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Director's Message
Amanda Everitt
A New Year is upon us, and with it brings many new and exciting things on the horizon! Make sure you join us at our Annual gathering on January 25th at Maria's Ballroom; this event ALWAYS sells out fast so if you have not yet reserved your tickets, grab them now! A link and member discount code are available in the newsletter below.
As you will surely see below, our beloved McKenzie will be departing DDL in February. She will certainly still be around downtown - but lose her number after the 2nd of February or only text or call her for social purposes! ;)
January is a time of rest and renewal for many of our small business owners and we hope that your vacations and shop closures have been restful and rejuvenate your entrepreneurial spirit!
Are you a property owner that invested in their building in 2023 or do you have plans to invest in 2024? Sometimes great expense must be taken with the "unsexy" things nobody can see. Call me and let me know to help us keep track of the care and pride our property owners take in their buildings!
We look forward to seeing you downtown!
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SID Board Meeting
January 8th | 4pm | 109 N Broad St, Suite 100
The Downtown Lancaster Special Improvement District Board meets quarterly, the second Monday of the month in the Chamber/DDL conference room at 4pm. These board meetings are open to all SID property owners. The next meeting will be at 4pm on Monday, January 8th, 2024. Email Amanda at amanda@destinationdowntownlancaster.com with any questions or concerns.
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Downtown Business Meeting | |
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Next Downtown Business Meeting
January 11th | 9am | Whit's 213 S Broad Street
We hope you or someone from your business can join us on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 9am for our Downtown Business Meeting.
The Downtown Business Meeting is a way for DDL to bring all the businesses of the district together. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a space for you to stay connected and up-to-date on things happening downtown. We use this time to share important information and resources to all member businesses in the district.
You should have received a calendar invitation for these quarterly meetings. If you did not receive this please email McKenzie at mckenzie@destinationdowntownlancaster.com
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McKenzie Taylor, Program and Event Manager, will be leaving Destination Downtown Lancaster to enjoy her last summer in Lancaster attending events and not managing them! While we are saddened to see her go, we are excited for the next step in her journey. McKenzie's last day at DDL will be Friday, February 2nd. We will be having an open house and goodbye reception that day. Stay tuned to our channels for more details!
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Join us, along with local business owners, community leaders, and community members at Maria’s Ballroom on Thursday, January 25th to celebrate all the things we've accomplished in 2023.* Be the first to hear about our visions, goals, and future of Downtown Lancaster. Awards will be given to individuals and businesses who have had a great impact on our district.
complimentary hors d'oeuvres • cash bar • celebration • networking
*This is a ticketed event. Purchase tickets below!
To apply your Destination Downtown Lancaster member discount to your tickets for the Annual Gathering, please use the promo code "DOWNTOWN" when completing your purchase. If you are not a member and would like to become a member, click here!
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It is with a heavy heart to announce that Opal & Ivory will be closing their doors. They will be open until January 30th. Although it's sad to see them go, we are excited about what's next for that space. Stay tuned for updates.
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ArtWalk 2024 Artist Host Application | |
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Destination Downtown Lancaster partners with the Lancaster Festival to host the ArtWalk each year as part of the Lancaster Festival's ten-day celebration of the arts.
The 2024 festival is July 18 - July 27, 2024. Our goal is to provide visual artists with a platform to share their talents and gifts to enrich the lives of the community members. ArtWalk is the biggest night in downtown where the crowds reach thousands and local businesses are paired with artists for this annual opportunity. If you are hosting an artist, or multiple artists/group at your business for ArtWalk, you must submit an ArtWalk Host application.
Participation Fee: $75 for DDL Members or $100 for Non-DDL Members
Deadline: Friday, February 9th at NOON
Remember, all artists have to apply to the Lancaster Festival to be a part of ArtWalk. If you have an artist in mind, CLICK HERE for the application they need to fill out.
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Visit Fairfield County Destination Guide | |
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We are partnering with Visit Fairfield County to provide a destination downtown themed spread in their upcoming Destination Guide, similar to the spread we produce in the Hocking Hills Visitors Guide. Ads are limited and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.
Reservations for the DDL section must be placed by January 22nd.
To reserve your space, click the button below and return the form to Destination Downtown Lancaster (preferably by email).
You must be a member of Destination Downtown Lancaster in order to advertise in this section at the discounted rate.
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It is time to renew your 2024 membership with Destination Downtown Lancaster. If you are a tourist destination, please ensure you have your 2024 Membership in by Monday, December 11th to be included in our Downtown Brochures in the new year. If you are unsure what membership level will best fit your business, please reach out to us so we can help!
Special Improvement District Property Owners receive a 50% discount on DDL Membership.
