ONE WEEK AWAY: Second Annual Downtown Syracuse Employee Appreciation Week Starts Monday

Syracuse, NY – The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. is excited to announce the return of Downtown Syracuse Employee Appreciation Week. The Downtown Committee is partnering with dozens of Downtown businesses and organizations to present the second annual celebration, which kicks off Monday, September 16 and continues through Friday, September 20. Most of the free events and activities are built around traditional Downtown lunch hours designed to capture Downtown employees at a point(s) in their day that is most convenient for them to participate.

New this year, the Downtown Committee is partnering with Gotcha’s Syracuse Sync Bike Share Program to offer FREE guided bicycle rides Monday through Thursday at 12:00 pm. Following the bike rides, participants will be treated to lunch at Oh My Darling, courtesy of the restaurant. Also happening each of these days, one Downtown organization will hold a Lunch & Learn session tailored to items of interest identified by Downtown employees, including Leadership, Health & Wellness, Promotion/Branding and Financial Fitness. Lunch will be provided at all sessions. Links to register for all of the Gotcha Syracuse Sync Bike Share rides and the Lunch & Learns are provided at the Downtown Committee’s website (http://DowntownSyracuse.com/EAW). Spots are limited; early registration is encouraged.

In addition to the lunchtime activities, Employee Appreciation Week will feature visual elements such as: • The return of the Downtown Syracuse Post-It Note War: For those who may not be able to step away from the office, the Downtown Committee looks forward to seeing creativity on display in windows! Back by popular demand, the Post-It Note War will resume next week. Employees are encouraged to design a fun image or message on their office window(s). They may work individually or rally colleagues to participate. They must use Post-It notes to create the design – or a comparable “sticky note” paper – and submit pictures of the completed design(s) by Thursday, September 19 at 11:59 pm (send images to mail@DowntownSyracuse.com) to be eligible for a grand prize. Click here for full contest rules. Voting will open electronically to the community on Friday, September 20. The FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 9, 2019 CONTACT: Alice Maggiore 315-470-1953 amaggiore@downtownsyracuse.com 115 West Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13202 315-422-8284 www.downtownsyracuse.com Downtown Syracuse Employee Appreciation Week Returns Next Week winner will be announced in the 9/26 edition of the Downtown Committee’s News & Events electronic newsletter.

• The return of the Downtown Coffee Break: Before Downtown employees start their workdays on Thursday, September 19, they’re invited to treat themselves to a free coffee and snack at an hourlong Downtown Coffee Break. The Downtown Coffee Break, to be “brewed” between 8:00 am and 9:00 am on the Tech Garden Plaza (map) is a partnership between Café Kubal and the Downtown Committee. This is the third consecutive year that the event has been held. It inspired the inception of Downtown Syracuse Employee Appreciation Week.

• Friday Finale Event to feature Tug of War & Office Olympics: Downtown Syracuse Employee Appreciation Week will culminate with a series of friendly office competitions in M. Lemp Park on Friday, September 20 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Employees are encouraged to sign-up to participate in the various events listed below, or come to watch the fun! Plus, Downtown employees are invited to enjoy $1 samples from participating Downtown restaurants (including The Brine Well Eatery and Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen).

o The Downtown Syracuse YMCA will host a Tug of War competition and lawn games. To sign-up a team of six people, send the Downtown Committee a note at mail@DowntownSyracuse.com. The first round of the single-elimination competition begins at 12:15 pm.

o Meanwhile, CH Insurance will host “Office Olympics,” featuring a Water Cooler Race, Downtown B(r)ANDing Competition and a Paper Clip Chain Making Competition. The premise of each “Olympic Competition” is provided here.

o The Syracuse Crunch will be on hand, inviting participants to spin the prize wheel!

A complete schedule of all events is provided on the Downtown Committee’s website (http://DowntownSyracuse.com/EAW). *Please note, all events and activities are designed for those who work in the 13202 zip code. Registration spots are limited.

The Downtown Committee’s Employee Appreciation Week was first introduced in 2018 with two goals in mind: First, to thank Downtown’s 29,000+ employees for choosing to invest in Downtown Syracuse by making this their workplace home, and secondly, to showcase the diverse array of businesses and amenities that contribute to a vibrant Downtown quality of life.

“Employee Appreciation Week is intended to offer a fun array of events and activities, designed to thank Downtown employees for their contributions to Downtown’s positive energy,” said Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse. “Every employee adds to Downtown’s exciting atmosphere. Many extend their ‘Downtown days’ by shopping in retail stores, enjoying lunch and/or dinner with colleagues and friends, and bringing their families back on the weekends to attend events. In some cases, they may even move their families to live in Downtown Syracuse. Our employees give Downtown its pulse, and this is our way of celebrating the spirit they bring to our community.”

The Downtown Committee would like to thank M&T Bank for its corporate support.

About the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc.

The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit, professional downtown management organization representing all property owners and tenants within the central business district. The Downtown Committee undertakes programs to improve downtown's image, strengthen its economic base, increase its attractiveness, and assure that it's clean, safe and accessible. For more information, visit http://downtownsyracuse.com.

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