Position Description: Business Development Manager

In support of the Downtown Alliance mission, the manager supports downtown stakeholders’
success and other Alliance initiatives as assigned. Responsibilities include:

1. Fundraising:
A: Develop and operationalize revenue strategies (i.e grants, sponsorships,
earned-revenue, membership) to support Alliance programs and general
operations:
Track federal, state, and local grant opportunities
Draft grant applications and manage all reporting on awards
Maintain a database of all awards and opportunities with application deadlines and reporting schedules
Manage fulfillment of reporting requirements

B: Establish fundraising goals for events and annual campaigns
Manage fundraising outreach, funder relations, communications, and
deliverables for all sponsorship opportunities.

2. Communication Support:
a. Under the guidance of the Communications Director, manage professional
communications with downtown property owners, developers, businesses, and
other organizations.
i. Track and publish development and construction projects
ii. Track and publish downtown data trends
iii. Develop communication templates for committees, sponsorship
opportunities, events, presentations, other
b. Ensure stakeholders have accurate and timely information about downtown
development, business events and development, and relevant municipal
initiatives
c. Maintain a current database of all stakeholder contact information.

3. Merchant support:
a. Manage communications with downtown merchants and venue operators
b. Collect and publish relevant information to support stakeholder’s success
c. Develop and operationalize initiatives to promote restaurants, bars, and retailers.

4. Construction Mitigation:
Manage the Alliance’s construction mitigation efforts with all
impacted user groups.

5. Special Project Management:
Manage and/or support events, and projects to meet the
needs of stakeholders and the organization. This includes, planning, execution, and
staffing events at the direction of supervisors. Events may be scheduled outside of
regular business hours and full participation is expected.

6. Other Duties As Assigned:
Work assignments may change due to unforeseen
circumstances based on direction from the supervisor.

Core Competencies:
The ideal candidate shall demonstrate the following competencies and experience:
● Managing stakeholder groups and committees
● Excellent written and verbal communications; presentation skills
● Fundraising
● Customer relationship management tools
● Project management: prioritization, planning, budgeting, tracking, reporting
● Interpersonal skills for collaborating with colleagues and partners
● Understanding of basic commercial real estate development
● Understanding of retail development, management and marketing
● Familiarity with and passion for downtown SLC’s commercial, cultural and entertainment
assets
This position reports to the Urban Affairs Director of the Downtown Alliance and coordinates
efforts with the Marketing and Communications Director. The manager also ensures that activity
is coordinated in concert with the SLC Department of Economic Development.
This position, and all Alliance team members, support various events produced by the Alliance,
The Blocks, Farmers Market and Salt Lake Chamber. Event work is required on site and is often
outside of regular business hours. Full participation is expected.

Education and experience requirements:
B.S. or B.A. from an accredited college or university
5 years of experience in the competencies above

About the Downtown Alliance:
The Downtown Alliance is a 501c6 nonprofit organization dedicated to building a dynamic and
diverse community that is the regional center for culture, commerce and entertainment. Our
team works with stakeholder groups, builds programming and partnerships, promotes downtown
businesses and events, and advocates for policies that enhance the economic vitality of
Downtown Salt Lake City. Downtown Alliance is a business line of the Salt Lake Chamber.
Contact Info: Please send resume and cover letter to:

The Downtown Alliance, with the support of the Salt Lake Chamber policy team, is monitoring the following bills through the legislative session. Click Here to view the status of each bill.

HOUSE BILLS:

HB 23 - Voter Referendum Amendments

HB 63 - Impact Fees Amendments

HB 68 - Rental Expenses Disclosure Requirements

HB 82 - Single-family Housing Modifications

HB 97 - Property Tax Penalties Amendments

HB 98 - Local Government Building Regulation Amendments

 HB 122 - Property Redemption Amendments

HB 151 - State Infrastructure Bank Amendments

HB 214 - Disclosure of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings Act

HB 221 - Property Tax Records

HB 247 - Transient Room Tax Amendments

SENATE BILLS:

SB 18 - Property Tax Exemption Amendments

SB 58 - Metro Township Amendments

SB 61 - Outdoor Advertising Amendments

SB 65 - Community Reinvestment Agency Amendments

SB 89 - Preconstruction and Construction Lien Amendments

SB 119 - To-Go Beverage Service Amendments

SB 120 - Outdoor Advertising Revisions

Mayor Mendenhall’s State of the City address reminded us of what an unexpected and extraordinary year we have experienced since her first State of the City remarks a year ago. We extend our thanks to the Mayor, City Council and City employees for adapting and innovating during the last year.

