About the Durango Business Improvement District

Why BID?

Business Improvement Districts exist throughout the country, in large cities and small, and each one has a unique scope of work. What all BIDs have in common, however, is their underlying purpose to improve conditions for businesses in a specific area; attract and retain businesses; and improve the overall experience for those who use the district. A BID enables stakeholders to decide which services to provide to meet the district’s unique needs.

To that end, the Durango Business Improvement District was formed in 1997 with a mission that evolved from the original narrow focus of studying the feasibility of a possible Downtown Conference Center, to a broad brush of sustainability within the District through special event marketing, research on topics of concern to the District (facilities, special events, best practices), planning and development of new facilities, and providing capital budget for equipment that helps support businesses in the District.

The Durango BID is funded by a 1.5 mill levy, or additional property tax constituents in the district have assessed on themselves. The mill levy must be renewed in 2010 for the BID to continue its efforts. Support funding for specific projects has also been provided by the Durango Area Tourism Office and the City of Durango.

Activities at the BID, and within the Historic Downtown, have accelerated in recent years. In partnership with the City, the BID became part of a physical office located at 1199 Main Ave., Suite 210, and acquired a steadily-expanding reserve of outdoor “equipment” to facilitate special events in Downtown. The entities also have teamed up for three “umbrella” marketing programs that collectively support activities in and around Downtown – HOLiDAZZLE, Spring it On! and Fall for Downtown Durango Days.

In addition to supporting events through marketing grants, “branding” the Historic Downtown has become a central focus of the BID. Efforts have gone far to unify “the look” and elevate awareness of the Downtown – so much so that Durango, primarily because of its Historic Downtown, was named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinct Destinations for 2007.

To support guests and enhance their Downtown experience, the BID helped fund and construct, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Durango Area Tourism Office and Fort Lewis College, an informational kiosk in the 700 block of Main Ave. In addition to a wide range of tourist information, visitors receive a BID-developed and sponsored Locator Guide to the district. The map is also provided free of charge to hotels and high traffic locations throughout the town.

To further enhance accessibility in Downtown, to assist the City’s Wayfinding and Signage program, the BID has financed and designed several Business Directories in the Downtown – permanent metal directories featuring the map and information developed for the Locator Guide. Additional framed maps have also been installed in the Transit stop shelters all along Main Ave.

In the wake of a fire in the 700 block of Main Ave. in 2008, the BID took the lead in establishing a community emergency fund to help those business owners and their employees with immediate needs. The fund has now been permanently housed with the Community Foundation of Southwest Colorado – in place to help in the event of future community disasters.

Seeking creative ways to bring folks Downtown, the BID has developed and sponsored “Rhythms of Durango” – a compilation CD featuring an eclectic mix of Durango’s talented musicians and singer/songwriters. While Volumes 1-3 featured a blend of contemporary songs, Volume 4 is “HOLiDAZZLE” – a mix of holiday tunes. “Rhythms” CDs are available at select retailers throughout Downtown and have gone far to help establish Durango as a “live music” town.

Though on the proverbial back burner for some years, hopes for a Downtown Conference and Events Center are still alive with a pending private venture. The BID will continue to support such a development, recognizing, based on extensive study, that such a facility would go far to help sustain businesses in the district.