Monthly, and Ky Dept of Tourism digital calendars.

New business:

-Downtown merchants have set a date for Scare on the Square: October 27, with a Dracula theme. They would like a nonprofit to run candy purchases thru since over 5,000 people attended last year and candy costs are expensive. Telia and Karen worked some intersections last year and there were so many pedestrians who didn’t follow traffic rules. The City will shut down the Square traffic this year for pedestrian safety, and Telia will continue to help fundraise sponsored candy donations like last year from Houchens Food Group, Southern Ky Hospitality Association, and American Marketing Association.

-Jonathan Bryant is bringing in a specialist who works on structural tinted glass in historic buildings. There are only a few of these specialists throughout the country. If any business is interested in finding out more about his visit, please ask Jonathan.

Meeting adjourned.