Releases

• February 11, 2022

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Hosts Downtown Durham Feast, Month-long Dine & Drink Contest Awards Weekly Prizes

  In response to the ongoing challenges facing small businesses due to COVID-19 and winter weather, Downtown Durham, Inc. has launched Downtown Durham Feast, a month-long contest that encourages the public to visit food and drink establishments.

• January 14, 2022

  Renaissance Downtown Durham Awards Grants to 14 Small Businesses, Funded by a Duke Energy Foundation Hometown Revitalization Grant

  Renaissance Downtown Durham, the 501 (c)(3) organization affiliated with Downtown Durham, Inc., is pleased to name 14 small businesses that will received funds to aid recovery from the impact of Covid-19.

• October 12, 2021

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Launches Bull City Heart Beats Merchant Videos

  Downtown Durham, Inc. has launched Bull City Heart Beats, a new initiative to introduce downtown small business owners to the community in 90-second videos, sharing their story and why they chose to locate in downtown Durham.

• December 2, 2020

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Calls for Muralists

  Downtown Durham, Inc. is seeking an artist, or group of artists, to develop a design and paint a mural for the Great Jones Street Mural Project, a community-engaged public art initiative that will enhance a key downtown corridor.

• October 27, 2020

  Downtown Durham, Inc. and YMCA of the Triangle Launch Walk-A-Bull Downtown with Online Quiz

  Downtown Durham, Inc. and the YMCA of the Triangle have collaborated to created Walk-a-Bull Downtown, ten bull murals on buildings throughout downtown to encourage pedestrians to walk and explore with an introductory online quiz.

• September 15, 2020

  The Downtown Durham Streetery Launches September 18, 2020

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host The Streetery – opening multiple streets in the center of downtown to pedestrian traffic, with festive lights, music and performers – every Friday and Saturday from 5-9:30 through December 19.

• April 2, 2020

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Launches Public Space Project Online and Announces Season 3 Awardees

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will launch the third season of the Public Space Project with a three-week series of online events held at 1 p.m. on Thursdays, April 9 - 23. Dubbed PSP Online, the events will provide a virtual, lunch-time ‘taste’ of Public Space Projects to come.

• March 9, 2020

  Downtown Durham, Inc.’s Public Space Project Installation ‘Call Your Ancestor’ Aims to Make Space for Unity Through Grief

  A phone booth will appear in Five Points Plaza this weekend, but quarters won’t be required. This isn’t an ordinary phone booth – it’s an artwork by Michelle Gonzalez-Green presented by Downtown Durham, Inc.’s Public Space Project.

• March 3, 2020

  Corcoran Poetry Wall Launches with a Party This Saturday

  This Saturday afternoon, a pop of color and a celebration of poetry will emerge from a previously unadorned brick wall at the intersection of Corcoran and Main streets. Downtown Durham, Inc. will host a Corcoran Poetry Wall Launch Party on March 7 from 1-3 p.m., as a part of Public Space Project Season 2.

• November 14, 2019

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Hosts Annual Meeting Nov. 20

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host its 2019 Annual Meeting featuring Peter Kageyama, author of “For the Love of Cities” on Wednesday, November 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Durham Convention Center.

• August 16, 2019

  Downtown Durham, Inc Speaker Series Event – Aug. 28: Placemaking and Economic Development

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host the first of three 2019 Speaker Series events: Placemaking and Economic Development, presented by Perkins & Will, on Wednesday, August 28 from 4-6 p.m. at the Carolina Theatre.

• August 13, 2019

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Announces Artists for Public Space Project and Art About 2019

  Downtown Durham, Inc. is pleased to announce the selected artists and schedule for Public Space Project and Art About 2019 – two placemaking initiatives that will bring temporary, creative, free of charge experiences to downtown Durham through July 2020.

• July 16, 2019

  ‘The Mix at Durham Station’ Greets Travelers with Music and Food

  GoDurham and Downtown Durham, Inc. are partnering to bring music and food to travelers and members of the community at the Durham Station Transportation Center from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Third Fridays..

• June 28, 2019

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Announces 2019-2020 Board Slate

  Downtown Durham, Inc. is pleased to announce its 2019-2020 Board slate.

• June 10, 2019

  Through Durham One Fund, city and local organizations begin distributing funds raised to help victims of downtown explosion

  To help facilitate the organized and equitable collection and distribution of funds raised through grassroots fundraising efforts to support those affected by the explosion in downtown Durham, the United Way of the Greater Triangle has collaborated with the City of Durham, Durham County, the Triangle Community Foundation and community nonprofit organizations to create the Durham One Fund to serve as a centralized resource.

