Traverse City Downtown Development Authority early survey results reflect positive summer

TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City’s downtown business early survey results indicate it was a positive summer for local entrepreneurs.

The survey results, gathered from 54 business respondents, aimed to gather insights on downtown customer engagement and better understand customer volume and traffic, customer behavior, the impact of Grandview Parkway construction and opportunities for improvement.

Initial early findings from respondents included:

• 31% of survey respondents noticed a slight or significant increase in foot traffic this summer
• 51% of survey respondents noticed a slight or significant decrease in foot traffic this summer.
• 29% of survey respondents noted a slight or significant increase in average customer spending per visit
• 18% of survey respondents noted no change in average customer spending per visit and 37% of survey respondents noted a slight or significant decrease in average customer spending per visit.
• 81% of survey respondents noted they had enough staff to meet customer demand this summer.

TCDDA Executive Director Harry Burkholder said the full survey results will be ready and released later in October.

Additionally, city leadership is moving forward with additional projects for infrastructure improvement. In September, the City Commission approved a budget amendment to the Old Town Tax Increment Financing fund and a contract with Walton Construction for improvements to the Hannah Park Overlook.

“With the contract in place, we’re excited and hopeful the project can be completed by the end of the year,” Burkholder said.

For more information on the TCDDA and its initiatives, click here .