Downtown Pensacola lights up the season
Posted: Dec 7, 2021 11:27 PMUpdated: Dec 7, 2021 11:28 PM
It’s the holiday season, when visitors to Downtown Pensacola can experience music, shopping, food, art and nightlife under a canopy of half a million white lights illuminating historic buildings, parks, shops, galleries and outdoor spaces. Wandering along Palafox, you may chance upon live street performances, caroling in the streets, Santa posing for photos and Winterfest Trolley Tours. Lighting up the night sky, as part of downtown Pensacola’s First City Lights Festival, are the twinkling lights lining the main city streets to create a magical setting for the diverse, season-long lineup of holiday festivities. And helping to bring these lights to the night are Gulf Power Company and the contractors, JAH Power Services, Inc., Service Electric Co., Roberson Underground Utility, LLC., and L30, who are working on Gulf Power’s $86 million downtown reliability project designed to help modernize the underground electrical network. “Gulf Power is pleased to once again support the First City Lights Festival as part of our ongoing partnership with the Downtown Improvement board and the City of Pensacola” said Rick Byars, senior external affairs manager for Gulf Power. “We have worked to create an even brighter energy future through ensuring long-term reliability for our customers’ businesses and homes, and we hope all of our customers will come downtown and experience the joy of the season.” The holiday lights are a huge draw for bringing residents and visitors into the downtown district during the winter months. “Downtown Pensacola provides an unforgettable holiday experience for families,” said DIB Executive Director Walker Wilson. “Aside from the fantastic shopping, museums, dining and nightlife, the holidays downtown also mean live outdoor theater, musical performances and the unique setting created each evening when the lights come on. First City Lights Festival brings all of these experiences together into one extraordinary holiday event.”The First City Lights Festival will continue to light up downtown Pensacola through January 13, 2022. Claire Campbell joins DIB Board
Posted: Oct 6, 2021 3:23 PMUpdated: Oct 6, 2021 3:23 PM
A New York media producer turned Downtown Pensacola business owner is joining the Downtown Improvement Board.Claire Campbell has been appointed by Pensacola Mayor Grover C. Robinson, IV, to serve on the five-member body which seeks to foster growth in a 44-block district in the heart of downtown.Campbell is the founder and owner of Ride Society, the region’s premiere indoor cycle studio. A native of Pensacola, Campbell spent a decade in New York in marketing before opening the Palafox space in 2018.“We are very excited to have Claire join our team,” said Wilson Walker, executive director of the DIB. “Her perspective as both a business owner and communicator will bring a unique and valuable perspective to everything the DIB does.” Campbell’s first meeting as a board member was September 28.In addition to serving on the DIB, Campbell is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pensacola Little Theatre and Pensacola Cultural Center.The DIB is dedicated to improving the district’s quality-of-life and economic success by creating a cleaner, safer and more enjoyable environment.DIB Seeks Finance Committee Member
Posted: Oct 5, 2021 1:47 PMUpdated: Oct 5, 2021 1:47 PM
Pensacola’s Downtown Improvement Board is looking for a new member for its Finance Committee.The Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) is a dependent special agency funded by a tax levy on properties within its district boundaries. The district consists of 44 blocks that encompass the urban core of Downtown Pensacola, an area that was proclaimed “Florida’s Best Place” during a vote conducted by the American Planning Association’s Florida Chapter. The Finance Committee provides financial expertise and guidance to the DIB’s five-member Board of Directors.Applicants must own property, work or live within the DIB's 44-block downtown district, which runs for several blocks east and west from Plaza De Luna to Belmont Street. They must also be available for monthly meetings, with three consecutive absences constituting a resignation.The Finance Committee works in collaboration with the DIB Board for the overall benefit of the district regardless of individual personal feelings, experiences, perceptions or beliefs.Appointees will be governed by Florida’s Public Records Law and Sunshine Law, as well as the City of Pensacola Code of Ethics. The appointment will be reviewed annually or as determined by the DIB chairman. To apply, CLICK HERE.Local Farmers, Artists Gearing Up for Special Edition "Halloween Market" Oct. 30
Posted: Sep 30, 2021 2:27 PMUpdated: Sep 30, 2021 2:28 PM