The Mayor has led boldly in a year of social unrest, the pandemic, and natural disasters no one could have anticipated. She has actively sought the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance’s perspective on downtown’s most pressing challenges, and we accept her invitation to work together to create our community’s future of opportunity, equity, and well-being. 

Click here to watch the full 2021 State of the City address.

Access to Affordable Housing

We support financial and administrative efforts to create a mix of housing options in and around downtown. Affordable housing contributes to the city’s vibrancy.  It puts workers near their jobs. It encourages shorter commutes and alternative transportation choices that improve air quality.

The Mayor announced that an “organization with expertise mitigating gentrification” will help guide the City’s efforts to address the housing crisis. Downtown stakeholders look forward to contributing to the process and offering solutions.

We welcome pedestrianization and improvements on 300 West and the Folsom Trail project to improve connectivity of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

Job Development in Health Innovation and Technology 

We applaud the Mayor’s commitment to improving resident’s lives by making Salt Lake City a hub for health innovation and high-tech businesses. We wholeheartedly support the BioHive initiatives and collaborations, particularly as Salt Lake City has the fastest growing health innovation ecosystem in the country. There are 1,100 health innovation companies in Salt Lake City, and our downtown offers amenities, living options, and a quality of life that can be leveraged to attract companies and talent.

Air Quality

We applaud the Mayor and the City for leading by example in adopting sustainable practices and green technologies, as well as for leveraging the resources of the RDA to incentivize sustainable development.

Equity and Inclusion

Salt Lake City is making notable efforts in bringing more voices from marginalized communities into city governance. The City’s Digital Equity Plan, work, and outreach are good for residents, the environment, and economic development.  

The Downtown Alliance and Salt Lake Chamber share the City’s commitment to developing representation in our committee structures, leadership, and staffing.

We look forward to participating in the development and implementation of the citywide Equity Master Plan.

We look forward to recommendations from the Commission on Racial Equity in Policing to build a more just police department attuned to the broad needs in our communities.

Homelessness

The Downtown Alliance supports the outreach efforts by the City and service providers through the Community Commitment Program to connect unsheltered residents with the resources they need and provide access to safe, warm shelter.

There remains so much work to do in preventing homelessness and assisting our neighbors who are unsheltered tonight. We support the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute recommendations for structuring and coordinating efforts statewide to address homelessness, and we urge the Utah Legislature to establish and fund state leadership to this end. 

Innovation Department Announcement

Downtown stakeholders welcome the creation of a department to modernize business processes, standardize approaches to project management, improve transparency and efficiencies, as well as encourage data-driven decisions. We look forward to positive outcomes from this structural improvement at City Hall.

City’s Progress Report Card

The Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance acknowledge the accomplishments reported on the Progress Report Card in this difficult year. As the City works toward the remaining goals, we urge prioritizing the following goals among those outlined by the Mayor:

• Begin cooperation between Planning and Business Development to assess placement of, and funding for, business and cultural districts.
• Fund and work with the State and with local developers to support the development of a year-round public market to increase the amount and diversity of food available to Salt Lake residents and provide a sustainable and stable venue for farmers to sell products.
• Identify new ways of partnering with private entities to provide more affordable housing.
• Work across jurisdictional boundaries to develop a plan for the unsheltered homeless population who are not being served by the current system, particularly during the winter months.
• Engage with people experiencing homelessness through establishing a regular public forum or neighborhood council-type structure.
• Use the Processes and Permits work group to develop a strategy for restructuring internal departments and processes with the goal of eliminating barriers, streamlining decision making, and breaking down silos.
• Catalyze business/cultural districts and streamline/coordinate citywide arts initiatives by improving the structure and funding of the Arts Council.

