Live City Centers – the first focus group entrepreneurial consultations have taken place.

During the conversations, local entrepreneurs, professional stakeholders, and chamber partners shared their experiences regarding the challenges facing commercial and service businesses operating in urban centers today.

Miskolc: Community Initiatives and Serious Challenges

One important takeaway from the discussions in Miskolc was that grassroots entrepreneurial communities, such as the Miskolc Downtown Circle or the Miskolc Soho, are already present in the city with the aim of revitalizing the downtown area and strengthening local community life.

At the same time, entrepreneurs highlighted several problems:

• the shrinking purchasing power,
• the intensification of social issues observable in the downtown area,
• the increasing number of vacant commercial properties,
• as well as the declining attractiveness of the city center.

According to participants, to halt this trend, it would require:

• quality cultural programs,
• stronger urban marketing,
• the inclusion of new functions and businesses,
• as well as more active collaboration from the municipality and other urban stakeholders.

Sopron: Challenges of a "Sleeping City"

In Sopron, different types of problems have emerged. According to entrepreneurs, the city has gradually lost its previously vibrant downtown and tourist character in recent years, and now operates as a "sleeping city" in many respects.

The participants highlighted:

• the significant decline in tourism,
• the difficulties in engaging younger generations,
• parking issues,
• as well as the lack of urban-level strategic thinking.

During the discussion, several participants recalled the previously functioning Várker Kör, which organized joint events and actions with the cooperation of local entrepreneurs. The operation of the initiative was previously supported by the local government; however, the COVID pandemic interrupted this process, and since then it has not been possible to rebuild the previous collaborations.

According to entrepreneurs, the city needs:

• new attractions,
• quality cultural programs,
• events targeting young people,
• as well as tourist offerings that encourage longer stays.

The work continues

The focus group events marked the first exploratory phase of the Living City program, supported by Urbavis. In the coming months, further research, location analyses, and professional consultations will help define what specific development and collaboration opportunities can support the renewal of the city centers of the two cities.

The program is being implemented under the coordination of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in cooperation with the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Sopron Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and under the professional leadership of the Shopping Street Management.