Capital Crossroads SID wrapped up a six-part downtown office tour series that brought at least two new businesses to the area. A grant from the Create Columbus Commission made the program possible and also helped the SID launch a searchable online database of available office spaces downtown.
“Overall I was very pleased with how the office tours went,” says Kacey Brankamp, Business Recruiter for the Capital Crossroads SID. The event attracted the attention of what Brankamp describes as a small but serious group of attendees that included business owners, self-employed entrepreneurs working from home, and others that wanted to learn more about the possibilities downtown.
“We had some employees who work for big companies that wanted to make the case for a move to downtown,” Brankamp says, pleased to see attendees outside of the typical group of decision makers.
Overall, “The office tour led to more than 80 serious inquiries about office space in downtown,” Brankamp says. The event highlighted the variety of space that’s available in the 43215 zipcode.
The tours helped to dispel the misconception that there isn’t small, affordable space downtown. Brankamp reassures possible tenants that there are a number of spaces that are both small and affordable. She also notes that as more residents move downtown, the need for this type of space will rise.
So far, the efforts have led to two signed leases – one office and one retail, although retail was outside the primary focus of the event. As most multi-story buildings downtown have retail on the ground floor and office space above Brankamp said it was easy to coordinate access to some retail spaces on the tour as well. “It was still a good opportunity for these businesses to see spaces,” she says in reference to retailers.
Attendees were pleased with the event as well. “The response was very positive,” Brankamp says. A survey at the conclusion of the tours revealed that attendees unanimously said they would attend again. A majority were also more inclined to rent office space downtown. With the response, the SID will continue the series.
The success of the event will also keep the searchable database of spaces up and running, providing the most comprehensive site for listings in the 43215 zipcode. Businesses can find the database on the Downtown Columbus website.
Businesses will soon have another opportunity to head downtown. Next month Capital Crossroads SID will start a video contest where business owners large and small across all industries can win $10,000 towards a downtown lease. Look for more details on The Metropreneur in July!
For more information, visit downtowncolumbus.com.
