In our 2021 Leaders Survey, 73% of respondents said they agreed that downtown small businesses and commercial real estate will suffer if most businesses continue offering remote working to their employees post-pandemic – and another 13% were unsure about the effects. Between changing customer demand and issues with staffing, downtown small businesses are being challenged while office vacancies continue to be higher than they were pre-pandemic. Yet both staple and new events and attractions are continuing on with fervor. Thursday’s Power Breakfast focused on solutions to keep downtown thriving and what the new vision plan might include. 

Panelists included: 

Tiffany Tauscheck – chief operations officer, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Erin Olson-Douglas – director, development services City of Des Moines

TJ Jacobs – vice president, CBRE Hubbell Commercial

Staci Bennett – executive director, Des Moines Downtown Chamber

Marquas Ashworth – entrepreneur, distiller and developer in Des Moines