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Commerce and Culture at the Core

Empowering possibilities downtown. Downtown Wichita is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that amplifies the energy, capital, and growth of downtown by empowering residents, visitors, and businesses to explore the possibilities of our city’s core.

Founded in 2002 as the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation (WDDC), our mission is to cultivate opportunities that revitalize and enhance Wichita’s urban core. We collaborate with stakeholders to stimulate investment and interest in downtown. By connecting resources from the private sector and local government, we steward initiatives that allow commerce and culture to thrive.

Downtown Wichita shows collaborative leadership to strengthen Downtown as:

  • The heart of the city for all citizens
  • An active and prosperous place for businesses and employees
  • A center for artistic and cultural experiences
  • A vibrant urban environment for residents, workers and visitors

Our Structure

Governed by a Board of Directors comprised of Downtown property owners, businesses and stakeholders, and administrated by a professional staff, Downtown Wichita contracts with the City of Wichita to provide development services in the city’s core.  This contract is funded through a Self Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID), designating Downtown as the geographic area bounded by Washington Street, Central Avenue, Kellogg Avenue and the Arkansas River.

While attention and resources are focused on this geographic area, any individual, business, association, corporation, partnership, or other entity interested in contributing to the vitality of Downtown is welcome to collaborate with Downtown Wichita.

Our staff connects entrepreneurs and property owners to information on prospective business locations, sharing relevant market data to help evaluate opportunities for new businesses, develop marketing and promotional strategies, and assist with conceptualizing or implementing construction.

Downtown Wichita is one of three strategic priorities of the Greater Wichita Partnership.