Improving conditions for businesses, attracting and retaining businesses, and improve the overall experience for those who use the district.
History of BID & Board Of Directors
Business Improvement Districts (BID) 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 has evolved from the original narrow focus of studying the feasibility of a possible Conference Center, to a broad brush of sustainability within the District through marketing programs, special event support and management, and capital projects that helps support businesses in the District. The District’s boundaries are the Central Business District and North Main Avenue to the city limits.
The Durango BID is funded by a 2 mill levy, an additional property tax constituents in the district have assessed on themselves, through 2025. Support funding for specific projects has also been provided by the City of Durango, the Durango Area Tourism Office, and the Durango Chamber of Commerce.
BID has a physical office located at 850 1/2 Main Ave., Suite 2. It has assisted in acquisition of a steadily-expanding reserve of event equipment and supplies to facilitate special events in the District. BID produces four seasonal marketing programs that collectively support activities in and around Downtown - Spectacular Spring, Sunsational Summer, Fabulous Fall and Wondrous Winter. BID has also added four shop local campaigns to its annual marketing work. BID works with the City on the flower barrels in Downtown each summer, and operates a gum removal machine to keep the sidewalks free of unsightly gum. BID also partners with the City, DATO, and Chamber on the Downtown Ambassador program. BID also manages a handful of events, and provides guidance, planning assistance and marketing for other events.
Please consider signing up for BID's weekly E-Newsletter that is published every Wednesday. You will receive accurate and timely information from us once a week.
BID also hosts a monthly meeting for Downtown and North Main District business owners, and anyone interested in activities in the District. BID's Coffee and Conversation meeting is held every month on the second Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 am at TBK. Everyone is invited! BID hosts an every other month meeting just for business owners in the North Main District. BID's monthly board meetings are also open to the public. Click HERE for a list of all upcoming meetings, and a few days before each meeting an agenda will be posted on that page.
When James Allred first came to Durango as a boy to ski Purgatory in 1982, little did he realize that he would return 25 years later to realize a notable career and raise a family. James, his wife Stephanie and their daughters Annissa and Abigail are happy to live in such a vibrant community.
Originally from Flagstaff, Ariz., James is General Manager/Owner of Eolus Bar & Dining in the heart of Downtown Durango. He admits the desire to play (mainly ski) during the day, and work at night, led to a career in the restaurant industry. Stints in Jackson, Wyo., Boca Grande, Fla., Eugene, Ore., Salt Lake City, and Telluride convinced James that the place to live was southwest Colorado, and Durango was a perfect spot to reside and raise a family.
In 2007 the Allred family moved to Durango to fulfill his vision. The Allreds are active in a wide variety of activities, including skiing, hiking, biking, disc golf and, of course, playing with their much beloved Golden Retriever, Chapman.
Ashley Gonnella is originally from Jackson, WY but has called southern Colorado home for almost 15 years. Being raised in the mountains has led to a lifelong passion for the outdoors, and from a young age Ashley found the outdoor industry an easy fit. After graduating from Colorado State University with a major in Apparel Design, Ashley had her first stint in the outdoor industry working for Toad & Co Apparel in southern California. A few years later the mountains beckoned, and Ashley moved to Durango to be with her now husband Jeremy.
Owning and operating the long-standing outdoor gear and apparel store Pine Needle Mountaineering in Downtown Durango was their next adventure. After that was expansion. The couple opened a second store, Pine Needle Dry Goods, in the Fall of 2018. In partnership with Patagonia, Dry Goods has given Ashley the opportunity to bring a unique retail experience to Downtown Durango. Two kids later (Fin, 6 and Neve, 4) Ashley is committed to raising her family in Durango and believes in small communities with big hearts. Ashley joined BID in 2021 and represents the retail sector in Downtown.
