UPDATE 12/23/20 1:30 PM
With the passage of the latest pandemic relief package, the U.S. Chamber has provided a new guide to small business COVID-19 Emergency Loans with the latest information and answers about changes made to PPP and Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
UPDATE 10/27/20 12:00 PM
The International Downtown Association and Stantec's Urban Places are hosting a FREE webinar on Friday, November 6th at 10:15 CST to discuss the safe return of employees to your offices:
Navigating the Return to Downtown
Workplaces are the engines of our downtown economies, but creating a safe return for employees that they can see and feel will take careful planning and effort. From building owners to office managers everyone in our downtowns has a role to play. In this webinar we’ll explore several facets of this preparation including what we’ve heard from employers and employees about their priorities and concerns, and technology options that building owners need to prepare for and tenants may want to implement. Finally, we’ll also consider the somewhat overlooked human element, where communication and listening are key.
You can register for the webinar HERE
UPDATE 10/19/20 11:30 AM
UPDATE 9/30/20 1:15 PM
Stop by any of the locations listed below for Downtown Lincoln / Lincoln's Historic Haymarket District Stamp Card. When your card has all of its stamps you can turn it in for a $25 Downtown Lincoln gift card!
No purchases are necessary. Just ask the retailer what you need to do to earn a stamp. Only one stamp card can be turned in for a gift card per customer. For hours and locations, visit: DowntownLincoln.orgBurlington Antiques, FLY I a fitness revolution, The Foundry Community, Francie & Finch Bookshop, From Nebraska Gift Shop, Gomez Art Supply, KD Designs Jewelry, Kiechel Fine Art, The Lincoln Running Co., A Novel Idea Bookstore, Ruby Begonias, SISU Hairdressing, Stella Clothing, Ten Thousand Villages Lincoln, Threads - Footloose & Fancy, Tsuru, Wax Buffalo
Soon to have a card:
Fred Witt Jewelers, Husker Headquarters, Sartor Hamann Jewelers, Metro Gallery
DLA's management office on 206 S. 13th Street remains closed to the public. All of our maintenance and management staff continue to work with staggered staff duties. Reach our management office anytime via telephone (402.434.6900) -or- email: info@downtownlincoln.org.
UPDATE 5/20/20 11:26 AM
The Event Safety Alliance has released a helpful packet of guidelines when it comes to easing ourselves back into events. See their guide here!
UPDATE 5/7/20 12:46 AM
National retail consultant, Mike Berne's latest article, about a "Retail New Deal" -- how our Downtown and Main Street districts can start the climb back. Interested to hear what you think!
UPDATE 4/28/20 9:48 AM
Here is your next dose of daily positivity! Click on the picture to learn more about Gregg and Skymart:
UPDATE 4/27/20 9:15 PM
Attention Business Owners!
The U.S. Small Business Administration has resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders. You can learn more about the program and find a list of lenders here.
UPDATE 4/24/20 2:24 PM
Quarantine Bingo Week #3! Click on the picture for details:
UPDATE 4/21/20 10:11 AM
Need some encouragement Downtown? Look out for these signs around the heart of Lincoln. Thanks to Eagle Print & Sign for sponsoring the banners throughout the area!
UPDATE 4/20/20 8:07 AM
Quarantine Bingo Round 2 is up and ready to be played! Check out our Facebook page for details.
UPDATE 4/15/20 4:08 PM
Do you follow us on Instagram? Keep an eye out for businesses taking over #DTLNK!
Starting this Friday, downtown businesses will spend selected days curating our Instagram page's Story and Live Videos to present unique concepts they're implementing to weather the storm while bringing cheer back into our community.
If you do not follow us on Instagram, find our page by searching @DowntownLincoln!
If you are an employee of a downtown business and would like to takeover our Instagram page for a day, contact Collin at Collin@downtownlincoln.org.
UPDATE 4/12/20 11:27 AM
Happy Easter! No matter what you may be celebrating, check out Downtown's Food & Drink options for family takeout or curbside pickup!
UPDATE 4/10/20 6:24 PM
We're kicking off our first of four Quarantine Bingos!
Competitors can order takeout/ delivery/ curbside pickup and participate in social distancing activities to earn spots on the bingo card. Once you've completed a bingo, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Downtown Lincoln Gift Card!
Each competitor who completes a bingo will receive one I 
/
DT Lincoln T-Shirt from
Ink Alley Screenprint + Design
Check them out at: https://bit.ly/IHeartDTLNK
Rules:
-Competitors must complete a bingo to be entered into the drawing.
-Five spots in a row (vertically, horizontally or diagonally) = one bingo.
-More than one bingo may be submitted per person. More bingos = more raffle entrees.
-Photo/ receipt evidence PER spot must be sent to our Facebook messages.