By now, most people have accepted the not-so-fun reality of curtailing large holiday gatherings due to COVID-19. But, there’s no reason festivity needs to be canceled altogether. In fact, most of downtown Salt Lake City remains not only open but abuzz with eclectic shopping, glittery outdoor holiday and public art displays and the diverse dining and bar scene downtown Salt Lake is known for. Following are several ways you can meet—and beat—the final challenge of 2020: getting into the holiday spirit.

Find The Perfect Present

Sure you can check off your holiday gift list by browsing Amazon—yawn—again. Or you can head downtown to shop dozens of locally owned and national retailers, all bedecked for the holidays. At City Creek Center you can check out the Macy’s handcrafted candy windows and the Magical Décor Holiday Tour; peer into the Contactless Storybook Lanterns; and discover local artists, whose work has been incorporated into dozens of shop window displays. Over at The Gateway, in addition to its eclectic resident stores, restaurants and movie theaters, this open-air shopping mall will host the Holiday Art & Craft Market as part of the Winter Farmers Market—where you can get your artisan-made holiday gifts and groceries—on Saturdays through December 19; the Winter Urban Flea Market, where you can browse hundreds of unique finds on December 13; and the Winter Magic Art Stroll, a self-guided audio tour of 14 shop window installations by local artists.

Stretch Your Gifting Budget

Make your holiday shopping budget go even further while helping out hundreds of downtown businesses at the same time with Downtown Dollars electronic gift cards. Here’s how it works: When you buy a $75 Downtown Dollars e-gift card, you’ll automatically receive an extra $25 in Bonus Bucks; buy a $50 Downtown Dollars e-gift card and you’ll get an extra $10 in Bonus Bucks. To redeem, you simply show the e-gift card code (sent to you via text or email for you to use or gift to someone else) at a Downtown Dollars participating business at the time of payment. It’s that simple.

Downtown Dollars e-gift cards are accepted at dozens of downtown Salt Lake’s coolest independent retailers, restaurants, gyms and bars, including White Horse Spirits & Kitchen, Whiskey Street, Diabolical Records, Post Office Place, Salt Lake Power Yoga and Takashi, to name just a few. Downtown Dollars e-gift cards, which never expire (though Bonus Bucks must be redeemed by May 21, 2021), are available for purchase through December 31, 2020.

Light It Up

This year downtown Salt Lake City’s well-known holiday light displays have been infused with a brand new and unexpected dose of artistic creativity. At the Gallivan Center Plaza, amid the traditional holiday tunes and millions of lights adorning 285-holiday evergreen trees, are a pair of art pieces that originally premiered at Burning Man 2019. Concepted and made by California Bay Area-artist Paige Tashner, the Purr Pods are a duo of large, welded metal, interactive cat sculptures that envelop participants in sonic vibrations “leaving them feeling revived,” Tashner says. Best yet, at night these kitties glow with enchanting, color-changing LED lights. The luminescent Koro Loco (“heart place” in Esperanto) is a huge three-dimensional heart formed with hundreds of dichroic plexiglass squares that dance with multi-colored reflections from the sun during the day, and spotlights at night. Salt Lake City artists Emily and Ian Nicolosi and Steve Wong created Koro Loco to “provide a space for reflection on the action of love.” Another must-see art installation on display downtown through the holidays is Aurora Borealis, by Utah artists Day Christensen and Brook Robertson, at the Eccles Theatre’s Main Street façade. (Hungry for more public art? Spend an evening exploring downtown’s more than 60 public art murals.)

Don't forget to share your downtown SLC holiday lights experience with us by posting a picture to Instagram and using #DowntownSLCLights. You'll be automatically entered to win $200 in Downtown Dollars! Winners will be announced on Instagram each week of December. 

