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Measures of Success
| Indicator | Why Measure? | Measurement Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Amount of Public and Private Investment | Investments in infrastructure, building rehabilitation, and other improvements indicate community support for revitalization and demonstrate interest in living, working, and doing business downtown. | Track amount of public spending on downtown projects. Building permits, business registration, and surveys give insight into the amount of private spending occurring on projects. |
| Changes in Property Values | Increasing property values indicate growing demand for residents and businesses to locate downtown. | Compare property values in a defined area to data from a representative year before revitalization efforts. |
| Sales Tax Revenue | Increasing sales tax revenues indicate how well local businesses are attracting customers. | Compare sales tax revenue from the current year to data from a representative year before revitalization efforts. |
| Hotel Occupancy Rate | Higher hotel occupancy rates demonstrate the community’s success at becoming an attractive tourist destination. | Compare Local Hotel Occupancy Tax data to the capacity of hotels and short-term rentals in the area. |
| Business Mix | Downtowns should have a mix of business types, which should include a combination of locally-owned businesses and larger franchises. | Come up with categories that address your area’s needs (locally-owned vs. larger franchise, entertainment vs. office space), and sort the businesses downtown to see proportions. |
| Number of Attendees at Downtown Events | Increasing attendance at public events indicates how successful the community’s marketing efforts are at attracting locals and visitors downtown. | If an event requires tickets or registration, this metric can be the amount of tickets sold or registrations. If the event is open to the public, photos of the crowd can help estimate total attendance while a QR code or exit survey can get more detailed information. |
| Vacancy Rate (Commercial) | Low commercial vacancy rates indicate that downtown is an attractive, economically viable location for businesses to operate. | Consider creating a vacant building registry, where owners of vacant buildings register with the city and pay a small fee. This can help motivate building owners to find tenants. |
| Vacancy Rate (Residential) | Low residential vacancy rates indicate that downtown is an attractive place to live. | Compare the number of homes on the market to a similar time of year before implementation of downtown revitalization programs. |
| Percentage of Streets with Sidewalks | To attract customers and improve mobility, most (if not all) streets downtown should be lined with well-designed, well-maintained sidewalks. Retail properties with higher walkability and more sidewalks have increased income and higher property valuation. | During a walking audit, have volunteers walk the area and report which streets do not have sidewalks or need sidewalk repairs. |
Funding Tools
Local
Tax Increment Financing
Local governments throughout Texas are using tax increment financing (TIF) to fund public improvements in downtown areas. Bonds finance public improvements within designated areas (tax increment reinvestment zones). These improvements increase the area’s desirability, raising property values; the additional revenue attributed to higher property values is used to repay the bonds.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X |
Hotel Occupancy Taxes
Texas cities may use funds generated by its hotel occupancy tax (HOT) to promote tourism and preserve historic sites.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Economic Development Sales Taxes
Some communities have utilized revenue generated from economic development sales taxes to support downtown revitalization efforts. Type A and Type B Economic Development Corporations (EDCs) can use this revenue to invest in different kinds of projects.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X |
Regional
SBA 504 Loans (H-GALDC)
Houston-Galveston Local Development Corporation
Businesses acquiring real estate and/or capital equipment can be offered loans with lower, fixed interest rates and longer repayment terms.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | |||||
Community Development Partnership Program
Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
This grant program funds capital improvement projects that boost economic development and public safety. Projects must be within the LCRA service area.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | |||
State
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for Rural Texas
Texas Department of Agriculture
Small cities and counties in rural Texas can utilize this funding to improve infrastructure and planning activities.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X |
Texas Capital Fund: Main Street Development Program Texas Department of Agriculture
Funding can support infrastructure improvements in rural downtowns that are designated as an official Texas Main Street City by the Texas Historical Commission.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Texas Capital Fund: Downtown Revitalization Program
Texas Department of Agriculture
This program supports infrastructure improvements in rural downtowns that do not participate in the Texas Main Street Program.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Texas Capital Fund: Infrastructure Development Program
Texas Department of Agriculture
This program supports investments in public infrastructure in small cities and towns in rural areas.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Texas Capital Fund: Real Estate Development Program
Texas Department of Agriculture
Small cities and towns can use this funding to purchase or rehabilitate real estate to assist business development.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X |
Transportation Enhancement Program
Texas Department of Transportation
This funding can be used to support non-traditional transportation activities such as preservation of historic transportation activities, safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, and landscaping around roads and highways.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X |
Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program
Texas Historical Commission
This program helps communities rehabilitate historic courthouses and complete improvements that address critical structural, operational and safety needs.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Texas Preservation Trust Fund
Texas Historical Commission
Funding can be used for to acquire, restore, and/or study sites designated as state or federal landmarks.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X |
Federal
Community Facilities Grants U.S. Department of Agriculture
This program helps rural areas and small towns construct, enlarge and/or improve community facilities for healthcare, public safety, and other public services.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X |
Rural Business Development Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
This program supports different types of economic development initiatives, including business incubators, feasibility studies, and training programs.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X |
Farmers’ Market Promotion Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
This program helps local governments and non-profits promote locally-produced agricultural goods at farmers’ markets, agri-tourism operations, and through other direct producer-to-consumer marketing opportunities.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X |
Transportation Alternatives Program
U.S. Department of Transportation
This program can fund projects that improve the appearance and functionality of downtowns, such as streetscape improvements (sidewalks, lighting, etc.) and renovations to historic transportation facilities. Depending on the jurisdiction, funding allocations are made by the Texas Department of Transportation or the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
This program helps communities develop affordable housing in conjunction with other revitalization efforts.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X |
Our Town Placemaking Grants Program
National Endowment for the Arts
This program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X |
Private
Foundations
Some foundations provide financial support for revitalization efforts, including historic preservation, public arts initiatives, and infrastructure improvements.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X | X |
Non-Profits
Community groups, business organizations (Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Merchants Associations, etc.), and preservation groups may provide funding and/or volunteers to support improvements downtown.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X | X |
Volunteers
By utilizing volunteers to help improve downtown spaces, communities can complete revitalization projects at a lower cost.
| Streetscape Improvements | Other Infrastructure | Historic Preservation | Business Development | Housing | Marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X |
More Information
Historic Preservation
( 4)
Downtown Revitalization
( 4)
Tourism and Marketing
( 5)