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Destination Downtown Lancaster's 2024 Calendar of Events | |
Our 2024 Calendar of Events will be distributed beginning the first week of February. Until then, mark your calendars for our events this year! | |
Double Edge Brewing Presents: Women's Day Brew Collab Celebration | |
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Dear Exceptional Female Leaders of Downtown Businesses,
Join Double Edge Brewing Co. for a collaboration that transcends the boundaries of craft beer – the Women's Day Brew Collab! In celebration of International Women's Day on 03/08/24, they invite the trailblazing women who lead our downtown businesses to come together for a unique brewing experience!
*Due to space constraints, they can only accommodate 2 attendees per business. This is a 21+ event.
Save the Date: February 13th @ 9am-1pm
Location: Double Edge Brewing Co 158 W Chestnut St
Highlights of the Day:
- Collaborative Brewing: Dive into the art of brewing with skilled Head Brewer, Dominic, at Double Edge Brewing Co. Learn, share, and contribute. No brewing experience is necessary!
- Networking Extravaganza: Connect with fellow female leaders from downtown businesses. Build meaningful relationships, exchange insights, and inspire each other.
- Chill Good Vibes: Enjoy a laid-back atmosphere with a delicious lunch, and of course, fantastic beer. Let the good vibes flow as everyone celebrates each other's achievements and resilience.
- Exclusive Release: Be part of something extraordinary – witness the unveiling of their specially crafted Peach Hazy IPA Women's Day beer on International Women's Day itself!
*They understand that this is a big time commitment. Please feel free to come and go throughout the day as your schedule allows.
RSVP: To secure your spot and be part of this exceptional collaboration, please RSVP by January 30th at Max@double-edge.beer
Let's create history together in the spirit of friendship, empowerment, and great beer. They look forward to raising a toast with you on International Women's Day!
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The Lancaster Herald's Directory Listing | |
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Downtown businesses are encouraged to submit a Directory listing request to the Lancaster Herald. It’s super simple and requires only very basic information (address, phone, website, social media links, description, and one photo) and can be uploaded by CLICKING HERE.
The form is always available in the footer of any page of the website, along with links to submit events, volunteer opportunities, stories, etc. Please take advantage of this free, valuable resource.
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Important Changes for Small Businesses in 2024 | |
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Important Changes Coming to the Ohio Commercial Activity Tax
Beginning on January 1, 2024, the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) will undergo major changes. For tax periods beginning on and after January 1, 2024, the CAT annual minimum tax is eliminated, and the exclusion amount is increased from $1 million to $3 million. Therefore, taxpayers with taxable gross receipts of $3 million or less per calendar year will no longer be subject to the CAT.
Act Now! – No need to wait until 2024 to cancel your CAT account! Both annual and quarterly taxpayers who anticipate having less than $3 million in taxable gross receipts in tax year 2024 may cancel their CAT account immediately with an effective date of December 31, 2023.
Please visit the Gateway and select the CAT Cancel Account transaction, to cancel your CAT account. Alternatively, taxpayers may submit a Business Account Update Form to cancel their account.
Information Release
CAT 2023-01 - Commercial Activity Tax: Changes to the CAT Exclusion and Annual Minimum Tax
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Starting January 1, 2024, many companies will be required to report information to the U.S. government about who ultimately owns and controls them.
For detailed information on this new requirement and how to file, go to: https://www.fincen.gov/boi
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Small Business Development Center
FREE Virtual Training Events
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QuickBooks Online-Getting Started
January 9, 2024 2:00PM-4:00PM
Register Here
Canva for Social Media
January 10, 2024 9:00AM-11:00AM
Register Here
Microsoft Office Excel Part 1-Creating, Formatting & Basic Formula
January 11, 2024 2:00PM-4:00PM
Register Here
QuickBooks Online Part 2
January 16, 2024 2:00PM-4:00PM
Register Here
Social Media Videos
January 17, 2024 9:00AM-11:00AM
Register Here
Basis of a Successful Start (BOSS) Class
January 17, 2024 12:00PM-2:00PM
Register Here
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Microsoft Office Excel Part 2-Formulas, Advanced Formatting & Charts
January 18, 2024 2:00PM-4:00PM
Register Here
Building Your Company's Sales Formula for Success
January 23, 2024 9:00AM-10:00AM
Register Here
How to Setup a YouTube Channel
January 24, 2024 9:00AM-11:00AM
Register Here
Lunch & Learn: Preparing for Taxes
January 24, 2024 12:00PM-1:00PM
Register Here
Microsoft Office Excel Part 3-Advanced Functions & PivotTables
January 25, 2024 2:00PM-4:00PM
Register Here
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Click the link below to explore the SBDC training events that are provided at no-cost to assist you and your business, and to register for any of the trainings listed above.
Follow SBDC on Facebook by clicking HERE!
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Destination Downtown Lancaster offers many resources to the businesses in the district*. Be sure to check out the link below to see a list of benefits and take advantage of them.
Click Here to visit the Resource Page
Click Here if your businesses is a Mover & Shaker+ member so you can explore your benefits!
*Must be a member of DDL to take advantage of business resources.
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