FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 15, 2022
Media Contact –
Lauren Barnett
Director of Marketing and Communications
laurenbarnett@downtownraleigh.org
919.821.6976
Tickets Now Available for Aug. 31 Annual State of Downtown Event
Downtown leaders to share in-depth market analysis and trends of Raleigh's Central Business District through compelling data, visuals and real stories from Downtown businesses
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) annual State of Downtown event presented by PNC Bank is being held Aug. 31 at the Convention Center. The event provides first access to the State of Downtown report—a curation of market trends, population data and projections, data on downtown development and overviews of everything downtown, from arts and restaurants to tourism, green space, the local food movement and much more. Each attendee will receive a copy of the report, and event tickets are available now at downtownraleigh.org.
In addition to the release of the report, the event features opportunities to hear analysis directly from experts in the industry on what’s making Downtown Raleigh nationally competitive. Adding context to the data and its analysis, the speaker lineup features a diverse offering of stakeholder perspectives, including storefront business owners, startup founders, residents and more.
Schedule
- (2:00–3:00 p.m.) Pre-session
- (3:00–3:45 p.m.) Reception & Networking
- (3:45–5:00 p.m.) State of Downtown Program
“What makes this event special is that it’s both a celebration of what makes Downtown Raleigh a vibrant, dynamic community and a chance to vision what we want to be going forward,” said DRA President and CEO Bill King. “There are some incredible findings to share, and we have a lot to cover, reflect on and celebrate.”
Among those findings are several bright spots in the development outlook and activity metrics, including:
- 19 projects under construction or in site preparation
- Over 3,400 residential units under construction or in site preparation
- A net gain of 32 storefront business since the start of 2021
PNC Bank returns as the presenting sponsor of the State of Downtown. “Since placing our name on PNC Plaza in Downtown Raleigh over 10 years ago, PNC Bank has supported transformative efforts and investments to grow Raleigh’s urban core, while helping local businesses and organizations achieve success and resilience,” said Jim Hansen, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas. “As DRA’s impactful work continues to fuel the trends captured in the State of Downtown report, PNC remains steadfast in our long-term commitment to further the economic vitality of downtown.”
To purchase tickets, learn more about the speakers and request media passes, visit downtownraleigh.org.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
About Downtown Raleigh Alliance
DRA’s mission is advancing the vitality of Downtown Raleigh for everyone. DRA facilitates this mission through five goals: 1) Building a culture of authentic engagement and inclusion with downtown’s diverse community; 2) Fostering a thriving and diverse storefront economy; 3) Facilitating strategic partnerships to produce positive, balanced activations across downtown; 4) Improving physical connectivity and accessibility within and around downtown; 5) Positioning DRA as reliable, responsive, representative, and mission-directed.
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