The February issue of industry newsletter "Downtown Promotion Reporter" explores how branded public parking can raise awareness that there is plentiful affordable parking in downtown, and about where to find it. Additionally, offering price breaks, such as a first hour free in downtown garages, can be helpful in giving downtown marketers something to talk up. For example, the City of Lincoln offers several discount programs including the following:
* i-Park Card: This prepaid card eliminates the need for cash payments. Participants receive a 20% discount when spending at least $20.
* Park & Shop: The Park & Shop program is intended to allow downtown businesses the opportunity to thank patrons by validating parking. One-hour validation tickets cost $.30 and four-hour tickets cost $2.20.
* Park & Learn Card: For students who are attending classes in the downtown area, this provides a 45% discount, eliminates the need for cash payments, and reduces the time it takes to exit a parking facility.
* Star Park: Star Park allows businesses to validate their customer's parking for between one and eight hours and receive a 50% discount off the first hour of parking. Each additional hour is charged at the regular rate. The cost for a business to establish this validation program is $60. Merchants are invoiced for the total dollar amount of all redeemed tickets bearing their stamp, less a 50% discount on the first hour of parking on each ticket. Star Park stamps are valid at all city-owned garages during regular business hours.
