Business News - July 22

Apply for our Beautification Grant! 💰️

Author

Joya Garris
July 22, 2025

Our staff is buzzing with excitement…continue reading to learn why!

Today’s Top Three:

  • Don’t miss your chance to apply for our Beautification Grant!

  • We’re launching a new gift card program in September.

  • The annual Sidewalk Sale is slated for August 23rd and registration is now open.

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Director of Marketing & Communications

Get Involved

Sign Up for the Sidewalk Sale! 🛍️ 

Retailers, rejoice! The annual Sidewalk Sale returns to Roanoke on August 23rd in conjunction with the Bee Festival. Businesses will set up tables outside, providing customers with an opportunity to check out the sales items and see what else is offered inside. Additionally, we’ll have a few downtown retailers set up in Market Square. Preference is given to those with storefronts located further away from the Square.

Vibe to Billy Currington & Kip Moore 🎸 

Join us in Elmwood Park THIS Friday, July 25th, as we bring Billy Currington & Kip Moore to the Budweiser Summer Series! Grab your tickets now because the price increases on show day!

Stay Informed

New Gift Card Program Set To Launch 💳️ 

DRI is excited to announce that we are switching to a new gift card program in September that offers a better experience for customers, our staff, and participating merchants.

Yiftee’s features include:

  • All digital with the option for customers to print (for gifts)

  • Customer service for participating merchants and customers

  • Can re-link businesses immediately when they update/change POS, meaning customers can still use their gift card if an issue arises.

  • Updates list of participants in real time, ensuring accuracy

  • Free for DRI and businesses (we currently pay a lot of money for EML, and we lose money by offering the program)

  • Customers can still use EML gift cards at participating locations after the switch! Merchants will still need DRI to re-link after POS updates

Merchants can accept both the new and old gift cards at the same time!

DRI plans to offer an in-person Retail & Restaurant Meeting in August to go over everything. Keep your eyes peeled for that calendar invite. 

All businesses within the Downtown Service District can participate! To join, scroll down to the bottom of the page and hit the blue “Apply” button.

Apply for Our Beautification Grant 💰️ 

DRI offers Beautification Grants for downtown businesses and property owners. The goal of this grant program is to stimulate storefront beautification and to provide a financial incentive for property or business owners to improve/enhance commercial building exteriors. Examples include exterior signage; planting, beautification, or landscaping to storefront; exterior hardware, lighting, signage, or awnings; and sidewalk cafe furniture. If you're interested in participating in this grant program, download the application to learn more!

Ambassador Update đź’™ 

While we can’t list everything the Downtown Roanoke Ambassadors did during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, we wanted to share a few highlights. Check out the statistics below.

Gain Knowledge & Network

Upcoming Conferences 🧑‍💼 

Elevate 2025: Friday, October 3rd

Elevate offers local businesses and nonprofits with information, resources, and motivation to generate growth. Learn new tactics to implement in your business or nonprofit and make valuable connections with other business owners and leaders in the community.

VRPS Annual Conference: Sunday, October 26th-Tuesday, October 29th

Virginia Recreation &Park Society is hosting it’s annual conference in Downtown Roanoke. The goal is to provide and encourage continuous training opportunities for members. Through this conference, they hope to improve recreation, parks, and leisure services to the public; update members on current trends and opportunities in the profession; disseminate information to the public; and more.

Events, Street Closures, & Parking

Downtown Events and Street Closures 🚧

The following street closures and associated events may affect Downtown traffic and business for the week of July 21 - 27.

Additional closures:

  • Drainage Project — Find updates and closures here.

Find Downtown Parking 🅿️

With more than 1,300 on-street spaces and 7,000+ off-street spaces, plenty of free or paid parking options exist.

DRI - Your Downtown Partner

Put DRI to work for you! đź’Ľ

Our mission is to make Downtown Roanoke the preferred place to Work, Live, and Play. As a Downtown business, you have a valuable FREE resource at your fingertips. Let us help share your story!

Website Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Our business listings often come up among the first in Google searches. Help us enhance your listing by providing us with vital information including website, phone number, description, hours, menus, and images.

Job Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Downtown Roanoke is the most vibrant workplace around and a destination for job seekers. Let us help get the word out when you’re hiring!

Event Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Our Event Calendar is THE place people go to find out what’s happening Downtown. Get your event in front of the audience you’re looking for.

Important Contacts 👤

Often businesses need phone numbers for government services, such as solid waste, permitting, etc., and other services, such as private parking and transportation.

Check out our list of frequently requested information!