Downtown Action Lab

From ideas to visible action in 30 to 60 days

The Downtown Action Lab is designed for communities that are ready to do something, not just talk about it. Instead of producing another plan, this service helps you design and launch one or two small scale pilot projects that bring energy, activity, and attention back downtown.

Over the course of about two months, we work with your local team to identify simple, visible ideas that can realistically happen in the near term. Through a guided workshop and follow up support, those ideas are refined into pilot projects with clear goals, timelines, and responsibilities.

You receive a practical planning guide that covers everything needed to implement the pilot, including materials, permissions, partners, funding ideas, and promotion. Coaching support continues through implementation so your team is not left guessing or stalled.

The Action Lab is especially useful for communities experiencing planning fatigue, struggling to build momentum, or wanting to test ideas before committing to long term investment.

Best for: planning fatigue, stalled momentum, testing ideas before long-term investment

Investment: Starting at $6,000

“The Downtown Action Lab is your community’s crash course in doing something now. We’ll help you identify and launch a visible, meaningful pilot project in just 30–60 days. It’s not about planning—it’s about testing what works.”