Temple Square Goes Virtual

Viewing the Temple Square lights is, of course, one of Utah’s most beloved holiday traditions. And while Temple Square is indeed lit this season, due to an ongoing renovation, the lights there are viewable from surrounding roads and exterior city sidewalks only. A much more intimate alternative is tuning in for a virtual tour of the Temple Square Christmas lights, scheduled for live broadcast on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on the Temple Square Facebook page on December 1 at 6 p.m. The tour is available for on-demand screenings after then.

Helping Those in Need

Lending a hand to those hit the hardest by this pandemic is a guaranteed way to feel the warm fuzzies of the holiday season. The Road Home offers multiple ways to help those in need over the holidays, including providing items to fill gift bags for shelter guests and donating new, unwrapped toys for its popular Candy Cane Corner. (This year, due to COVID-19, The Road Home is also looking for volunteers to shop for and deliver Candy Cane Corner toys to families.) Contactless ways to help include giving to the Shelter the Homeless’ campaign to raise $10 million, which when met, will be matched the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation. Or consider purchasing a gift or holiday tree from the Festival of Trees (benefiting Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital), celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a virtual silent auction and holiday shopping, and a live broadcast of the tour of the trees on display inside the Vivant Arena on December 4.

Donating time, service and money during the holidays is undoubtedly admirable, but remember that the needs of these communities must be met all year long. And if you are planning a charitable drive, first contact the organization you are hoping to support before you get started. This way you’ll actually get them the items they need most, and they can prepare in advance for the influx of your generosity with appropriate staff to assist in distribution to those who need it most. 

Getting Around

Pay street parking is in effect downtown Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ($2 per hour for a max of two hours); on Saturdays your first two hours are free; and on Sundays, parking is free all day. You can also take public transportation into downtown via UTA'S Frontrunner, TRAX or bus system. Once downtown, TRAX and buses are free within the Free Fare Zone. (Masks and social distancing are mandatory on all UTA buses, trains and TRAX.) As of the end of November, all GREENBike bike share stations remain in service, providing a fun way to get around, especially if you plan to tour downtown’s public art. Downtown parking pro tip: the first two hours of parking at City Creek Center are free!

There is no denying that 2020 is dealing us an unusual holiday season. So, instead of focusing on what we can’t do, choose this year to bundle up, put on a mask and embrace the many ways of celebrating the holidays in downtown Salt Lake City.

Shop, eat and gift local this holiday season with Downtown Dollars! Featuring dozens of downtown bars, restaurants and retailers. This electronic gift card can be spent at many of your favorite downtown merchants and is a great gift for your besties (including you!). Simply show your eGift Card on your mobile device at participating retailers to use.

Bonus Bucks are funded by a Shop In Utah grant and can be spent just like Downtown Dollars at all participating businesses. Click the button below to purchase your Downtown Dollars and browse participating businesses. 

*The Bonus Bucks offer expires 12/31/2020, or when available funds run out. Purchased Downtown Dollars do not expire, but the extra Bonus Bucks must be spent by 5/31/2021.

Don’t see your favorite downtown business listed? Have them contact to enroll as a participating business!

Buy Downtown Dollars!

FAQ

How can I purchase Downtown Dollars and receive Bonus Bucks?
Click on the "Buy Downtown Dollars" button above. When you purchase your Downtown Dollars in eligible amounts, you will automatically receive Bonus Bucks to spend at your favorite merchants.

How does the Bonus Bucks pricing structure work?
Purchase $50 or more in Downtown Dollars, get $10 in Bonus Bucks!

Where can I spend Downtown Dollars?
Downtown Dollars can be spent at any participating downtown business. You can view the list and map HERE. More businesses are being added all the time! Click here to add your business.

How can I purchase Downtown Dollars and Bonus Bucks for someone else or give them as a gift?
When purchasing Downtown Dollars, you enter the recipient’s name and email address to send directly to them to redeem, or you can send the eGift Card to yourself and forward the information to them. You have the option to send your original Downtown Dollars purchase and the extra Bonus Bucks to separate recipients.