-A new Bingo sheet will be presented every Friday starting today until May 1st.
-Competitors will have 10 days to complete one or more bingos per sheet.
-The raffle winners will receive either a $25, $50 or $100 Downtown Lincoln Gift Card.
-The winners will be announced in the comments and messaged privately every Monday starting April 20th until May 11th
UPDATE 4/09/20 3:03 PM
Today, we have launched our Downtown Daily Positivity updates. During these tough times, sometimes it is important to look for the best out of the small things and our businesses and leaders have certainly responded. Do you have a small dose of daily positivity you would like to share? Share your story to maddy@downtownlincoln.org
https://downtownlincoln.org/downtown-lincoln-and-covid-19/positivity
UPDATE 4/08/20 7:20 PM
In response to current challenges that residents are facing, the City is sharing three, one-page information sheets. Each sheet provides resources that may help residents get through this critical time, please take a look:
UPDATE 4/07/20 7:31 AM
All you Bikers out there, you can now support businesses downtown by getting a new I BIKE DTLNK shirt option! https://bit.ly/IHeartDTLNK
UPDATE 4/06/2020 10:31 AM
Downtown's Ink Alley is in the news for their local business fundraiser efforts. Nice work, and let's keep supporting our small businesses!
UPDATE 4/03/2020 5:42 PM
On Monday, April 6th at 9:00 AM, the City of Lincoln is sponsoring a virtual workshop that will walk businesses through how to apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. The workshop is lead by David Brown, who recently went throught this application process with his family's business.
You can view the workshop on LNKTV City's YouTube Channel.
To learn more about the Small Business Administration loan program, visit sba.gov.
UPDATE 4/03/2020 3:39 PM
The Lincoln Children's Museum will be hosting an inverse parade tomorrow (Saturday, April 4th) from 10a - noon. Families can check out parade favorites from the safety of their vehicles as they drive down P Street between 13th and Centennial Mall.
For more information about the parade visit: https://bit.ly/2UFE0OB
UPDATE 4/02/2020 9:18 PM
UNL Computer Science and Management students, Luke Bogus and Jacob Peddicord have developed an app called "Brim" to help businesses in need connect easier with their customers during the COVID-19 crisis. The student developers are offering this service for free for six months. As of now there are two downtown Lincoln businesses featured, The Foundry and Crescent Moon Coffee.
For the Lincoln Journal Star's story visit: https://bit.ly/3bGz1mi
For more information about Brim visit: https://brimhq.com/
UPDATE 3/31/2020 5:05 PM
Hurrdat, the company who manages the Railyard, wants to put your message of support for the community during the COVID-19 crisis on Nebraska's largest television screen, The UBT Cube. Whether you are a non-profit or a local business, you probably have something to say and they'll put your artwork in rotation for free until we’re through the woods. With many people still driving and walking by the area there's still lots of opportunity available to push your message as social distancing guidelines remain upheld. Your message will remain up 30 days past the quarantining guidelines and will be amplified via Railyard / Hurrdat social media channels.
Rules:
1. This isn’t an opportunity to sell or promote your business and messages of that kind will not be accepted. This opportunity is meant to spread messages to support our community during this time of crisis.
2. Hurrdat will send you the specs and you will create the artwork. Don’t have anybody on staff? Just send them the message and your logo and they’ll make it for you.
3. Any company or organization is welcome. Just keep it classy.
4. We know this situation is changing from day to day. They’ll change your message once per week. If your message isn’t valid anymore, they can take it down and you can submit for the next week.
For more infomation visit: http://www.canopyst.com/railyard/ or email Katy at katy@hurrdat.com
UPDATE 3/30/2020 3:52 PM
Attention Downtown Lincoln Gift Card holders!
Our gift card partner, EML, is temporarily providing actual credit card numbers for the Downtown Lincoln gift cards so they can be used at participating merchants over the phone instead of swiped manually on a credit card machine. To get the credit card number for your gift card, call 1-800-755-8713.
UPDATE 3/26/2020 4:45 PM
We our Downtown Lincoln businesses & we know you do too! Show your support and order some IDTLNK shirts today! All of the profits from the purchase of a t-shirt go to a fund that will directly benefit Downtown Lincoln businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the store powered by
Ink Alley Screenprint + Design > https://bit.ly/IHeartDTLNK
UPDATE 3/26/2020 4:37 PM
A message from the Nebraska Retail Federation:
Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Application
Click here to Download SBA Disaster Loan Application
Since the volume of activity has at times overwhelmed the SBA’s electronic Loan Application portal, we have linked a pdf copy of the disaster loan application above. We encourage all businesses with 500 employees or less to download it and fill it out. You are applying for Economic Injury (EIDL) assistance, so you need to check that box on the form. You can then submit the completed application on the portal at https://disasterloan.sba.