Children are encouraged to dress in their most outrageous costumes for a special “Halloween Market” edition of the Palafox Market on Saturday, Oct. 30. Vendor booths will be decorated for the autumn holiday, offering candy to trick-or-treaters. Kids can get their faces painted for awesome Halloween selfie opportunities. Also, candy prizes will be awarded in a costume contest and in a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. In addition to the sweet treats, everybody’s favorite arachnid superhero, Spider-Man, as well as Disney’s Princess Rapunzel, will be mingling with fans. Palafox Market, coordinated by the Downtown Improvement Board, is staged in Martin Luther King, Jr., Plaza, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As many as 8,000 people meander along the plaza’s red brick walkway on the busiest of days. “Our vendors love interacting with their patrons, and Halloween is an exceptional opportunity for that,” said Emily Kopas, DIB chief operating officer. “The weather is beautiful this time of year and the produce is abundant, so we think Halloween is a great time for a special celebration at Palafox Market.” The market features up to 200 vendors ranging from local farmers and bakers to artists and craftsmen and women. All the items available at Palafox Market are grown, created or produced within 100 miles of Pensacola. While the market is open year-round, produce is available according to local farmers’ growing seasons. Fresh veggies and fruits likely to be in season at Halloween include locally-harvested arugula, oyster mushrooms, collard greens, radishes, carrots and apples. Shoppers may also find plants, baked goods, local honey, cut flowers, many different kinds of art and handmade goods and lots more. The “Halloween Market” is a great opportunity to snap up unique fall décor and start Christmas shopping. Entertainment at the market is provided by the String Farm bluegrass band near the MLK bust. In 2020, Southern Living magazine named Palafox Market as the best farmers' market in Florida. Palafox Market also consistently wins local awards in categories like “Best Farmers' Market," "Best Free Thing to Do" and "Best Place to Buy Local Produce.”DIB Seeks Manager for Palafox Market
Posted: May 17, 2021 2:02 PMUpdated: May 17, 2021 2:38 PM
The Market Manager oversees the day-to-day operations and market day set up as well as accepts and processes vendor applications. The market manager sets the tone and represents the market internally with vendors and externally to shoppers/visitors while representing the Downtown Improvement Board and its mission. Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:Oversee the incoming vendor applications and perform necessary bookkeeping of application feesSetup and maintain a jury pool of local artists to review applications and submitted works by applicants on a timely schedule (monthly)Track market metrics such as attendance of vendors, cancellations of vendors, waiting lists of approved applications Collect vendor fees and proper bookkeeping per office protocol Maintain all vendor applications and records, including current licenses and permitsEnsure proper permit applications are submitted and approved to operate market Maintain any and all volunteer recordsAssist Executive Director in annual budget of the marketSupervise vendor setup properly and breakdown properly each market day including overseeing of waste control/disposalEnsure proper equipment is ordered and delivered and or maintained for each market day including but not limited to port-o-lets, handwashing stations, consumable goods for port-o-lets and handwashing stations, padlocks for electrical boxes and port-o-letsHandle any emergencies or situations that arise with vendors or visitors of the marketAssign vendor spaces and manage overall market layoutCultivate and maintain a balanced market with a variety of vendors and goodsSubmit regular reports to Executive Director and present publicly to Board of DirectorsAssist in creation, produce, management of market promotions, advertising and special eventsAny other duties as assigned by Executive Director Core Competencies:Experience with Quickbooks softwareStrong organizational and personnel management skillsProficient skill in Microsoft Suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel) software programExcellent time management skills and ability to coordinate interrelated projectsExperience in database initiation and maintenance Education or experience in Fine ArtsStrong interpersonal & conflict resolution skillsMinimum Acceptable Qualification:Associates or at least 5+ year(s) of project/event management experienceSufficient strength and physical dexterity to perform duties and responsibilities of this job, including moderate lifting, long period on your feet and in all weather conditionsNo criminal record (other than minor traffic violations)Possession of a valid driver's license for the State of Florida, or ability to obtain within 30 days. Must have at least 5+ year(s) licensed driving experience. Must have a clean driving record within last 5+ yearsAbility to provide/pass pre-employment background check, criminal background report, negative drug & tobacco test result and credit report when requested COMPETITIVE SALARY AND BENEFITS based on training and experience.REPORTS TO: Executive Director of the Downtown Improvement BoardSEND RESUMES TO: Executive Director Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board, 226 S. Palafox Place, Suite 106 Pensacola FL 32502 NOTE: All expressions of interest and resumes must be received at above address by 5:00 pm CST on Friday May 21, 2021 to be considered.