A primary Wichita Downtown Development Corporation priority is to recruit and retain downtown businesses. The organization works with the private sector to attract companies to utilize existing office and retail space located in the city’s commercial center.

As part of that, the WDDC also works to attract public and private investment in downtown. The WDDC was an integral partner in promoting the need for the INTRUST Bank Arena as a commercial and recreational catalyst for business activity. After it opens in January, the arena will bring an estimated $265 million a year to the local economy.

WDDC also encourages property owners to renovate space for commercial uses and has developed a tenant improvement grant fund that awards up to $5,000 as a matching grant to offset rehabilitation costs. Matching grants are also available through WDDC for renovating or converting existing space for use as housing. Relocation grants provide businesses with as much as $2,500 to offset the cost of moving to a downtown location. A broad range of WDDC studies and market research is available for businesses and developers to encourage, improve and enhance the use of downtown buildings and land.

Exciting new residential options are among the more successful business ventures taking hold in the city’s core. While some condominiums and apartments have been newly constructed to fill in storefront and office spaces, others are being renovated from existing buildings and are proving very popular with young adults and empty-nesters.