We will get additional loan details out as they become available but we encourage you to get your disaster request into the system as soon as possible.
UPDATE 3/25/2020 5:32 AM
Let's see your children's take on Downtown Lincoln, and support our restaurants while we're at it!
The kids of DLA President, Todd Ogden, have a little extra time on their hands and decided that Downtown Lincoln's logo...
Posted by Downtown Lincoln on Tuesday, March 24, 2020
UPDATE 3/24/2020 4:00 PM
Our COVID-19 Business Category pages now have a new and easy look for you to find your favorite restaurants, shops and venues that are offering takeout, online gift card orders and curbside pickup. Check it out!
https://downtownlincoln.org/downtown-lincoln-and-covid-19/dining-update
UPDATE 3/24/2020 11:18 AM
LIBA is Hosting a Tele-Town Hall with Congressman Fortenberry Featuring Nebraska SBA Director Leon Milobar
Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25th at 3:00PM
Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 25th) at 3PM, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry will be hosting another Tele-Town Hall. This call will feature Leon Milobar, the Nebraska Director of the Small Business Administration. He will be providing an update on how the SBA is handling challenges presented to businesses by COVID-19, and will also answer any questions your business may have.
If you have any specific questions you would like them to address on tomorrow's call, please email them to Yahsmin@liba.org by Noon tomorrow. We will be using the same call list as we used for the last Tele-Town Hall – if you would prefer to be contacted at an alternate phone number or didn’t receive a call last time, email your preferred phone number to Yahsmin@liba.org by Noon tomorrow.
UPDATE 3/23/2020 5:20 PM
Bob Rauner with Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln continues to compose video compilations of his COVID-19 research. This video below is an excellent resource as we compare where Lincoln stands, and what we can learn from other impacted communities and countries.
UPDATE 3/23/2020 1:16 PM
To start the second week of our COVID-19 response, DLA has continued to deliver curbside pickup signs for our downtown shops. We are pleased with the amount of support the businesses are getting; however, they still all need your support more than ever. Please continue to check out our Curbside Pickup for a list of participants (Let us know if you would like to be added to the list as well).
DLA is continuing to analyze ways to support Downtown Lincoln through safe and effective initiatives moving forward. Our staff was fortunate enough to participate in a conference call with other Downtown Association leaders, and pleased with how our community is responding. The biggest takeaway is for our organization to continue to find things we CAN do to support Downtown,a nd plan for ways to pick our community up in the months after the virus slows down. It is never too early to plan ahead.
Our Maintenance crew continues to work tirelessly and as separated as possible. As downtown's streets slow down, it is important for our businesses to know we have a presence around downtown with a feel for the pulse of the area. Moving forward, our maintenance crew will gravitate toward sanitizing spaces that may have frequent human contact in the right-of-way. As the need for waste removal slows, the crews will shift toward this measure.
Please let us know if you need anything moving forward, as we are all in this together.
UPDATE 3/20/2020 3:52 PM
In addition to this page, the Nebraska Retail Federation, LIBA and Sandhills Global are another site for city wide local businesses to sell gift cards or gift certificates to help infuse cash into their business. We will start adding Downtown's venues to this list as well.
https://shop.nebraskabuylocal.com/signup
- there is also a free national site that supports gift card promotion for businesses that we have started adding our businesses to as well:
UPDATE 3/20/2020 12:09 PM
Check out the City of Lincoln's new site with comprehensive updates on COVID-19 relief and information.
UPDATE 3/20/2020 7:41 AM
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird will be hosting a telephone town hall this Friday, March 20, at 3:30 p.m. She will provide updated information on COVID-19, discuss strategies for economic recovery and give participants an avenue to share their stories and ideas.
Individuals wanting to participate in the teleconference need to register in advance by clicking here. Please be prepared to provide a direct number where you can be called at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
UPDATE 3/19/2020 10:51 AM
Downtown's Ink Alley is starting a t-shirt fundraiser for our Small Businesses. More information to come, but you can see the site here:
https://stores.inksoft.com/covid19-nE/shop/home
UPDATE 3/18/2020 8:57 PM
The new (weather resistant) signs for curbside pickup participants are up and many more businesses are participating. Thank you Eagle Printing & Sign for such a quick turn around! Thanks 10/11 News & Journal Star & Jack Mitchell /1400 for helping spread the word. (Click on the links for their stories and updates on this)
Also, take a look to your right (desktop) or above (mobile) for new features to keep our community close yet socially separated.
