Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance

Hdr uses destination marketing strategies to promote the historic Downtown, local businesses, and attractions and amenities to local residents and tourists. This helps us attract new and returning customers to the district, talent for area employers, students and faculty to Harrisonburg universities, and tourists. In 2023, hdr led multiple multimedia campaigns to promote the district, weekly events, restaurant month, holiday shopping, community festivals, in addition to educating the community about our activities and the work we do.

Hdr produces free public events to build community, enhance quality of life for residents, attract tourists, boost foot traffic and exposure for small businesses, generate tax revenue and sales at businesses, and strengthen community pride and cohesion through togetherness. Annual events include Downtown happy hour, a charcueterie board workshop, bestweekendever, independence day fireworks, block party in the burg, skeleton fest, veterans parade, and winter wonderfest. These events largely took place outdoors and encouraged participants to circulate throughout the Downtown to discover businesses and to enjoy free entertainment in the heart of the community. Last year, hdr also launched a free, new 10-week summertime concert series. Total attendance for hdr's 25 events this year exceeded 59,600.

Hdr specializes in people-based and placed-based economic development. Our strategies focus on matching entrepreneurs with vacancies and strengthening existing businesses so they can attract more customers and grow their bottom lines. Our work creates and retains jobs, creates opportunities for entrepreneurs, as well as boosts the city's tax base. Our programs include grants, customized technical assistance, placemaking, networking opportunities, information and resources. By the end of 2023, Downtown had its lowest vacancy rate since hdr got started. Since 2020, hdr has provided $150,000 to Downtown small business grants and technical assistance. Hdr has also continued to support the b-cubed program designed to assist our area's black- and brown-owned businesses by securing a $50,000 grant to fund the program. We also completed the design phase of a new Downtown pocket park and secured a $75,000 grant to seed its construction.