By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY – Now Downtown Salisbury, Inc. events and notifications can be sent straight to mobile devices.

Downtown Salisbury, Inc has launched a new mobile app called Downtown Salisbury. The app officially launched in June but the organization started pushing the app in August.

The app is still in its beginning stages and being tweaked, but it is currently available for download in the App Store for Apple phones and Google Play Store for Android phones.

Bobby Lucas, sponsorship coordinator for DSI, said the new app is a good way to promote businesses and the activities going on downtown.

“Everybody’s right here,” he said, holding up his cell phone.

The app includes a map and list of downtown restaurants, bed and breakfasts, shops and ATMs. There is also a listing of upcoming and past events, including a spot to buy tickets for Wine about Winter, the annual wine tasting crawl coming up in February.

When a user selects one of the restaurants or shops, the app provides the business hours, a short description, directions and a place to call or email the business from the app or go to the business’ website.

Users have the option to receive push notifications from the app about upcoming events.

There will also be chances to win prizes during contests only available on the app.

“It’s a great tool to have for promotion,” Lucas said.

Katelin Rice, promotions coordinator, said the app is also a good tool for DSI. While the organization will continue to print posters, flyers and brochures, Rice said the app is a good way to update information quickly.

“It’s a faster way to get things out to the masses,” she said.

The other thing about printed promotional material is that people only see it if they are at a location that has the material available. A mobile app is available anywhere.

Rice said the app is a good way to reach a younger generation who may look to their phones before going to a website on a computer.

Some other features of the app include a tip calculator, links to DSI’s social media pages, and a fan wall where users can post comments. The “Our Gallery” feature links to DSI’s Instagram page and includes pictures from downtown events, and users can email pictures of themselves in downtown to include in the “Downtown Cam” feature.

If the user decides to allow push notifications, they can also be sent reminders when they get close to the downtown area of events going on that may reroute traffic, like parades or bicycle races, using geofencing.

A sponsors page will be added to the app in the near future.

DSI has also rolled out a new user- and mobile-friendly website.

With the new app, Lucas said DSI was “just trying to have a good tool for everybody.”

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.