It’s that special time of year when our hardworking board members come together to dive headfirst into planning the projects that will shape downtown for the next 12 months. Our annual retreat is a day where our 15 board members step into the conference room to hammer out what’s next for Downtown Sioux City. The retreat sets our goals but, more importantly, ensures we’re all aligned as we tackle the year ahead.

Here’s a peek at our 2025 initiatives:

Collaboration is the cornerstone of everything we do at Downtown Partners. It keeps the wheels turning and the momentum building. In 2025, we’re doubling down on connecting the right people at the right time to make great things happen. Whether coordinating with local businesses, working with city leaders, or partnering with community organizations, teamwork will continue to be the name of the game.

In 2024, an eclectic mix of businesses, organizations, and artists came together to launch the Sioux City Arts & Entertainment Coalition – an initiative already making waves in our creative community. For 2025, we’re taking it a step further, intending to secure a designation with the Iowa Arts Council as a Cultural and Entertainment District (CED). This will amplify Sioux City as a go-to creative center, offer additional promotional resources, professional growth opportunities, and many more resources to support our thriving arts community.

We are continuing to invest in outdoor spaces and building facades – first impressions matter! By enhancing the aesthetics of downtown, we’re increasing value for stakeholders, creating welcoming spaces for residents, and encouraging visitors to return again and again. From modern design updates to an extensive plan to revitalize trees, we’re helping build an environment that reflects forward-thinking.

Speaking of outdoor initiatives, let’s talk about bike lanes! We want them to connect downtown to Sioux City’s great trail system. Our team has been working tirelessly (see what we did there?) to bring this vision to life. Several plans and proposals have already been created to encourage a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle, make downtown more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, and encompass our growing biking community.

Want to help shape downtown’s future? Consider becoming more involved through our work groups and becoming a board member (applications open in April!). You can join the conversation, contribute ideas, and actively participate in the exciting projects that make our community thrive. Go to downtownsiouxcity.com to stay up to date, sign up for our weekly events newsletter, and follow us on social media. 

Contributed by Downtown Partners, a non-profit organization that works with downtown stakeholders to create a vibrant, expanding downtown. To learn more about Downtown Partners and stay up to date with downtown projects and events, visit downtownsiouxcity.com