Downtown is Ready For You.

Downtown Fort Worth Updates Due to Coronavirus

As we continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19, we are here to support our business owners, Downtown residents, office workers, and visitors by keeping you informed about the ways in which this is affecting Downtown.

The Downtown Clean Team and Downtown Ambassadors continue to make our city cleaner, safer and more inviting and our restaurants and retailers are open for business.

If you have information about your business that you would like to share on this page, or our Downtown's social media pages, please email Beckyf@dfwi.org and Nicole@dfwi.org.

DISTRICT OPERATIONS

Downtown Fort Worth’s Clean Team and Ambassadors have been carrying out their duties, from sweeping streets to mowing and planting to collecting recyclables. They’ve also taken on new tasks designed to keep the center city safer such as sanitizing high-touch point areas and power washing with sanitizer solution. If you need assistance, please let us know.

DINING & RETAIL

Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order, effective March 10, 2021, lifting the mask mandate in Texas and increasing the capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100%. Businesses may still limit capacity or implement additional safety protocols at their own discretion.

Restaurateurs and retailers are a big reason that Downtown Fort Worth is one of the top urban areas in the United States. In these uncertain and unusual times, they need our support. Business hours may be affected and many of our restaurants will continue to offer curbside, take-out, and delivery options in addition to modified dine-in service.

Please visit our Downtown Dining Update page.

RETAIL

For our list of retail updates, click here.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Due to the coronavirus outbreak and CDC recommendations for preventing the spread of the virus, many events have been rescheduled, canceled, or moved to a virtual experience. Please visit our event page for more information.

Texas A&M School of Law Webinar Series
- Click here for a free webinar series addressing business bankruptcy, employment issues, and business issues during the Coronavirus pandemic. Upcoming and previously recorded webinars available.
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Leaders Online Virtual Learning Sessions
- Click here to view the upcoming and previously recorded free sessions.
MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival - VIRTUAL EVENT
- Visit MAIN ST.’s Facebook page for a virtual arts festival experience, where you can browse exclusive artwork, watch performances from your favorite local artists, and much more! #MainStFromHome.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT - November 30

COMMERCIAL GAINS AND PROMOTION - The promise of a vaccine or sustained infection rate drops seem to be the linchpins upon which some companies are making return-to-work decisions. Thankfully, we are seeing a return of employees to Downtown oﬃce buildings and greater traﬃc to Downtown’s restaurants and street-level retailers. Some restaurants are reporting double-digit gains every month since reopening. However, the numbers are still oﬀ signiﬁcantly and the ongoing challenges cannot be ignored...read full message here.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT - May 22

This week the Governor expanded openings for restaurants to 50% capacity. Bars, gyms, nail salons, hair salons and other personal services are permitted to open with limits as well.

Things are not back to normal - yet. The Convention Center is still being used as an emergency homeless shelter and plans are to have it close in mid-June.

Some hotels have not announced a reopening date and some retailers may not reopen. Parking garage usage is still running lower than usual, a sign that offices are still implementing work from...read full message here.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT - May 7

Your City Awaits

In the Star-Telegram a couple weeks ago, you saw downtown on the front page twice. The first story featured Sundance Square businesses who shared optimism about the future and restaurants retooling by making to-go orders their temporary business model. The other was a photo of an empty Main Street at mid-day, a stark image representing the entire city pulling together to flatten the curve.

These two stories happening in downtown at the same time...read full message here.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT - April 24

As we await the reopening of the economy, talk of "flattening the curve" is giving way to "what is the new normal?"

Based on history, the new normal will be the old normal. Our technology changes, our built environment changes, our modes of transportation advance...but human beings want to be together. We need to be together. Feel that tension in your head or in your house or out there? That's people wanting to be together....read full message here.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT - March 24

While business as usual has been halted for the duration of this national effort to flatten the curve, business has not stopped. Restaurants have retooled and are serving to go orders. For those who have come downtown recently, you have seen that TPW and contractor crews are doing infrastructure work while our sidewalks and streets are less busy. Stories of neighbors helping neighbors and businesses helping first responders are reminding us that we are all in this together...read full message here.

Resources & Information

Tarrant County

TARRANT COUNTY COVID-19 INFORMATION

Tarrant County Executive Order extended through May 25, 2021 - "All entities in Tarrant County, including sole proprietorships, shall continue to enforce its Health and Safety Policy developed and implemented pursuant to the June Executive Order. Said Health and Safety Policy must require, at a minimum, that all employees and visitors to the entity's business premises wear face coverings over the nose and mouth when in an area or performing an activity which will necessarily involve close contact or proximity to co-workers or the public."

City of Fort Worth

CITY OF FORT WORTH - ABOUT COVID-19

City of Fort Worth Resources for Reopening

Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott

Governor Abbott Lifted Mask Mandate in Texas and Increases Capacity of all Businesses and Facilities in the state to 100% - March 10, 2021.

Governor Abbott Expands Capacity For Certain Services In Texas, Announces Guidance For Nursing Home, Long-Term Care Visitations - 9/17/20

Governor Abbott Extends Statewide COVID-19 Disaster Declaration - 7/10/2020

Governor Abbott Establishes Statewide Face Covering Requirement, Issues Proclamation To Limit Gatherings - 7/2/2020

Governor Abbott Takes Executive Action To Contain Spread Of COVID-19 (posted 6/26/2020)

Governor Abbott Announces Approval Of Emergency Designation For Small Business Disaster Loans From U.S. Small Business Administration

COVID-19: Guidance for Employers, Employees, and Customers of Reopened Retail Services

Business Resources

City of Fort Worth - COVID-19 Business Resources

City of Fort Worth / PeopleFund - Microloan Program

City of Fort Worth & United Way - Preserve the Fort: Small Business Grant Program

Facebook - Small Business Grants Program

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce - COVID-19 Resources

The New Normal - This innovative program is designed to support Fort Worth’s economic and emotional recovery through both service and art and will culminate in the creation of an important and profound body of work that interprets and documents the uniquely Fort Worth experience, during these uncertain, surreal, and often worrisome times.

Get Shift Done - A relief fund and initiative launched in North Texas to address both affected service workers who have lost their paychecks and immediate support for the demand of the non-profits, especially with respect to hunger relief.

North Texas Cares - A funder collaborative made up of North Texas foundations and United Ways that have come together to provide support for organizations that work with people and communities who may be most negatively affected by COVID-19.

Protect the Fort: Small Business Grant Program

Small Business Administration - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

Sounds of Resilience - A Fort Worth musician’s grant program designed to help get musicians back in the studio and up on the stage.

United Way of Tarrant County, Hear Fort Worth and Film Fort Worth Extend Creative Industry Relief Fund

U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist

Visit Fort Worth - Reopen Fort Worth Responsibly