FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Downtown Richmond Stakeholders Approve Renewal of Historic Business Improvement District
Richmond, CA – The Richmond City Council of adopted a resolution on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, to renew the Downtown Richmond Property and Business Improvement District (DRPBID), ensuring that vital revitalization efforts will continue. Downtown property owners approved the five-year renewal by 64.42% (weighted by assessment).
The DRPBID is a public-private partnership between property owners and Richmond Main Street Initiative (RMSI), a community based non-profit dedicated to revitalizing historic Downtown Richmond, encompassing the commercial corridor from 6th-16th Street between Bissell and Barrett Avenues. The district is funded by annual assessments on commercial and non-profit housing parcels. DRPBID funds provide economic development, promotions and marketing, and cleanliness and hospitality services to the Downtown core, augmenting the base level City services and protecting infrastructure investments.
Business Improvement Districts (BID) are a proven revitalization tool for communities throughout the country. Successful Bay Area BIDs operate in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood, Downtown Berkeley, and Fruitvale. The DRPBID is the first and only property and business improvement district in West Contra Costa County.
The DRPBID was formed in 2012. In its first five years of operation the district provided:
Cleaning, Maintenance, and Hospitality Services
- Neighborhood Ambassadors performed 13850 hours of service, collecting 4000+ bags of trash and debris; abating nearly 500 incidents of dumping and graffiti; assisting 500 residents and visitors with wayfinding and access to resources.
Promotions & Marketing Enhancements
- RMSI hosted 629 arts, culture, and wellness events, attracting 74,000+ visits to Downtown, activating public spaces, and creating opportunities for residents to enjoy family-friendly activities. New year-round and seasonal street banners were added to Macdonald Avenue.
Economic Development Activities
- RMSI provided nearly 5000 hours of technical assistance to established and emerging businesses, and trained 261 youth in work readiness. 36 businesses opened or expanded, creating 83 jobs. RMSI also leveraged $65 million of public and private investment Downtown to support business attraction and development efforts.
“The renewal of the DRPBID is a resounding vote of confidence and buy-in from Downtown property owners. We look forward to this opportunity to continue this partnership to create a Downtown that is vibrant, clean, welcoming, and accessible to all community members” says Amanda Elliott, Executive Director. “And we invite everyone to celebrate with us at our first Music on the Main concert of the summer on July 26.”
The DRPBID renewal is supported by a grant from The San Francisco Foundation to increase economic development opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses and to create jobs in the interest of people of color and local residents in downtown Richmond.
Richmond Main Street Initiative is a community based non-profit dedicated to revitalizing historic downtown Richmond. RMSI partners with the City of Richmond, merchants, and residents to develop and improve Downtown Richmond as a pedestrian-friendly urban village that offers products, services, arts and entertainment that reflect the community’s rich and diverse heritage. www.richmondmainstreet.org and www.facebook.com/richmondmainstreet.
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