Do Downtown Dollars and Bonus Bucks expire?
The purchased value of your Downtown Dollars do not expire. Bonus Bucks must be used by 05/31/2021 After 12 months of inactivity, a $3 fee will occur monthly.

Recent rule changes now allow downtown restaurants and bars to add seating in adjacent outdoor (or indoor) areas. Retailers can also activate additional space. The intention is to allow businesses more physical space to operate under health guidelines that require physical distancing among patrons and workers.

“Downtown restaurants have been innovative in adapting their operations and implementing health safety guidelines. But to achieve physical distance standards between diners, restaurants have reduced their guest capacity by 40 to 70 percent. We are hopeful that many restaurants can expand their safe seating under these new provisions,” says Dee Brewer, Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance. 

Downtown Alliance has been working with other economic development and business associations in support of provisions that would let businesses expand their footprint for service.

Mayor Mendenhall’s Emergency Proclamation No. 11 temporarily relaxes rules throughout  Salt Lake City. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC) also temporarily amended regulations to allow alcohol service in those outdoor areas. 

This week, 117 downtown restaurants are open with dine-in and/or take-out service. The number of open downtown restaurants has grown each week since May 9. Some customers are dining in restaurants. Some are dining on restaurant patios.  Some are picking up their favorite meals and picnicking at Gallivan Center, the State Capitol or other nearby public spaces.

Related Articles: 

Utah Gives Restaurants A Break for Alcohol Service Outdoors  The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake City restaurants, shops cheer as mayor allows them to expand into parking areas, side yards during coronavirus The Salt Lake Tribune

As you prepare your business to safely welcome employees and customers, the state advises, and in some instances requires, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)--face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and other items--for everyone at your place of business. 

Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees can acquire a PPE Push Pack at no charge through the State. Register here to receive your PPE Push Pack.

The State has also compiled a vendor list of Utah companies where you can purchase PPE and other critical supplies. A Mask for Every Utahn ensures every resident can access a personal mask.

As we prepare to reopen our businesses, go back to our offices, and move about downtown, we must continue to practice social-distancing and take personal responsibility to minimize the spread of COVID 19.

Governor Herbert has declared a moderate risk phase (orange phase) for most Utahns.  Accordingly, the state Department of Health has published guidelines for individuals and businesses. Please note that high-risk individuals should continue to operate under the high-risk guidelines.

Be safe. And let’s support one another as we adapt and innovate.  Do you have information or best practices to share?  Send it to and we can amplify it here.

Here are helpful resources we received recently:

• The State of Utah: Community Resources
• Cushman and Wakefield: Retail Readiness Essentials Checklist
• Cushman and Wakefield: Warehouse Readiness Essentials Checklist
• CBRE: Reopening The World’s Workplaces
• CDC: Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes
• Goldman Sachs: Top of Mind: Reopening the Economy

The Downtown Alliance, with the support of the Salt Lake Chamber policy team, is monitoring the following bills through the legislative session.

from Derek Miller, President & CEO, Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance

As Shelter the Homeless is following through on plans to build and staff new resource centers and has closed the Road Home shelter on Rio Grande Avenue, some are expressing concern that people in need will literally be left out in the cold. These concerns are borne out of empathy and compassion — great qualities of our community.

Fortunately, the Road Home and other direct service providers have committed that people seeking shelter will be provided for through the transition with arranged housing, the new facilities and overflow shelter mechanisms. Thanks is due to Catholic Community Services, Volunteers of America and The Road Home for operating the new resource centers.

The Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance support the new Resource Center Model that Shelter the Homeless is implementing. We recognize that the end goal is not getting people into a temporary shelter, the goal is to help people achieve housing and income stability, food security, and get the health services they need.

Yes, there is potential for oversight in a large-scale transition. Shelter the Homeless partners must manage the transition this winter with outreach, communications and transportation solutions.

In addition to the new dispersed resource centers, the 4th Street Clinic, Catholic Community Services and St. Vincent’s will also operate some services downtown. The downtown community must stay engaged in helping people access the services they need at the resource centers best suited to serve them. 

