P.U.M.A. - Projects: Recent Work

Organizational Development

P.U.M.A. is a national leader in the emerging field of downtown and business district management. We help create, grow and refocus public/private partnership organizations that maintain, market and manage business districts.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
"Downtown Cedar Rapids Strategic Plan: Organizational Blueprint and SSMID Business Plan" (June 2006);
P.U.M.A. worked with downtown property owners, businesses and civic leaders to develop a new organizational blueprint and to help renew the self-supported municipal improvement district (SSMID). The existing 20 year-old SSMID has helped to finance extensive streetscaping and improvements. After its renewal, the SSMID will refocus to support marketing and economic development activities to attract new businesses and vitality. The blueprint for the Downtown District envisages a downtown holding company that connects the renewed SSMID and a new community development corporation.

Prepared for the Cedar Rapids Downtown District;
Jamie Licko, former Executive director (303) 628-5592

Chandler, Arizona
"Business Plan for the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership"
"Downtown Chandler Enhanced Municipal Services District Plan" (September 2005);
P.U.M.A. facilitated a participatory process to develop a ten-year business plan for the Downtwon Chandler Community Partnership. The plan includes the creation of an enhanced municipal services district (i.e. BID) to finance marketing and public safety activities, plus the creation of a community development corporation to advance economic development. At the request of downtown property and business owners, the Chandler City Council initiated the process to form the enhanced municipal service district in late 2005.

Prepared for the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership;
Ernie Serrano, Jr., Chairman (480) 899-7379

Birmingham, Alabama
"Downtown Birmingham Development Activation Strategy" (January 2004);
P.U.M.A. created a blueprint for a downtown redevelopment authority. The process included a survey of best practices from comparable markets and meetings with business and civic leaders to develop a consensus-based approach. The blueprint includes recommendations to create a downtown community development corporation and a new holding company structure to better connect downtown organizations.

Prepared for Operation New Birmingham;
Michael Calvert, President (205) 324-8797

Denver, Colorado
"Business Plan for Historic Denver, Inc." (May 2002);
Business plan for one of the nation's premier historic preservation advocacy organizations. The plan examined HDI as a collection of business centers, providing a variety of recommendations including revenue enhancement, staff redeployment and operations of a museum property. Individual discussions were held with all board members and the plan was completed and ratified at a board of directors planning retreat.

Prepared for Historic Denver, Inc.;
Kathleen Brooker, President (303) 534-5288

Santa Monica, California
"Strategic Planning Workshop for Three BIDs" (March 2001);
Planning and facilitation of a one-day strategic planning workshop for the boards and directors from three business improvement districts. The agenda included identification of issues that affect each BID and methods for collaboratively addressing common challenges.

Prepared for the City of Santa Monica;
Gwen Pentecost, Economic Development Department (310) 458-8756

Springfield, Missouri
"Center City Springfield Organizational & Capital Development Plan" (1996);
"Business Plan for the Downtown Springfield CID" (1999);
"Downtown Strategic Plan Update" (2003);
Business plan to create a new public/private community development corporation to advance the revitalization of Springfield's Center City. Nine lending institutions invested equity in the corporate finance projects. P.U.M.A. was later retained to assist in the creation of a community improvement district, and most recently retained to facilitate an update of the downtown strategic plan.

Prepared for the City of Springfield and Urban Districts Alliance;
Mary Lilly-Smith, City of Springfield (417) 864-1094

Stockton, California
"Business Plan for the Downtown Stockton Alliance" (1996);
"Plan for the Downtown Stockton Management District" (1997);
Organizational development plan for a new public/private partnership based upon the entrepreneurial holding company concept. A property-based business improvement district was approved by property owners, establishing an annual revenue source of $500,000.

Prepared for the Downtown Stockton Alliance and the City of Stockton;
Steve Pinkerton, Director of Redevelopment (209) 937-8810

Arvada, Colorado
"Business Plan for an Olde Town Marketing & Management Organization" (November 2000);
Research, community outreach and plan development to create a self-sustaining downtown marketing and management organization. Several options were evaluated, resulting in recommendations to create a non-profit membership organization providing marketing, economic development and special events. The organizational development strategy is designed to build gradual support for a business improvement district.

Prepared for the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority;
Tim Steinhaus, Executive Director (303) 431-3025

Kingston, Jamaica
"Business Plan for the Downtown Kingston Management District" (1997);
5-year business plan to guide the provision of maintenance, security and marketing services by the Downtown Kingston Management District. The plan allows for organizational growth based upon voluntary dues from businesses plus revenue-producing enterprises such as garbage collection. P.U.M.A. provided assistance to a USAID team developing business improvement district legislation for Jamaica.

Prepared for the International City Management Association;
Robert Dubinsky, Project Coordinator (202) 962-3536

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