The DTFW Team’s Reflections From 2024 

2024 was a busy year for Downtown Fort Wayne—from a calendar full of inclusive, memory-making events to the launch of the city’s first DORA. It was a year filled with new milestones, community partnerships, challenges, and of course, accomplishments.

Here are some of the DTFW team’s proudest moments:

“Something I was proud to see accomplished last year is the grant we obtained from the Allen County Department of Health to pilot the Downtown Ambassador Program in 2025. The Downtown Ambassador Program will strengthen communication and collaboration between businesses, residents, and visitors, and health, safety, and social service agencies. We’re really looking forward to piloting this program for the benefit of our community!”

-Frank Howard, Director of Operations & COO

Launching the DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) for Downtown Fort Wayne has been an incredible milestone, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished. What started as a vision to enhance the Downtown experience has become a reality, thanks to months of collaboration, strategic planning, and the dedication of so many stakeholders. The DORA is more than just a project—it’s a transformative effort to boost local businesses and create a stronger sense of community by encouraging people to explore and enjoy Downtown in new and exciting ways. Watching residents and visitors embrace this change has reinforced how meaningful and impactful DORA is for Fort Wayne. I’m honored to have played a part in turning this vision into something that will leave a lasting, positive mark on our city’s future.

-Preston Wallace, Director of Marketing

A moment of accomplishment that stands out to me is the growth of our Downtown-wide gift card program, Yiftee. We introduced it for Shop Small Saturday in 2023, and since then the program has grown to include sales of $22,000 for small, local businesses! It’s accepted at over 40 stores and restaurants in our 99 blocks, so it’s great for shoppers and diners looking to keep their dollars local. Cards are electronic, and therefore, create less waste. And it’s so easy to purchase a card online by anyone, anywhere—making it a perfect last-minute gift idea. It’s such a good opportunity to support Downtown businesses, and I’m proud that our organization is able to facilitate it.

-Kim McCutchan, Business Services Manager

I’m really proud of all four of our volunteer events last year:

  • We partnered with Lincoln Financial for the Great American Clean-Up and collected litter and debris around the viaducts along Baker Street. 
  • We partnered with Keller-Williams to plant flowers at our outdoor dining locations and put down fresh mulch at the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument. 
  • We partnered with an ESL class at Anthis Career Center to chat and collect litter around their campus. 
  • We partnered with Lincoln Financial again to participate in United Way’s Day of Caring — where we cleaned up graffiti paint out under the viaduct behind Arts United. 

I also loved our events last year. The weather didn’t always cooperate, but we pushed through and helped families create core memories that will last a lifetime. It’s an honor to steward these events that have become traditions for so many people.

-Anthony Racic, Clean & Green Manager

I’m proud of the work we did for BuskerFest, specifically with the sensory alley. We had great partnerships with the AWS Foundation and My Autism Ally, and we had over 4,500 visitors! I’m looking forward to incorporating more inclusion into our projects and programming in 2025.

-Tamara Cummins, Events and Programs Manager

Stay connected to all things Downtown Fort Wayne in 2025 and in the new years to come!

 

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