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Mission Statement
The Downtown Norfolk Council (DNC) is committed to effectively serving its members, the Business Improvement District Ratepayers, the City and the region. The organization is recognized as a leader, an advocate and a resource in assuring that Downtown is a safe, clean, attractive and vital place.Annual Report
Read about DNC's 2007 accomplishments and 2008's goals. DNC's Annual Report was released at the 2007 Annual Meeting Luncheon on June 21, 2007.Descriptive History
The Downtown Norfolk Development Corporation, t/a Downtown Norfolk Council was created in 1979 to bring together the interest of downtown’s private sector community with the interests of the city administration and elected leaders. A 501C-6 organization, the charter was amended in 1984 to allow the organization to have members. Since that time, membership in the organization has tripled and participation has broadened to include virtually every facet of downtown life - from those in the corporate and business world to those who live downtown.Over the years, the Downtown Norfolk Council has made an impact on downtown through significant programs including the creation of the Downtown Norfolk Historic District and the annual award-winning Holidays in the City program. The Downtown Norfolk Council often works behind the scenes through creative problem solving and through the facilitation of discussions with downtown’s diverse interest groups.
In 1999, the Downtown Norfolk Council contracted with the City of Norfolk to manage the newly formed Business Improvement District. DNC led the effort that resulted in the Business Improvement District and as a result, additional resources were brought to bear on the marketing of downtown, the cleanliness of downtown and the improvement of perceptions as they pertain to the safety and friendliness of downtown.
Through a disciplined annual planning and implementation process, the Downtown Norfolk Council identifies and addresses the needs of downtown and works diligently to serve effectively as a liaison between private business and city government.
Meetings and Events
The Downtown Norfolk Council manages a web-based calendar of all downtown events. Click here to access this detailed calendar of downtown happenings. DNC is also directly responsible for a variety of events; some promotional in nature and open to the public-at-large and some dedicated to assuring a high level of communication with our membership and downtown’s unique constituent groups. For information on any of these events, or to see how you might become involved, call the DNC office at 757-623-1757 or email dnc@downtownnorfolk.org.Public Promotional Events
Holidays in the City
Restaurant Week
Annual Meeting
Monthly Membership Events
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Member Briefing
Restaurant Coalition
Public Safety Coalition
DNC Executive Committee & Board Of Directors Meetings
Downtown Norfolk Council Executive Committee Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month at 3:30 pm. The monthly Board of Director’s meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each month at 8:00 am. Unless otherwise noted, these meetings are held in the DNC Conference Room.
DNC Annual Meeting
The DNC Annual Meeting is a celebration of the past year’s accomplishments and a time to announce the goals for the coming year. More than 500 people join in this celebration each year as new officers and directors are elected for the coming year and a coveted award is presented to our Downtowner of the Year. The Annual Meeting is also the time to recognize an "unsung hero" with the presentation of the Roy D. Badgley Distinguished Service Award.
Member Briefings
DNC’s monthly Member Briefings are designed to keep downtowners "in the know". Held on the first Wednesday of each month, members of the Downtown Norfolk Council meet to hear and discuss what is happening in downtown Norfolk. The briefings start at 8:00 am with a continental breakfast allowing time for networking and conclude with a program on a topic important to the downtown community. Programs, speakers and meeting locations vary, but the intent of each meeting is the same - to communicate with our members and allow them to communicate with each other.
Holidays In The City
Holidays in the City, coordinated by the Downtown Norfolk Council is an annual celebration of holiday events including Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve. Holidays in the City always begins on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving when the signature holiday skyline is illuminated. Thousands flock to downtown Norfolk on opening night to see the lights come on and to enjoy the Grand Illumination Parade that proudly brings Santa Claus to town.
Throughout the holiday season, events in both downtown Norfolk and Olde Towne Portsmouth are highlighted and the sights and sounds of the season enliven both historic downtowns.