• May 24, 2019

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Calls for Artists for Two Initiatives

  Downtown Durham, Inc. has launched a call for artists for two initiatives that will activate downtown spaces: Public Space Project and Art About.

• April 15, 2019

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Creates Resource Page for Downtown Explosion Victims

  In the aftermath of the devastating explosion that killed Kaffeinate owner Kong Lee and destroyed or damaged multiple properties and businesses downtown, Downtown Durham, Inc. has put together a running list of resources for downtown businesses and residents in need.

• April 5, 2019

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Hosts BID Priorities Meeting

  Downtown Durham Inc. is hosting an input session to get input from businesses, property owners and residents located in the Downtown Durham Business Improvement District (BID) regarding the district’s needs.

• January 5, 2019

  Winners Announced of Downtown Durham, Inc. Holiday Window Display Competition

  Downtown Durham, Inc. (DDI) is pleased to announce the winners of the Downtown Durham Holiday Window Display Competition.

• October 19, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Hosts Public Space Project ‘Soapbox’ Friday, Oct. 19

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host its second Public Space Project in conjunction with Third Friday on Friday, Sep. 21, featuring The Instrumental Wax Project, by artist Ashley Swindoll, large-scale kinetic sculptures – created with wire, archival beeswax and discarded musical instruments – suspended from the two buildings.

• October 15, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Speaker Series Event – Oct. 17: Missing Middle Housing

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host ‘Missing Middle Housing,’ the third in its three-part speaker series, on Wednesday, October 17.

• September 20, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Speaker Series Event – Sep. 25: Inclusive by Design

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host Inclusive by Design, the second event in its three-part speaker series, on Tuesday, September 25.

• September 19, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Public Space Project ‘The Instrumental Wax Project’ Debuts Friday, Sep. 21

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host its second Public Space Project, Ashley Swindoll's Instrumental Wax Project, in conjunction with Third Friday on Friday, Sep. 21.

• August 21, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc Speaker Series Event – Aug. 29: The Urban Freeway Removal Movement

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host its first Speaker Series 2018 event: The Urban Freeway Removal Movement, presented by McAdams, on Wednesday, August 29.

• August 16, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc First Public Space Projects Launch Friday, Aug. 17

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host its first Public Space Projects, “Amethyst, Psalms & Florida Water” by artist Marcella Camara and “Portraits in Common” by artists Wendy Spitzer and Douglas Vuncannon, in conjunction with Third Friday on Friday, Aug. 17.

• June 29, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Announces Artists for Downtown Durham Public Space Project 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. is pleased to announce the selected artists and schedule for Public Space Project 2018 – a pilot initiative that will bring temporary, creative, free of charge experiences to downtown from August to October, 2018.

• June 4, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Launches Shop 2nd Saturday Downtown Durham

  On June 9, downtown Durham retailers will offer item giveaways and other special programming from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. for the first Shop 2^ndSaturday Downtown Durham. This monthly shop local pilot program, which is coordinated by Downtown Durham, Inc., will run through the end of the calendar year.

• April 20, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Calls for Applicants for Downtown Durham Public Space Project

  Downtown Durham, Inc. is calling for applicants for the Downtown Durham Public Space Project. This pilot program provides funding to individuals and organizations that will bring temporary, creative, free of charge experiences to downtown Durham. Applications are due June 1, 2018.

• April 20, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Hosts BID Priorities Meeting

  Downtown Durham, Inc. will host a Business Improvement District FY 18-19 Priorities Meeting on Wednesday, May 2 from 5-7 p.m. at the Historic Parrish Street Forum located at 108 West Parrish St. The meeting is to gather input from businesses, property owners and residents located in the downtown Durham Business Improvement District (BID) regarding the district’s needs for the upcoming year.

• February 14, 2018

  Downtown Durham, Inc. Presents Local Band Beauty World at Five Points Plaza
  

  DDI will host a free musical performance by the local band Beauty World on Thursday, Feb. 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Five Points Plaza. This is the first event of its kind since DDI installed the new lighting canopy and standing-height tables at the Plaza.

• December 21, 2017

  Five Points Plaza Lighting Project
  

  In collaboration with the City of Durham’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Downtown Durham, Inc. (DDI) completed a new lighting installation at Five Points Plaza at the intersection of Main and East Chapel Hill Street on December 19, 2017.

• January 24, 2017

  Nicole J. Thompson Selected as New CEO of Downtown Durham, Inc.

  Following a national search, Downtown Durham, Inc. has selected Nicole J. Thompson as its CEO. Thompson will take the helm of the 24-year-old downtown advocacy organization on February 13, 2017.