Downtown Development Corporation

Programs: Economic development: in support of the downtown master plan, lddc's core mission is to promote the economic development of downtown louisville in collaboration with private and public partners, thereby making the central business district (cbd) a dynamic environment for businesses, visitors and residents. In 2017, lddc's economic development activities included: - the bourbon district: formal launch of the first phase of the bourbon district with $44,500 in capital investment for wayfinding streetscape infrastructure including historical and distillery signage to highlight downtown's rich bourbon heritage and enhance visitors' bourbonism experience. The district will continue to grow in 2018 in partnership with louisville metro, the louisville convention and visitors' center (lcvb), greater louisville inc. (gli) and the kentucky distiller's association. - digital wayfinding kiosks: final project approval and selections, with the first pilot project kiosks scheduled for installation in the spring of 2018. These kiosks will provide a variety of information to pedestrians within the cbd and edge neighborhoods, including business and retail wayfinding, information on downtown attractions, and will also provide free public wi-fi hot spots and security services. - retail development: lddc focuses on encouraging the continued growth of retail businesses in downtown louisiville. Projects in 2017 included assistance for the establishment of the south 4th street district association, support of the louisville arts master plan by the fund for the arts, sponsorship of the free tarc zerobus circulator along downtown's main retail corridors, development of a strategic retail plan for the south 4th street retail district, and continued assistance to the nulu business association for the creation of a second downtown business improvement district. - professional collaboration: lddc works closely with many 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 metro government's louisville forward, gli, the lcvb, leadership louisville, the international downtown assocation, the national main street association, the urban land instititue, the international council for shopping centers, and many others. In late 2017, lddc worked with muliple public and private partners to help secure louisville as the host city for the 2019 annual conference of the congress for new urbanism. - development facilitation & recognition: loiusville continues to experience a boom in downtown development, with over $1. 78 billion in investment announced or underway at the beginning of 2018. Lddc is the primary source of market and demographic research data which helps developers make sound investment decisions in the cbd and edge neighborhoods. Lddc also administers and manages two gap loan funds which originated over $2. 79 million in new commercial and housing loans in 2017. Continuing a long-standing tradition, lddc again hosted the cornerstone awards to recognize the accomplishments of developers in downtown louisville. - 2017 grants/allocations to others: $25,000 to the transit authority of river city (tarc) for the free zerobus downtown circulator and $5,000 to the fund for the arts for the louisville master arts plan.

project management & support services: serving as an honest broker for downtown, lddc supports a variety of projects in collaboration with local and state government as well as private sector partners. Additionally, lddc serves as a fiscal sponsor for a variety of non-profits and downtown organizations to facilitate unique events and programs throughout the cbd. - project management: in 2017, lddc continued to drive the nulu streetscape project forward, seeking alternative funding sources through several federal grant programs. Lddc also assisted with the on-going development of louisville's historic whiskey row, which has brought an abandoned block back to life and spurred additional development along main and washington streets. The streetscape project for south 4th street paused in 2017 to accomodate the construction of a new mixed-use development which is bringing more than 130 new residential apartments to the area, but will resume in 2018 to finish the needed sidewalk and lighting improvements to the south end of the retail corridor. - support services: throughout the year, lddc provided operational and administrative support for a number of organizations active in downtown louisville, including the resurfaced liberty build activation by city collaborative, support for the annual veteran's day parade, preservation of the historic derby clock, support for the louisville downtown residents' association (ldra), and the second year of tango fest. - 2017 grants/allocations to others: $30,500 in support of the veterans' day parade in downtown louisville, $8,000 for the lousiville tango fest, $5,000 to city collaborative in support of resurfaced, and $735 for ldra.

marketing, communications & events: a vital role of lddc is to promote the vibrancy of downtown louisville through effective marketing of downtown attractions and events, often in partnership with the lcvb, metro government and many generous community sponsors. - signature events: this year, in partnership with the alliance francaise de louisville, lddc sponsored the inaugural fete de la musique, an all-day musical celebration of the summer solstice across multiple locations in downtown louisville. We also organized the annual downtown living tour, a showcase of available residential offerings in the cbd. - marketing of downtown: lddc helps direct the marketing of downtown louisville to draw more visitors, guests and residents to the cbd. In 2017, we produced and launched the "i go downtown" promotional video, an upbeat and positive way to promote all of the exciting development and activities taking place downtown. Lddc's marketing team also leads the downtown joint marketing & events committee, a working group of downtown organizations which helps coordinate all significant downtown events, and participates in gli's community marketing project which directs the marketing of louisville on a regional and national level. - communications: one of the challenges of the rapid growth of downtown louisville are traffic disruptions created by construction and utility work. To help workers, residents and guest better navigate downtown, lddc created a unique, interactive traffic map on its website which provides near real-time information on road closures and other potential traffic issues. The traffic map is supported by frequent email traffic alerts communicating emerging disruptions as they happen. Lddc also introduced the nation's first construction navigator, an ambassador of traffic who helped identify and resolve traffic chokepoints and worked with construction contractors to ensure they abided by their permits and kept the roadways clear during rush hours. - 2017 grants/allocations to others: $10,000 to the waterfront development corporation's 4th of july celebration at waterfront park, $2,000 in support of the young professionals' assocation of louisville, and $1,250 to the urban land institute kentucky for the mayor's land use development forum.

other programs: lddc periodically provides small contributions to other organizations whose work impacts downtown louisville and which complement lddc's mission. In 2017 these organizations included the main street association, the lcvb, ideafestival, the community thanksgiving breakfast, venture connectors, leadership louisville, operation brightside, preservation kentucky and friends of the waterfront.