Summer interns surveyed 35 downtown businesses; call for better city–business communication, small grants and events

Summer interns in the City of Petersburg Economic Development Department presented findings from a four‑week downtown business outreach project on Oct. 7, 2025, reporting that local merchants want cleaner and safer streets, more unified communication from the city, small grants, cultural events and workforce skill building.

Interns said they visited or attempted to contact 35 businesses in the historic downtown. Their compiled data showed 54.3% of engaged businesses had been open more than five years; 45.7% had been operating fewer than five years. Key themes gathered from interviews, surveys and walk‑through observations included:
- Safety and cleanliness: six businesses raised concerns (examples cited: unsafe sidewalks on Old Street, speeding on North Sycamore Street, parking constraints).
- City communication: five businesses asked for more unified outreach and suggested roundtable or “roundhouse” meetings to coordinate openings, events and promotional efforts.
- Business development funding: four businesses asked for small grants and funds to assist with disasters and development needs.
- Cultural development and marketing: nine businesses said increased festivals and events would extend visitor stays and show downtown is “more than just food.”
- Workforce skills and business start‑up support: multiple businesses recommended training and simplified processes for new business creation; seven businesses (all under five years old) reported difficulty in starting and sustaining operations.

Interns presented these findings as recommendations for council and staff, asking officials to “listen to the heart of Petersburg” and consider targeted investments and programming. Joshua Lee, a local videographer who assisted interns on outreach and a recap video, accompanied the presentation.

Economic Development staff said the interns’ report will feed into ongoing planning and outreach; staff invited council to continue engagement with downtown businesses and to consider the interns’ proposed actions (regular merchant meetings, small grants, cultural programming and skill‑building workshops).