HYANNIS – MassDevelopment and the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District have launched a new campaign.
The campaign aims to “Dress Up Downtown” Hyannis by installing year-round tree lights and public art through wall murals, crosswalk art and decorative utility box wraps.
The campaign is being launched through the civic crowdfunding platform Patronicity and the Commonwealth Places initiative.
If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $15,000 by January 12 at midnight, the project will win a matching grant with funds from MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places program.
“The idea is to create a look for downtown Hyannis that is coastal but modern and has history in it,” said Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District Executive Director Elizabeth Wurfbain.
Hyannis businesses face a unique challenge in that many local retailers struggle to keep the lights on during the fall, winter and spring months.
With new stores and restaurants filling seasonal vacancies downtown, the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District hopes that the project will support developing businesses by encouraging residents and visitors to shop local during the winter months.
“It is tougher in the winter for anybody, there’s less customers and less feeling to spend, except at Christmas time, and it’s not a given, like it could be in a place where it’s warm year-round,” said Wurfbain.
To read more about the project and to donate, go to patronicity.com.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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