Geoff Overington is the Employing Broker and General Manager of Keller Williams Realty Southwest Associates in Durango, Colorado. Although not a native, Geoff was raised in Durango. He moved to the west coast of Florida for about a ten years after graduating Durango High School and then returned to Durango in 1995 with his wife, Karen, and their two (then) small children. First licensed in Colorado in 1995, Geoff spent the first five years in real estate listing and selling with his wife and business partner, Karen. He became the company’s Sales Manager in 2000 and Broker in 2005. During his years as manager, he has trained and coached agents in providing knowledgeable assistance, focusing on areas of expertise, monitoring industry trends and maintaining constant communication with customers and clients. Geoff works to maintain the company’s image and reputation in the market, to ensure the company is known for honesty and integrity, and to provide a higher level of customer service and the best value in client representation.
Accomplishments: 27 years in Colorado real estate; 10 years in commercial banking; extensive training and contract knowledge; member of local charity and community boards; economic development advocate for Durango and La Plata County; Past President of the Durango Area Association of Realtors; Past Colorado Association of Realtors Director (DAAR); Past Realtor of the Year.
bio coming soon
Originally from Rhode Island, Carly Van Hof Thomson earned a BS in Restaurant & Resort Management from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. After several years training managers for Breads of the World (Panera Bread), Carly moved to Durango in 2009 with her husband, Chris, a Corporal for the Durango Police Department. In Durango, Carly continued to develop her career at Purgatory Ski Resort for over 7 years, eventually leading the Food & Beverage team and overseeing operations of nine Food & Beverage outlets. In 2017, Carly joined the team at Zia Taqueria. Now co-owner of Zia Taqueria and SAGE – Farm Fresh Eats, Carly represents the North Main District on the BID board.
Carly is the proud mom to two active Durango kids, Ada (14) and Grady (9) and enjoys living, working, and giving back in our amazing community.
Tanya Clegg is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Business Improvement District.
Most recently Tanya served for four years as Underwriting Manager/Assistant Development Director for KSUT Public Radio. Over the years, her position also evolved into managing the station’s fundraisers, including the popular Annual Silent Auction and Party in the Park. As Underwriting Manager, she worked closely with some 300 businesses in the region and led KSUT to record underwriting sales each year.
A graduate of Colorado State University with a BA in Speech Communications, Tanya was raised in Breckenridge, Colo. enjoying ski racing, horseback riding and the “mountain life.” After spending time in Fort Collins and Denver following her graduation from CSU, she moved to Durango in 2001 to reconnect with small-town life as well as family.
She served as Volunteer Coordinator for the Adaptive Sports Association for nearly five years upon her arrival in town, and her subsequent positions, before joining KSUT, include Volunteer Events Coordinator for the Humane Society and, with San Juan BOCES, helping secure employment for students with disabilities.
Tanya lives in Durango with her husband Vance and their 8-year-old son. tanyac@downtowndurango.org
Tim Walsworth has served as the Executive Director for the Durango Business Improvement District since January 2013. Since he has been hired, BID has grown its budget, taken on the management of the San Juan Brewfest and Durango’s 4th of July celebration, relocated its office, added new programs, and improved its service to its constituents.
Prior to assuming the position of Executive Director of the Durango Business Improvement District in January 2013, Tim Walsworth served as the President and CEO for United Way of Southwest Colorado for 10 years. Additionally, he has more than 15 years of nonprofit management experience and worked for two leading United Way chapters prior to arriving in Southwest Colorado.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, with a Bachelor’s in Journalism with a focus on Public Relations, Tim began working for United Way/Capital Area in Austin in 1996. Within three years, he rose to the senior staff for the organization’s Community Investment department, responsible for investing United Way resources for the improvement of the overall health of the community.
In Oct. 1999, Tim took on a consulting role with Pikes Peak United Way in Colorado Springs, but soon secured a permanent position as a lead fundraiser overseeing the fundraising activities for nearly 300 accounts. He supervised loaned employees (employees of other businesses that are loaned to United Way to augment campaign staff as part of the business’ support of the annual campaign) and other support staff. In 2001, he accepted the Director of Marketing and Communications position within the same United Way.
In January 2003, Tim moved to Durango to assume the position of President and CEO for United Way of Southwest Colorado. During his tenure, United Way of Southwest Colorado generated more than $6.1 million in funding for local needs and revamped the process it uses to invest the funds raised each year. timw@downtowndurango.org