CDA Member Special Programs
Welcome to the members services area of our website. This is the area for our members to read about information important to them including program ideas and meeting schedules. Check back on a regular basis for any new postings.
Downtown Champaign Business Improvement Seminars
In 2009 the CDA will begin a series of seminars to assist our local business community in adapting their businesses in a trying economic climate. Topics to be discussed include:
- Marketing your business using Facebook, Twitter, and other free services
- Creating effective window displays
- Enhancing your business through innovative signage
- Creating welcoming outdoor cafe spaces
- Saving money through energy efficiency
- How to start a recycling program in your business
- Save on parking cost through alternative transportation programs
- Reorganizing your space to maximize profits
- Cross promoting your business
- and many more….
Keep checking back for more details.
Downtown Holiday Lighting Program
The Champaign Downtown Association is the organizer of the Downtown Holiday Lighting Program. This includes:
- Outlining all buildings with white holiday lights
- Maintenance and placement of the streetlight decorations
- Wrapping of the smaller pedestrian light poles with garlands and lighting
- Construction and maintenance of the 26 foot City Holiday Tree in the One Main Plaza
Maintaining these lights is an ongoing task and overseen by the CDA Holiday Committee. While the CDA maintains most of these lights, we ask the business and property owners for help with the building lights. The CDA currently contracts with David Shirley at American Electrical Services, Inc. American Electrical Services wires all the buildings and maintains those lights and switches. These services are billed at a discounted rate to the CDA to help keep cost down. If you are interested in lighting your building this year, seeking a service call on your existing lights, or wish to have a control switch installed please contact the CDA Executive Director Mary Dennis. We are consolidating orders to allow for the work to be completed at one time to save cost.
Window Wonderland
Starting in December 2008 the Champaign Downtown Association is beginning a program called Window Wonderland. This program will bring back the beautiful store windows that remind everyone of the holiday season. Participating businesses will be asked to design and implement a themed window using motion, color and lights. Together these windows will create a wonderful atmosphere over the holiday season.
The 2008 Theme is “I Believe” and based off the classic movie Miracle on 34th Street. Participants are asked to design windows that showcase your business why telling us “why you believe in Santa”. The winning windows will be judged and a plaque awarded following the conclusion of the Parade of Lights on December 6th.
For more infomration contact Emily Schmidt, the CDA Promotions Committee Chair at emily@1-main.com.
