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BIDs, DDAs & Other Districts
For more than 30 years, we have worked across the country to create more than 90 business improvement districts (BIDs), downtown development authorities (DDA), and other districts that collectively generate more than $100 million annually to maintain, market, and activate downtowns and other commercial areas. Selected project examples are featured below.
Spokane, Washington
Downtown Spokane BID Management Plan (2023): P.U.M.A. worked with the Downtown Spokane Partnership on two parallel processes to complete both a BID management plan and a new organizational strategic plan. The BID management plan offers suggested changes to BID services and its work program, three distinct options for BID assessment methodology moving forward that address longstanding challenges, expansion recommendations, and governance recommendations.
Norfolk, Nebraska
BID Feasibility & Downtown Management Plan (2023): P.U.M.A. was hired by the City of Norfolk to create a management plan and explore options for creating a new special assessment district in downtown Norfolk. Over the last 10 years, downtown has emerged as an economic hub, cultural anchor, and regional destination. The plan seeks to ensure this momentum is sustained by identifying opportunities to streamline the management and financing of improvements in downtown Norfolk.
Frederick, Maryland
Ambassador Program Funding Evaluation (2023): The Downtown Frederick Partnership sought PU.M.A.’s assistance in helping to identify sustainable, long-term funding for its new Ambassador Program. P.U.M.A. conducted stakeholder outreach to understand the merits and ambitions of the program, and best practice research on comparable programs in other downtowns regionally. With this intel in mind, the report then identified 13 different funding options, detailed pros and cons for each, and rated each option using a four-pronged evaluation tool.
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville BID Feasibility Report (2023): P.U.M.A. was retained by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce in early 2023 to evaluate the feasibility of creating business improvement districts (BIDs) throughout Asheville. Three districts were evaluated – Downtown, the River Arts District, and West Asheville. The process consisted of district field work, stakeholder outreach in each area, property database development and analysis, and the creation of a feasibility report that gave each district a “BID-readiness” score. The report recommended that Downtown was BID-ready, while the other two districts were not at the time. In late 2023, Downtown moved forward towards the next step in BID formation with a goal to form by mid-2024.
Parker, Colorado
Parker BID Formation (2023): In partnership with Downtown Colorado, Inc., Parker’s Downtown Business Alliance hired P.U.M.A. to evaluate the feasibility and lead the formation of a business improvement district (BID). P.U.M.A. conducted analysis of potential BID boundaries and desired services, provided education on BIDs, and guided outreach among local business and property owners. The resulting BID and associated mill levy were approved in 2023 with an initial operating budget of $110,000.
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (2022): The P.U.M.A. team, in partnership with Traverse City-based Parallel Solutions, worked with the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to answer two key questions: what is next for Downtown Traverse City, and what is next for the DDA. The final report includes observations and recommendations regarding priorities for future physical public improvements, future services, a governance model to support the future vision for downtown, and financing tools. Learn about the process on the Traverse City DDA’s Moving Downtown Forward webpage.
Littleton, Colorado
Downtown Development Authority Formation (2022): P.U.M.A. provided guidance to the City of Littleton and a team of downtown and community leaders in their effort to create a downtown development authority (DDA). The process included extensive downtown stakeholder and community outreach, the creation of a Plan of Development to guide the DDA, and a successful campaign to win affected property owner, business, and resident support for establishing the DDA, creating tax increment financing authority, and a mill levy to fund district operations.
Long Beach, California
Downtown Long Beach Alliance (2022): Downtown Long Beach Alliance hired P.U.M.A. to refresh its mission, goals and objectives, organizational culture, and operations, resulting in “Downtown Long Beach Alliance Strategic Plan: Roadmap to Recovery, Resilience, and Inclusion.” The plan informed the subsequent business improvement district renewal effort, which raised rates by more than 35% and was approved by more than 80% of ratepayers.
Atlanta, Georgia
Field Operations Assessment and Implementation Strategy (2022): P.U.M.A. was hired by the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District to help address evolving clean and safe challenges in the downtown. Stakeholder feedback as well as findings from extensive fieldwork and an internal operations assessment were analyzed to inform recommendations, which included refreshing the clean and safe field operations and creating a more integrated approach for management of all maintenance, public safety, and social impact services.
San Jose, California
Downtown PBID Renewal (2022): Informed by the pandemic stabilization plan created with P.U.M.A. in 2020, the San Jose Downtown Association continued to work with P.U.M.A. to undertake strategic planning to guide the subsequent renewal of the Downtown property-based business improvement district. Downtown San Jose stakeholder groups were surveyed for input to craft the PBID renewal plan that builds on clean and safe services and adds new approaches in social impact, economic development, beautification, placemaking, and communications. The new PBID renewal plan, which expanded district boundaries, consolidated two benefit zones into one and increased the district budget by nearly 40%, was approved by property owners in a landslide vote of 88%.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Downtown DID Reauthorization (2021): P.U.M.A. provided guidance to Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. in the renewal of its downtown improvement district (DID). In concert with DID board and staff leadership, P.U.M.A. evaluated rates, assessment methods, boundaries, and snowmelt procedures. Ultimately, the renewal moved forward with support from the downtown Grand Rapids community.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach State of BIDs (2021): P.U.M.A. was hired by the Long Beach Council of Business Associations (COBA) to conduct research on the nearly dozen BIDs that exist in the City of Long Beach. The report, designed with graphic standards to communicate to a variety of constituencies, will be used as a tool to inform elected officials, civic leaders, BID managers, and the public at-large about the vital role BIDs play in delivering clean & safe services, spurring economic activity, and advocating on behalf of ratepayers. The report highlights collective impact metrics, profiles individual BIDs, and offers recommendations related to collaboration with the City of Long Beach, financial and technical resources, data collection and reporting, and collective action.
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