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December 4, 2025 Influencer Program Yields Big Results
The program provided grants of up to $10,000 apiece to small businesses. The money was targeted primarily toward interior and exterior improvements that inspired customers to share their visits on social media. After the improvements were made, the businesses selected an influencer from a vetted list and worked together to promote their restaurant. Hashtag Hayward yielded impressive results. Participating businesses racked up 4 million views on Instagram and reported increases in sales ranging from 25 to 100 percent. One grant recipient, a small barbecue joint, added staff to accommodate new demand. Details on Hashtag Hayward and other growth programs appear regularly in the pages of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter. Click below to learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange and other resources for revitalizing downtowns and commercial corridors. 
8-1/2" x 10", softcover, 256 pages, $46.
Recommended ReadingParking Management for Smart GrowthIn this timely book, author Richard Wilson shows readers how to create a strategic parking management program that is comprehensive, coordinated, and supportive of local goals. He explores new opportunities for making the most of every parking space and for taking advantage of new digital parking tools. Important sections include:
Examples are provided of successful approaches to parking management from Pasadena, CA, to London, England. Parking Management for Smart Growth is just one of the many books on Improving Access available from the Downtown Development Center. |
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In Hayward, CA, a grant program has been helping local restaurants go viral. Known as Hashtag Hayward, the program combines placemaking with content creation by social media pros.