Downtown Partners is grateful for another year of growing, sharing, and enhancing Downtown Sioux City! In 2022, we started new programs, welcomed new businesses, and brought back some fan-favorite events.
Our goal was to develop a program directed towards new business owners that would alleviate the stress that comes with opening a new business. Starting a business can be scary and overwhelming, we want to make the process a little easier. After hours of review and discussion with local realtors, business owners, and board members, this idea manifested into our new Rent Relief Program. The Rent Relief Program is a partnership between Downtown Partners and property owners that offers new businesses up to 50% off their rent for the first six months in business. We are thrilled by the community’s response to the program and encourage anyone thinking of starting a downtown business to apply. The application can be found on our website, downtownsiouxcity.com.
In the later months of 2022, we began our Resource Guide 101 social media campaign. The campaign dives into the Sioux City Police Department’s Community Resource Guide and spotlights organizations making a difference in Siouxland. We highlight resources such as Sioux City Community Assistance which provides kits to formerly homeless individuals who are moving into stable housing for the first time. We hope that showcasing these organizations will educate the public on what help is available right here in Sioux City, and how you can be a part in the effort to keep these organizations thriving.
As we’ve stressed before, events bring life to downtown. In 2022, Downtown Sioux City hosted hundreds of events from workshops to film festivals, yoga classes to 80s trivia, beer release parties to belly dancing classes—there was something for everyone downtown. Some new events included the Gallery in the Sky Skywalk Art Festival, where hundreds of people roamed the skywalks to buy local art, view murals, grab a drink, and listen to music. In October, Fourth and Jones Streets hosted hundreds of football fans at the Downtown Tailgate Party—complete with cornhole, beer, and live music. We also had Big Deck Energy, an art show, trick competition, and a fundraiser for the Sioux City Skate Association. We also brought back a few community favorites like Restaurant Week in April and August, Downtown LIVE throughout the summer months, and Small Business Bingo in the winter season. We ended the year with one of the biggest Holiday Lighted Parades ever! It was a beautiful night of community, excitement, and holiday cheer.
2022 brought so many new opportunities, businesses, and events to downtown Sioux City. We are thankful for our community and their support in making downtown the vibrant place it is today, and we can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store! You can always see what we’re up to on our social media, Downtown Partners – Sioux City, or have all the action sent directly to your inbox by signing up for our weekly E-blast.
By Carly Howrey
Contributed by Downtown Partners, a non-profit organization that works with downtown stakeholders to create a vibrant, expanding downtown. To learn more about Downtown Partners and stay up to date on downtown projects and events, visit downtownsiouxcity.com
