The Top Urban Economic Development Initiatives of 2020

The Top Urban Economic Development Initiatives of 2020

Despite everything 2020 threw at us, economic development groups across the U.S. launched new programs that successfully helped businesses, remote workers and new graduates stay afloat. Here is our list of 2020’s most influential urban economic development initiatives, based on creativity, strength of story and responsiveness to the needs of the community.

New Orleans, L.A.

Like most cities across the U.S., New Orleans was drastically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – arts, entertainment and recreation spending decreased by over 55%.

The New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) was recognized by IEDC as a top economic development organization of the year for its adopted integrated business model that created a direct response during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing New Orleans’ small businesses and residents with $1.5 million in direct relief to date.

french quarter, new orleans

Kansas City, Mo.

kansas city area development councilThe Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC) launched a new brand, @KCHeartland, to build a buzz for this beloved metro – emphasizing its culture, thriving business community and “heart.” The campaign kicked off in a big way last winter, when the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV.

When the pandemic struck in March, the #KCHeartland campaign become a symbol of Kansas City’s pride and unified response: supporting social distancing measures, health care workers and small businesses.

The brand is getting additional attention now that the Chiefs are again playing in the Big Game!

Patrick Mahomes said it best: “KC is special and it’s where I want to be the rest of my career.”

Detroit, Mich.

The COVID pandemic made it essential for nearly every business, including boutiques and “mom and pop” stores, to sell their goods and services online.

To help, Detroit partnered with Rebrand Cities to create Digital Detroit, which aimed to get 10,000 small businesses online. Participants worked with trained web designers to build websites for their businesses. They also received three months of free website hosting, website development training and content creation assistance.

detroit, michigan

Topeka, Kan.

greater topeka partnership equality houseThanks to the Choose Topeka program in Kansas’ capital city, many talented, young professionals are gearing up for a change of scenery.  Created by the Greater Topeka Partnership, this incentive program is available to remote workers as well as those relocating to Topeka for jobs.

With a median home price of $132,500 and average monthly rent of just $769, the area is already attractive from a cost-of-living perspective. This program makes it even more so by reimbursing applicants up to $15,000 for home buyers and $10,000 for renters signing a one-year lease.

But it’s not just about the money. Choose Topeka has also done a phenomenal job in selling the city itself. The program’s website spotlights the city’s top features, including its arts scene, infrastructure, cost of living and diversity using engaging short videos. The program gained quite a bit of traction in 2020 – receiving hundreds of applicants from across North America and even some from Europe, Asia and South America.

Savannah, Ga.

A similar program is currently underway farther south, in Savannah, Ga.

The Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) established the Savannah Technology Workforce Incentive to lure out-of-state technology workers. The program reimburses individual moving expenses up to $2,000, which covers expenses such as moving service charges, vehicle rental, deposits and more.

SEDA President and CEO Trip Tollison noted, “This incentive is a great way for technology workers that can work remotely to think about relocating to Savannah as a permanent location. We know once these technology workers arrive, Savannah – and its diverse offerings and high-quality of life – will sell itself.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic making many wary of big-city living, it seems likely even more people will consider relocating in 2021 and beyond.

fountain in a park in savannah, georgia

Pittsburgh, P.A.

Gaining hands-on industry experience or starting a career in 2020 seemed impossible for most college students and recent graduates across the U.S., but a program in Pittsburgh capitalized on the opportunity to attract a new pipeline of talent.

The Pittsburgh Passport program offered opportunities for students to connect with Pittsburgh’s wealth of high-tech companies – including those focused on robotics and autonomous vehicles – as well as professional services firms. While most internship programs were canceled or limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, the virtual program took on 1,700 participants from 170 universities, 41 countries, and 39 states.  The program generated national attention for the program’s excellence, creativity and emphasis on diversity & inclusion initiatives.

pittsburgh, pa

Looking Ahead

So, what does 2021 have in store?

The current climate makes predictions difficult. However, you can expect to see new local economic development initiatives designed to assist ailing small businesses – especially “main street” restaurants and retailers. To attract talent, cities will continue to push unique lifestyle offerings, offer financial incentives and reach out to underserved communities.

Stay tuned to www.VioletPR.com for more information and similar programs in 2021!

Montclair Patch: Woman-Owned Montclair Publicity Firm Earns 12 Awards In 2020

Professional news outlet Patch.com covers how our Violet PR has earned several industry awards in 2020, including multiple campaigns that took place amid the coronavirus crisis.

We recently announced that our firm has garnered 12 awards this year for its efforts, including nods from organizations including PR News, Public Relations Society of America N.J., Bulldog Reporter, PR Daily.

Learn More

The Five Most Influential Architecture Projects of 2020

The Five Most Influential Architecture Projects of 2020

Architects and engineers managed to do something few were able to accomplish in 2020 – develop works of true innovation in times of uncertainty. Given that, our team wanted to recognize this year’s most impressive design trends and projects shaping architecture of the future.

Here’s our list of the year’s most influential architecture projects, based on creativity, strength of story and responsiveness to the needs of the community.

Breaking the Mold in Arkansas

In downtown Bentonville, a small city in northwestern Arkansas, a former cheese factory was transformed into what is now the Momentary – an innovative contemporary art space.

