Knowledge Center
Marketing, Communications and Events
Place managers narrate and communicate the identity and outward facing mission of the place to residents, tourists, businesses, and other stakeholder groups, thereby communicating the place’s unique brand. By expressing the identity of the place, the brand should invoke a sense of place, leaving individuals with the intangible feelings that one gets when engaging with the authenticity of the place.
The brand is used to market the place to these various stakeholder groups, attracting and inviting them to live, work, play and invest in the place. A diversity of tactics are used to market a place ranging from events, messaging, online engagement, street-level activation and more.
Paul Johnson Master Talk
Paul Johnson is the City Manager for the City of Toronto. As the fourth largest city in North America, Paul oversees delivery of programs and services to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine. A proud public servant, Paul is committed to making community connections and enhancing the quality of life for all Toronto residents. Away from work Paul is a basketball official who has “blown the whistle” at thousands of
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Data Over Drama: Making Smarter Decisions About Events
Data Over Drama: Making Smarter Decisions About Events gives district managers a framework for selecting, measuring and discontinuing events based on mission, audience, capacity and results. Organizations compare budgets, philosophies, data sources, KPIs and post-event reviews. Readers gain methods for combining. Location: Washington, DC; Phoenix, AZ; Camden, NJ; Tempe, AZ. Organization: DowntownDC BID; Downtown Phoenix Inc.; Camden Special Services District; Downtown Tempe Authority.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Neighborhood Identity, Citywide Impact – The Powers of Sub-Districts
Neighborhood Identity, Citywide Impact explains how sub-district branding can reveal cultural clusters and guide programming, marketing, public-realm design and business attraction. London and Hollywood examples connect local identities to one destination strategy. The approach supports more than 40 investment actions with projected gains in jobs, economic. Location: London, UK; Los Angeles, CA. Organization: Think Place Agency; Heart of London Business Alliance; The Hollywood Partnership.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Arts & Culture – The Heartbeat of Downtowns
Arts and Culture: The Heartbeat of Downtowns shows how cultural programming can influence visitation, perception and investment. Cases cover public art, storefront activation, festivals, artist grants, vacant-space reuse and impact measures. Outcomes include increased attendance, stronger business sales. Location: Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA; San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX. Organization: Chicago Loop Alliance; Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership; Downtown SF Partnership; Downtown Austin Alliance.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Community Busking Festivals for Downtown Revitalization
Berkshire Busk! activates downtown Great Barrington through free live performances that increase foot traffic, support artists and encourage spending. Using low-cost public space activation, the festival generated significant local economic impact and has been replicated in other communities. Great Barrington, Community Busk Inc.
Read MoreGarage Racing National Championships
This national cycling event converts a parking garage into a competitive race venue and community festival. The program promotes multimodal transportation, activates infrastructure in a new way and generates regional visibility for the district. Arlington, National Landing BID.
Read MoreAnthem Row: Reimagined. Reclaimed. Reborn as Downtown DC’s Creative Hub.
Anthem Row transformed an underused downtown corridor into a destination for art, culture and entertainment through installations, festivals and public realm improvements. The project increased visitation, supported businesses and reactivated a key public space. Washington, DowntownDC BID.
Read MoreThe Junction Journal
The Junction Journal produced short-form business storytelling videos that expanded visibility for local merchants and strengthened district identity. The program delivered measurable digital engagement, improved member participation and established an ongoing communications model. Toronto, The Junction BIA.
We’d love for you to see this member-only resource to help make a difference in your district. Make sure you are logged in or join IDA to learn more about how members get sh*t done!
Advancing Places: Holiday & Winter Activations
Discover innovative strategies to transform your downtown into a festive winter destination, attracting residents and visitors alike. Learn how to maximize your winter activations to boost local businesses and foster a vibrant community spirit. Featuring speakers from the Downtown Boston Alliance, San Jose Downtown Alliance, and Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission
Read MoreCultural Storytelling and Downtown
Cultural Storytelling and Downtown documents how Wausau and Milwaukee’s King Drive used inclusive storytelling to shape identity and belonging. It details strategies and physical installations—banners, events, and campaigns—that increased engagement, visibility, and corridor revitalization.
Read More
