Since Executive Director Caleb Knutson and Program Manager Jennifar Bassett were profiled in February, the Downtown District has achieved significant momentum in its mission to reimagine downtown Cedar Rapids.
After more than a year at the helm, Mr. Knutson reports the district has reached a major milestone: visitor traffic has returned to pre-pandemic levels, an achievement many downtowns nationwide have yet to accomplish.
“We’re hitting on all cylinders,” Mr. Knutson said. “You think about all the shows, the concerts, the amazing food scene downtown.”
Among the year’s biggest wins was the installation of the Cedar Rapids branding sign, a key initiative from the Downtown Vision Plan. The sign has driven measurable increases in traffic to Mays Island, according to the district’s marketing tracking system.
“Since we put the sign up, traffic to Mays Island has gone up and that’s really what we want to see,” Mr. Knutson said. “A lot of cities have these branding signs around their city, in their downtown core.”
While specific plans remain under wraps as the district works through feasibility and structural studies with the city, Mr. Knutson characterized the sign as “the proof of concept” for future developments.
The Downtown District commission is also welcoming new members as terms expire for some longtime commissioners. Mr. Knutson said getting “new ideas is what’s going to make us thrive even more.”
Looking to 2026, the Downtown District is preparing for the Cedar Rapids Marathon, with Ms. Bassett serving as co-chair of the organizing committee. The Boston qualifier event, organized by the team behind the Des Moines Marathon, is expected to bring significant energy and economic activity downtown.
“Being able to bring that energy to downtown is exciting,” Mr. Knutson said.
This update is a part of the CBJ’s Newsmakers edition. This year-end wrap-up from the staff of the Corridor Business Journal is a compilation of the year’s most noteworthy articles and projects, as told through stories that appeared in the bi-weekly issues of the CBJ.
Read the accompanying story, published in February of 2025:
This ‘dynamic duo’ is setting bold new course for downtown Cedar Rapids
