Cedar Rapids Downtown District Announces “Bringing Downtown to Life” Launch Week ...

We received the following E-mail today regarding some Community News in the Downtown District of the City of Cedar Rapids ...

CONTACT:
Quinn Pettifer
Cedar Rapids Downtown District
319.398.0449
quinn@downtowncr.org
Downtowncr.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cedar Rapids Downtown District Announces “Bringing Downtown to Life” Launch Week
Three Events Scheduled to Showcase Sectors of Organization

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – April 26, 2010- The Cedar Rapids Downtown District has announced the launch of its new brand “Bringing Downtown to Life” scheduled for the week of May 10. Three events will correspond with the launch week, representing various sectors of downtown life.

The branding strategy for the Downtown District brand comes from a nearly two year evaluation of the organization’s past identity and broad range of sectors represented. Months of internal and external research including evaluation of current awareness, relatable messaging and perceptions of downtown all contributed to creation of the new brand.

The organization introduced a new logo and Web site in June 2009, then continued work on creating a comprehensive plan on how the organization should be identified, making it relevant not only to those directly connected to downtown, but for those who have yet to discover what’s happening in the core of our community.

“Bringing Downtown to Life” stems from the action-oriented dynamics of our organization, including the countless individuals who contribute energy and talent to cultivating an extraordinary downtown,” explained Quinn Pettifer, Director of Marketing and Community Outreach for the Cedar Rapids Downtown District. “The new brand and strategic marketing plan will allow us to keep current and prospective patrons aware of how we are all “Bringing Downtown to Life.”

Starting soon, the new messages and new brand will be seen and heard in a variety of traditional media, as well as newer methods of communication such as social media, blogs and a text program.

The week of May 10 will display three contributing factors of downtown life, including the Downtown Business Summit, Downtown Clean Up, and the return of the Taste of Downtown:
Downtown Business Summit Monday
May 10, 5-8PM at the Armstrong Centre (222 3rd Avenue SE)

The Downtown Business Summit is a free event, designed for those current or prospective business owners interested in learning more about the benefits community resources can provide, with specific focus on downtown Cedar Rapids. Discover who does what and how the Cedar Rapids Downtown District, City of Cedar Rapids, Entrepreneurial Development Center and many other local resources can assist with a variety of business-related concerns and issues. The evening will begin with registration and networking, followed by a downtown development update and community guest speakers. The second portion of the night will include an expo atmosphere with sponsor and collaborator representatives at individual booths.

Downtown Spring Clean Up
May 12, throughout downtown

The Downtown Spring Clean Up is scheduled for Wednesday May 12 in support of maintenance and streetscape work downtown. The Spring Clean Up is made possible through the United Way of East Central Iowa’s volunteer program “Day of Caring 2010.” The United Way program will provide more than 1,000 volunteers from 57 companies and organizations, bringing volunteers from local companies and organizations together to complete more than 100 service projects for 48 local non-profit agencies. The Cedar Rapids Downtown District will have a designated a team of more than 50 volunteers for a day of downtown clean up, flower planting, repair work and more, preparing downtown for its peak event season including the Downtown Farmers’ Markets, Freedom Festival, Uptown Friday Nights and others.

Taste of Downtown
Kick off May 15, 6PM-9PM in Skogman Realty Parking Lot

Taste of Downtown, a week-long event highlighting the restaurants and nightlife available in downtown Cedar Rapids, will feature a kick off sampling event Saturday May 15 from 6-9PM in the Skogman Realty parking lot along 1st Avenue in Downtown Cedar Rapids. Patrons will enjoy unlimited food and beverage sampling from participating bars and restaurants for a $20 admission fee. Musical entertainment from Jeff Craft will also be on site. Patrons must be 21 to attend. Participating vendors for the kick off night include Gringos, Big Daddy Dogs, Bricks, DC Riverwalk, Volume and Dublin.

The week of May 17-22 will continue Taste of Downtown events as participating Downtown restaurants and bars will offer week-long specials encouraging local residents and newcomers to get a “taste” of what downtown Cedar Rapids has to offer.

Full event details on all Cedar Rapids Downtown District events can be found at www.downtowncr.org.

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ABOUT THE CEDAR RAPIDS DOWNTOWN DISTRICT:
The Cedar Rapids Downtown District mission is to cultivate and promote a dynamic downtown through business advocacy, riverfront enhancement, community development, sustainable infrastructure, flood recovery and first-rate event programming for the benefit of the greater Cedar Rapids community. Get the latest on downtown news and events by visiting downtowncr.org or join us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Our current businesses have a history in Downtown Cedar Rapids. Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc. was founded by my grandfather, "Irv", in 1945 on the West side of the Cedar River, near 22Nd Avenue and A Street SW.

Tucker Manufacturing moved over to Downtown Cedar Rapids. After working with his father full-time for roughly ten years, my father entered the real estate industry, as well. We located at our current location in 1969 at 613 2Nd Avenue SE.

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. was founded by my father, "Tommy", in 1958 and has always been located in Downtown Cedar Rapids. We are currently located at 613 2Nd Avenue SE. We located at our current location in 1969. Tommy Tucker Realty Co. provide real estate brokerage services, as well as specializes in property management service in the greater Cedar Rapids area ...

We have been a part of Downtown of Cedar Rapids with our family businesses approaching 60 years ...

Robin Tucker