UPDATE 3/17/2020 11:34 AM
The temporary Downtown Dropoff signs are starting to go up. The more permanent plastic ones will start going up this evening or tomorrow. #DowntownDelivers
UPDATE 3/16/2020 3:12 PM
DLA is working to get Curbside Parking signs up on Parking meters ajacent to retail, bar and restaurant shops that will offer curbside pickup for food or retail items. Design and specific details should be worked out by the end of today.
See the Curbside Pick Up section for a list of participating businesses
UPDATE 3/15/2020 5:18 PM
Keep our Community Close, while Socially Separated.
As Lincoln faces new adjustments in response to COVID-19, the health and safety of our community remains our top priority. Whenever safe and possible, it's important to remember to support the businesses in Downtown and throughout Lincoln.
Many Downtown Lincoln businesses are experiencing new challenges daily requiring all our support. Please consider supporting your favorite shops, restaurants, hotels, bars, galleries, salons & spas with gift card purchases. Gift cards will provide an opportunity to bolster business and can be redeemed at a later date.
We are fortunate to have such strong city leadership during this time starting with Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and her staff. The City of Lincoln will continue to communicate updates throughout this process which can be found here:
CITY OF LINCOLN COVID-19 UPDATES
Interim City Health Department Director Patricia Lopez and Bob Rauner with the Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln are also providing communication on behalf of the health and wellness community.
Most practices to keep this spread under control, especially Social Distancing, will include things we can't do. Our focus during the coming days and weeks will be to find things we CAN do to support our Downtown business community without compromising our safety.
This situation has been changing on an hourly basis so please know that this is a living, breathing site that we will try to keep updated as thoroughly and swiftly as possible. (last update: March 16, 2020)
Remember to stay safe and keep our community close!
Todd Ogden, President & CEO
Downtown Lincoln Association
Here are some examples for all downtown sectors, starting with our offices at DLA:
DLA's management office on 206 S. 13th Street will be closed to the public effective March 16th. All of our staff will continue to work at this time and still be able to be reached at anytime via telephone (402.434.6900) -or- email: info@downtownlincoln.org
DLA's maintenance staff will continue to maintain a clean & green downtown landscape, while keeping a social distance. We cannot afford to have all of our crew sick at once, so we will stagger the staff duties and areas as much as possible.
DLA will start offering committee and board meetings via phone conferencing and provide email updates.
DLA has canceled all public events through May and instead will start focusing on virtual events and activities to encourage purchasing products from our downtown businesses. We are also starting to work with our restaurants and retailers to offer free curbside delivery for as many businesses as possible. Stay tuned on this page for more updates as our priority will be to include as many options as possible for people to spend money downtown without even leaving their house or car.
DOWNTOWN DINING & SHOPPING
Changes are hitting restaurants, bars and retailers hard, as they struggle with the effects of reduced travel and government recommendations to avoid large gatherings.
To support the businesses we all love, here are some things you can do to help your favorite shop:
Order take-out or delivery. It gives the restaurant business and keeps you well fed. Many restaurants that don’t usually offer these options are making exceptions.
Re-book for a future date—it will give everyone something to look forward to.
Don’t forget to purchase restaurant, bar and retailer gift cards, if they are offered. If they do not offer gift cards, you can purchase a Downtown Lincoln Gift Card online www.downtowngift.org and let us know what store you want to use it at.
Tip generously if you can afford it. Tipped workers are some of the first to suffer in times of economic distress.
DOWNTOWN HOTELS
The hotel and tourism industry are quickly having to adjust. Don’t forget to get a gift card. (I think we are all going to need a staycation after being cooped up in our homes)
What we can do is make it clear that our downtown hotels are VERY aware of the situation and have extremely strict cleaning protocols they are adhering to above and beyond their already top notch cleaning standards. Guests should rest assured safety is their number one priority.
Other hotel protocols including other downtown hotel brands.
Here is a full list of Downtown's Hotels that you can individually visit to find more information on their respective websites.
DOWNTOWN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Due to the State's Public Event Guidance many of Downtown's entertainment venues are having to cancel shows. We strongly encourage you to contact the venue and purchase a gift card for a future event as well. We are working with some of the venues to offer group event ticket purchasing so money can continue to flow into the venues while you prepare to attend several future events.
We are also working out the details for First Friday, and starting to plan on a "Virtual Artwalk" to keep interest in this wonderful community.
Check back soon for a list of closings and updates for all of our Downtown venues.
DOWNTOWN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT VENUES
TRANSPORTATION
BikeLNK is another solution to travel around downtown at a safe distance. Check below for their response to COVID-19:
https://bikelnk.bcycle.com/top-nav-pages/home/2020/03/13/bikelnk-covid-19-response
We will continue to add more options to support other Downtown sectors daily. If you have any ideas or want to add your business updates to this list please email info@downtownlincoln.org with the subject head: Downtown Business Update
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