Downtown Phoenix Inc. recently extended its “Buy and Fly” program to last until the end of the year.
Downtown Phoenix Inc., a downtown activities coordinator also known as DTPHX Inc., held a meeting Monday and discussed the new city developments and programs being and events being held during COVID-19.
With the current and new programs, DTPHX Inc. is working to make sure the development in the Downtown area keeps as much momentum as possible during the pandemic.
One of the ways they have achieved this is by creating events or programs like “Buy and Fly.”
“Buy and Fly is a consumer incentive program where we remind our community how integral our small business is to the fabric and authenticity, so we encourage them to spend their money, if they’re able at small businesses and we reward them,” said DTPHX Inc. Chief Marketing Advisor R.J. Price.
The program reward participants with different merchandise like t-shirts, tote bags, hats, and most recently masks. Over 700 people have submitted qualifying receipts, Price said.
“We are going to add new pieces of merchandise as we go to really keep it fresh,” he said.
At the meeting, DTPHX Inc. approved to extend the program to last the rest of the year.
All of the different programs have been working to help small businesses by encouraging the community to support them during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Sara Scoville Weaver, the senior business development manager of DTPHX Inc.
“Even during COVID, I continue to hear that we are seeing people moving into the area and they really do like downtown from all the great work that we’ve been working on for years making it a place people want to live, work, play and learn,” said Scoville Weaver.
In addition to “Buy and Fly,” the most recent program DTPHX Inc. has launched is the “Downtown Dine-out” program.
“Not everybody wants to dine-in right now. Maybe they just want to get take out from their favorite restaurant, but they don’t want to eat it at home, so we’ve given them the option of eating at a nice table, at a very family-friendly public space,” Price said.
A couple of weekends ago DTPHX Inc. started the “Downtown Dine-out” program on Monroe street, but was moved “to Renaissance Square at CityScape last weekend,” Price said.
“Downtown Dine-out” has also added music and they have people there to sanitize and keep people safe.
“I think it was really successful, we have gotten great feedback and I think we are going to continue to monitor how it goes,” Price said.
Price also said at the meeting that everyone at DTPHX Inc. has worked hard to get downtown Phoenix where it is during the last 15 years, and that “it’s really important that we don’t let COVID derail the momentum.”
DTPHX Inc. also discussed their residential and commercial projects at the meeting. This year, the organization has completed five new projects, 15 residential projects and seven new commercial projects, Scoville Weaver said.
But currently, they have many residential and commercial projects under construction.
There are over 3,400 residential units under construction and seven commercial buildings under construction, including the AC hotel, Hyatt Place and Home2 Suites, Scoville Weaver said.
“I worry about the slow down as those projects end,” Arizona Managing Partner Ron Butler said in the meeting.
But Scoville Weaver assured them that they have many pre-developed projects. “We are seeing strong building permit activity and projects coming through.”
Despite what may happen, Weaver said DTPHX Inc. will still be able to handle it.
“I think there will be a small hit because of COVID but the amount of residential product that is coming Downtown and will be opening in the next year or two is going to dramatically help buffer that impact,” Scoville Weaver said.
Contact the reporter at astanbri@asu.edu.