Beyond this involvement, we must also increase efforts and broaden strategies to engage the service-resistant people currently camping on the streets and in the foothills. We must help them find sustainable shelter solutions, and get those in need of mental health and drug treatment care. Addressing the needs of those camping on the streets is a uniquely difficult challenge and distinct from addressing the needs of those transitioning to the new shelter locations.

Downtown Alliance Street Ambassadors patrol the Central Business District daily to engage people in need, direct them to resources, arrange transportation and schedule appointments for them with caseworkers in the new resource centers.

How can you help? Give to the service providers that can positively intervene and support individuals in need. Please donate directly to Shelter the Homeless to double your donation due to the generosity of the Miller Family match. We strongly encourage people not to give to panhandlers, which perpetuates their dependence on the unsustainable and unsafe path of living and sleeping on the street. 

Anyone seeking shelter or resources is encouraged to call 801-990-9999

The dropping temperatures are evidence that we are close to the holiday season. As you get ready for some major shopping, keep an eye out for some stores opening up downtown. Of course, you don’t want to forget the new restaurants to keep you nourished amidst all the frenzy!

Recently Opened

Arempa’s Venezuelan Cuisine | 350 South State Street
Visit Arempa’s for a menu full of Venezuela favorites ranging from arepas and cachapa to empanadas and patacon. Perhaps you’re like me and not totally familiar with all these dishes, but a quick look at their menu will prove you’ll want to become familiar.

Coming Home | At The Gateway
Just in time for all your holiday decorating needs, Coming Home has opened up a pop-up shop at The Gateway. Various fall and holiday decor includes centerpieces, wreaths, and even fully-decorated trees. Located right next to Salt & Honey Market, you’ve got a one-stop-shop this holiday.

Gem Studio | At City Creek Center
Gem Studio is a local workshop where you can learn to design and create your own unique jewelry. The experience provides an opportunity to utilize silversmithing skills and gem placement. Proceeds go to support humanitarian efforts in Uganda, so you can feel good about your new skills!

MCycle | 355 West 400 South
The cycling studio is now open right across from Pioneer Park. It joins a collection of boutique exercise studios to provide amazing options to stay in shape downtown, perfect given the cooling temperatures we are currently experiencing. With 50 bikes and several classes daily, you’re sure to find a class that works for you.

Stance x Donovan Mitchell | At City Creek Center
The ever-popular Jazz player has teamed up with Stance to open up a one-of-a-kind shopping experience at City Creek Center. The store features some of Donovan Mitchell’s favorite brands, including some of his own signature gear. Stop by and maybe you’ll even have a chance to run into Spida in person.

The Store | At The Gateway
There’s always a demand for more grocery options in the downtown area, and The Store has delivered. Conveniently located within The Gateway at the intersection of 100 South and Rio Grande, you can find an assortment of quality, local food on the western edge of downtown. 

Opening Soon 

Alpha Coffee | On Regent Street
The local coffee roaster recently opened their first storefront in Cottonwood Heights, and is now expanding downtown. We’re told the concept will include a full café, adding perfectly Regent Street as an increasingly vibrant dining destination.

FreshFin Poké | On Regent Street
Another new addition coming soon to Regent Street, FreshFin is an expansion out of Milwaukee offering up a variety of different poké bowls. “Coming Soon” signs are already up in the windows, so we’re hoping we may see this one up its doors before the full force of the holiday season.

Good Burger | On Regent Street
If you want a good burger, this Boise-based chain claims to have found the right recipe. You’ll be able to choose from a selection of premium hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and even a veggie burger. We’ll see how it stacks up to some of our local favorites.

Great Taste | At City Creek Center
We don’t have much to report on this one just yet, but the signs that recently went up on shop windows suggest we might be having a cooking-related retail store coming soon. Here’s to hoping it opens up before the holidays!

Do you know of a new business I missed? Got a tip of one getting ready to open? Let me know at !