The project was led by Chicago-based Wheeler Kearns Architects, which transformed the 63,000-square-foot decommissioned Kraft cheese factory into a space for today’s visual, performing and culinary artists. Award-winning theater-planning and lighting design firm, Schuler Shook, also assisted Wheeler Kearns, providing technical designs for the theater spaces in this adaptive re-use project.

The Momentary has become the region’s most flexible contemporary arts space. Standout design features include 10 high-capacity flooring lifts to quickly and easily create varied stage and audience configurations in a space called the RØDE House. Within a tall space called The Tower, Schuler Shook also optimized 70-foot ceilings by designing unique, flexible seating, rigging and lighting support systems. The Momentary also has a dynamic black box theatre and an outdoor pavilion, completing its wide range of performance venues.

house by luis vidal + architects

College Campus in Spain Takes the ‘LEED’

Global design firm, luis vidal + architects, recently completed work on the stunning 312,000-square-foot      Loyola University Campus in Seville, Spain. The goal was to create an integrated learning environment for students and to ensure energy efficiency. In February 2020, their work paid off when the facility became the first of its kind to be awarded a LEED Platinum certification.

To achieve the certification, Luis Vidal and team strategically designed the project to house all classrooms, laboratories and common spaces in one optimized building. Given the region’s warm climate, the roof, facades and windows were designed to minimize energy losses. Photovoltaic panels were also installed to reduce the net-energy consumption of the building – a choice that resulted in the facility using 40% less heat than buildings that meet current regulations. The team also incorporated a water recovery system to further enhance sustainability.

The Loyola campus aims to be what luis vidal + architects calls the first “5G,” or fifth generation, campus in the world in 2021. This features flexible, optimized and environmentally friendly space for the evolving higher education needs of the 21st century.

Tent Classrooms: Social-Distancing Education

Curl la Tourelle Head, a U.K.-based architecture firm, recently unveiled innovative plans for outdoor classrooms to get a greater number of kids back to school safely.

Their “tent classrooms” allow students to return to school while maintaining social distancing guidelines. Modeled after tents used by nurseries in Denmark, the design would make use of large, festival-type tents to create a safe learning environment amid COVID-19, and perhaps beyond.

“We designed the concept to assist pupils and staff with their return to school and to mitigate the possibility of infection by proper spacing of pupils and staff in fresh air environments,” Wayne Head, director of Curl la Tourelle Head, told architecture and interior design magazine Dezeen.

The Curl la Tourelle Head team envisions the tents being assembled throughout a school’s existing outdoor spaces. Within the tents, the class configuration would keep students separated at least six feet apart.

These designs will continue to spark conversation, as it’s clear that school settings around the world may be looking at redesigns or modifications in 2021 and beyond.

st regis tower in chicagoSt. Regis Chicago: The Third Largest Tower in Second City

At 101 stories tall, St. Regis Chicago (formerly the Vista Tower) will soon be the third largest skyscraper in Chicago – and the world’s tallest building designed by a woman.

Envisioned by renowned architects Jeanne Gang and Julianne Wolf of Studio Gang, the design is nothing short of a visual masterpiece. Composed of three interconnected towers and exterior glass walls that move in and out from floor to floor, the design is inspired by the geometry of crystal, fluorite and sapphire formations. The blues of Lake Michigan and the Illinois sky are gently reflected off the buildings’ glass façades.

When complete, St. Regis Chicago will house 191 hotel rooms on the first seven floors in addition to 393 luxury condos. It will also feature ground-level amenities for city residents.

We’re excited to see Gang and Wolf’s project come to fruition and expect their work to inspire other young female architects.

Houston Unveils an Architectural Marvel

Lacking a design that matched the modern and contemporary artwork in their collection, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston       turned to Steven Holl Architects to reimagine their space. The project included the Nancy and Rich Kinder Museum, which opened in November 2020.

The new, three-story, 237,213-square-foot building includes over 100,000 square feet of exhibition space, increasing the museum’s total exhibition space by 75%. An underground parking garage added another 53,685 square feet to the project.

The Steven Holl design features vertical glass tubes that soften the facades. At night, a translucent wall gives off an alabaster glow that is reflected in five inset pools along the perimeter of the courtyard. The building’s interior is equally impressive with concave, overlapping canopies reflecting the sun onto the ceiling to fill the atrium with light.

The museum opened on Nov. 16 and began exhibiting the works of one of the world’s leading contemporary artists, including the project’s architect, Steven Holl, on Dec. 4.

museum of fine arts, houston tx

Trends to Watch in 2021

The places in which we live, work, learn and play may be forever transformed by the public health crisis of 2020. The infrastructure that emerges in its wake will no doubt draw inspiration from 2020’s top design trends and standout projects – including an affinity for “flex” space that can transform for multiple uses.

We expect cities and communities worldwide to lean on architects to create these flexible, sustainable spaces – those which can accommodate social distancing and other public health measures. Office buildings will no doubt incorporate more natural ventilation and touchless surfaces. Meanwhile, more modular design solutions will be integrated into both corporate and residential settings. And let’s not forget a collective effort to reach new levels of sustainability and a demand for high-speed video and other emerging technology to accommodate a semi-remote workforce.

Whatever the design overhaul may be, chances are it will have its roots in the challenges brought on by the pandemic. These solutions will be conceived by some of the finest architects in the world – many of which are mentioned above.