OVERVIEW.
Across more than three decades of dedicated reinvestment and revitalization, Heart of Tyler’s volunteers have been busy on behalf of downtown and its community of business owners and property owners, members, residents, visitors and numerous organizations through hands-on service projects, targeted promotions, cultivation of the arts and more. Moving forward, we continue to support downtown with a focus on celebrating and bolstering its distinctive momentum.
The combined activity of Downtown Tyler’s individual resident businesses with the support Heart of Tyler and other contributors has created an atmosphere of positive energy. This Downtown Tyler commerce is vital for the city’s overall success—it is the busy, pulsing heart of the City of Tyler.
History
In 1987, a group of citizens concerned about the decline of downtown Tyler formed a nonprofit organization called Heart of Tyler, Inc. The organization worked with existing groups to plan, promote and coordinate mutual goals for downtown.
In 1990, the Texas Historical Commission offered a Main Street program for cities with populations over 50,000. Tyler became one of the first communities in Texas to receive the Urban Program designation. The Heart of Tyler Main Street Program officially began on Jan. 22, 1990, when Director Claire Squibb was hired.
Heart of Tyler continues to use the very successful Main Street Four Point Approach: we work in the four areas of Organization, Promotion, Economic Restructuring and Design in order to revitalize the downtown area.
Over time, there have been many success stories to celebrate. Heart of Tyler has been the driving force behind restoration of the Cotton Belt Depot, lighting improvements in the district, being an integral force for development of the arts in Downtown Tyler, hosting the Texas Downtown Association conference, assisting dozens of property owners with design services, creation of events such as 6×6@110, the Downtown Tyler Wine Swirl, the award-winning Black Tie Bingo, Toast to Downtown Tyler and so much more.
The Heart of Tyler Main Street Program is Tyler’s only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the economic, cultural and historic revitalization of downtown Tyler. We work in association with the City of Tyler, the Texas Main Street Program of the Texas Historical Commission and the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.MEMBERS ARE THE HEART OF TYLER
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Name Title Place of Employment Carleen Dark President Townsquare Media Brent Mills President-Elect Regions Bank Chad Maddux Treasurer Bailes & Co., P.C. Kaitlyn Porterfield Secretary Hospice of East Texas Ingrid Young Immediate Past President Brookshire Grocery Company -
Name Place of Employment Cassie Hollenshead Fair Oil Ltd. Tara Holley Jones Media Sales Hannah Hudson Austin Bank Vicky Nick Southside Bank Russell Patterson Patterson Properties Tom Perkins Edward Jones Archer Ramey Ramey & Flock Kaitlyn Porterfield Hospice of East Texas Blu Monday-Daniels Bluebonnet Process Service Sam Scarborough Scarborough Realty Partners Jim Teeter BMW of Tyler Nancy Wrenn Downtown Champion Joie Thorn Hurst Review Services -
Name Place of Employment Henry Bell Tyler Chamber of Commerce Ashley Taylor City of Tyler Public Library Venessa Brady Innovation Pipeline Ashley Washmon Historic Tyler Stephanie Franklin City of Tyler Shari Lee Visit Tyler Vanessa Gardner ETSO Tom Mullins TEDC Julie Goodgame City of Tyler & Liberty Hall Chris Rasure Discovery Science Place
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Membership isn’t just for downtown businesses. Heart of Tyler depends on the support of the many individuals, businesses and institutions across our entire community to keep our organization running. Downtown Tyler commerce is vital for the city’s overall success—it is the busy, pulsing heart of the City of Tyler. Invest in Tyler by adding or renewing your Heart of Tyler membership today!
In our 25-plus years in Tyler, our Members, Partners and Volunteers have participated in and created:
- More than $200 million in property rehabilitation, property sales and public improvement projects
- 28 statewide award-winning downtown projects
- Historic Preservation grants
- Downtown Property Owner grants
- More residents
- New businesses
- New jobs
- Events and projects supporting the arts and local artists
- Tens of thousands of attendees to special events downtown Join us in our work to support the economic vitality and culture in beautiful Downtown Tyler.
Join today!
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Our revitalized branding and marketing is creating more value and benefits for our members as we now offer more exposure through website listings, social media promotions and paid advertising in the Tyler market.
Basic Business Listings: Every downtown business is automatically listed by category on this site—no membership required. It’s how we can help EVERY business that calls downtown home.
Member Business Listings: Member Businesses are organized by category and separate from the overall business listings. These listings INCLUDE links to the member’s website to help give more visibility and value to your support for Heart of Tyler.
HoT Website Profiles: Member businesses are featured every week on our site and we rotate them out constantly. Each profile includes a story about the company, photo of the owner(s) and links to their website. Each profile is archived on the site for future reference after the promotion time is complete.
Social Media Profiles: Along with other active posts promoting HoT and DOWNTOWN BUSYNESS, a Member’s business will be highlighted and promoted through our social media outlets. These feature profiles will link to the Website Profile mentioned above.
Social Media Shares: When opportunities arise and space is available, the HoT social media accounts will Share day-to-day posts by a Member’s social account (i.e. a post highlighting a daily special or an upcoming event).
Events Calendar: The HoT website includes a full calendar of events for anything going on in the downtown district. These aren’t just our major promotions, but every event being held whether it’s at a band playing at your establishment or a gathering on the square. It’s where everyone can see the vibrance and activities going on downtown.
Downtown Light Pole Banners: HoT has multiple light pole banners around the downtown area and we use them to promote different business categories that create our downtown commerce. Member photos will be used on our banner campaign to help promote their industry.
Advertising: Each year, HoT plans to have an awareness campaign to promote our vibrant downtown business community. Member photos and their companies will be feature in those efforts that can include digital ads, digital outdoor or magazine/newspaper ads to name a few.
News/PR: HoT will continue to create news stories and submit them to local news outlets. If you have a story to tell, let us know and we can submit it for you.
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Stakeholder ($5,000 +)
- Inclusion in HoT PR Content (Media Features)
- Inclusion in HoT Advertising
- Downtown Light Pole Banner
- Social Media Profile
- HoT Website Profile
- Social Shares (of Member’s Content)
- Member Business Listing
- Premium Event Listings on HoT Website Calendar
- Basic Event Listings on HoT Facebook Events Calendar
Trailblazer ($1,000 – $4,999)
- Inclusion in HoT Advertising
- Downtown Light Pole Banner
- Social Media Profile
- HoT Website Profile
- Social Shares (of Member’s Content)
- Member Business Listing
- Premium Event Listings on HoT Website Calendar
- Basic Event Listings on HoT Facebook Events Calendar
Builder ($500 – $999)
- HoT Website Profile
- Social Shares (of Member’s Content)
- Member Business Listing
- Premium Event Listings on HoT Website Calendar
- Basic Event Listings on HoT Facebook Events Calendar
Go-Getter ($250 – $499)
- Social Shares (of Member’s Content)
- Member Business Listing
- Basic Event Listings on HoT Facebook Events Calendar
Supporter ($Up to $249)
- Basic Business Listing