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GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME
Downtown Billings Business
Improvement District #1
Vision becomes reality
Topics: Safety BID -
Objective 08-09 -
Recycling
Check out our 2009 Golden Broom
Award Winner
PDF - Map of Current BID
When the
initial plans in the Framework were sketched out just over a decade
ago, visionaries saw the potential to create a clean, safe, and
friendly downtown where businesses would thrive and where people
would love to live, work, and play. The Business Improvement
District (BID) is so proud to have served downtown for 3 years now!
The
most visible element of the Clean and Safe programs of the BID is
the men and women in purple uniforms known as the Purple People.
The BID has had a measurable impact on the 18 block district as
evidenced in not only a cleaner and safer district, but in a
friendlier downtown. It is not uncommon to see a BID ambassador
handing out parking tokens and directories, giving directions or a
personal escort, or helping a homeless individual to a resource
agency. The Purple People are daily committed to achieving a higher
standard in the delivery of services offered in the BID work plan.
The BID
has taken a leadership role in quality of life issues like
panhandling and graffiti and led the effort to change policy
regarding panhandling and aggressive solicitation in our city.
Spare Change for Real Change, our giving/resource program, continues
be a viable alternative to giving money to panhandlers.
The BID celebrates its partnerships and
collaborations with the City of Billings, the Billings Police
Department, the Downtown Billings Partnership, the Downtown Billings
Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Faith Leaders, Property
Owners, and Merchants. The BID is especially excited to forge
partnerships this new year with the Billings Industrial
Revitalization District (BIRD) to the east of the core and the Old
Town Neighbors, Inc. (OTN) to the south.
Accomplishments 07-08
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Intensive litter control and
daily cleaning of the District including power washing,
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graffiti removal
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Beautification projects
including Hanging Flower Baskets
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Honey Locust Tree
Maintenance Program
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Weed Control
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Event Facilitation/Staging
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Downtown Billings
Information Booth
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Meet and Greets
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Merchant/Property Owner
Visits
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Directory and poster
distribution
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Police and American Medical
Response Assist
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Homeless
Referrals-Outreach-Project Homeless Connect
As you
can see, every day is a busy day in the BID! This fiscal year’s
objectives, over and above daily services, are ambitious and support
the BID’s primary goal of making Downtown Billings consistently
clean, orderly, and beautiful for all to enjoy.
Objectives 08-09
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Continued growth and expansion of the district allowing the BID to
bring programs and initiatives to new areas
-
Launching of Cooperative Security Program to include a dedicated
downtown officer
(PROPERTY OWNERS -
SEE OUR NEW BENEFIT ZONE 2 - COOPERATIVE SECURITY)
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Evaluate the feasibility of recycling as part of the clean program
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Refine
hospitality/ambassador program
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Improve
stakeholder communications
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Acquire
new BID truck
Business Improvement Districts have unleashed enormous amounts of
private sector creativity towards the solutions of public problems.
BIDs have returned to an earlier set of values regarding public
space and the effect is far reaching as we welcome more and more
people into our downtown. People are voting with their feet! The
efforts of the BID are designed to
strengthen Downtown Billings’ overall social, economic, and
environmental vitality. The efforts are commendable, the benefits
tremendous!
Recycling
Initiative: We have lift off with our recycling program!
As a pilot project, we have had recycling containers placed in the
alley off 2nd Avenue between N. Broadway and 29th streets for your
use. Currently we have receptacles for cardboard collection and are
awaiting receptacles for paper, plastic, and aluminum. Encourage
your employees and office mates to break down cardboard and use the
receptacles! Thank you to Montague's Jewelers and MSU-B Downtown
for their generous sponsorship of these receptacles. If you would
like to help us expand this program by sponsoring a receptacle,
please contact Lisa Harmon,
lharmon@downtownbillings.com
or 294-5060.
Clean, Safe, and Earth-Friendly downtown!
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