When you attend the
Italian Festa in San Diego's Little Italy, Savor and Stroll
in Belmont Shore, Downtown San Rafael's 2nd Friday Feast in the
Piazza or the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival in Chinatown Los Angeles,
you're enjoying events and festivals produced by Business
Improvement Districts (BIDs).
Business Improvement Districts were established by law over 20
years ago and are becoming increasingly popular in California,
serving as innovative public/private sector partnerships. They
provide revitalization tools for commercial neighborhoods such
as shopping malls and regional business districts and
they promote businesses and carry out economic development
services by working to attract, retain and expand businesses.
The most common way they do so is through special events,
shopping events, holiday events such as installation of a
Christmas Tree, and marketing promotions in newspapers and
magazines, etc.
Los Angeles has more than 30 BIDs, San Diego has over 15 of
them, and smaller cities may have only one or two, if any at
all. There have been a few BIDs that have discontinued because
their goals were met, or expectations weren't fulfilled. For the
most part, however, BIDs bring positive results to those who
fund them and the public gets the benefit of fantastic
entertainment and events. BIDS are usually a win-win.
