Archive for Resources

Sample Ordinances

Here are a few sample ordinances for reference.

The MA Statutes on BIDS: MA Statute

City of Chicago Special Service Area Number 18: Chicago Sample Ordinance

For the West Colfax Business Improvement District: Denver Ordinance #598

 

2010 US BID Census Report

This summer we had the pleasure of meeting with Carol Becker, who worked on a national study of Business Improvement Districts. The outcome was the very informative “US BID Census Report.”

The study, conducted by the Institute of Business District Management, the Rutgers University’s School of Public Affairs and Administration and funded by several member organizations of the International Downtown Association, presents a snapshot of the characteristics of BIDs in 2010 and captures such information as: the geography of BIDs; revenue sources & budget size; governance & board composition; tools for measuring performance.

You can order a full copy of the report from the International Downtown Association online store: ida-downtown.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?expires=yes&Site=IDA&WebKey=b6309be3-172b-4cc0-8907-037c94906c8a

Media Packet – BID Information Resource

This summer, West Broadway worked with a CURA researcher on Business Improvement District research and planning. The work they did benefited the entire collaborative, and they created an outreach packet that includes some information about the work we are doing and Business Improvement Districts in general.

The packet includes information about the following:

  • WHAT IS A BID?
  • ADVANTAGES OF BIDS:
  • COMMON BID SERVICES
  • SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICTS VS. BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You can download the packet here: BID – MEDIA PACKET (pdf)

Good article: Five Reasons Why Business Improvement Districts are Good Public Policy

“These days, it seems that Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are increasingly under attack. While I can only speak anecdotally, I continue to come across communities facing challenges to BID formation, challenges that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago.

It stands to reason that in the current economic climate, BID formation inevitably slows down as property and business owners express justifiable concern about their bottom line. Yet a wholesale rejection of BIDs is a short-sighted effort to staunch losses that only results in a deeper hole by reducing the resources available to stabilize and enhance downtown communities. Like any asset, downtown requires on-going improvements and investments to compete against newer, shinier shopping environments. Moreover, consumers continue to keep close track of discretionary spending, which means more competition for fewer dollars. It is precisely this cut-throat competitive environment that makes BIDs an extremely valuable tool for downtown in their efforts to attract shoppers.

Here are five reasons why BIDs remain a good option for downtown revitalization.”

You can read the full (and awesome) article here: commercialdistrictadvisor.blogspot.com/2011/06/five-reasons-why-business-improvement.html