Ordinance Establishing DBID
Special Assessment Ordinance
Direct Mail Survey Results
Business District Comparisons

The purpose of the Downtown Omaha Business Improvement District is to create a downtown management organization that will represent all property owners, businesses, and residents within the BID boundaries.

The management organization is comprised of a governing board of representative stakeholders from within the district work in collaboration with a professional BID management team to implement the mission of the district.

The management organization acts as an advocate for the BID as a whole as well as its individual stakeholders with respect to:

• Resolution of governmental issues that affect the district and its stakeholders. (Instituting a cooperative downtown trash collection program, downtown public area maintenance and clean-up, resolution of crime and policing issues, resolving homeless issues, increased enforcement against substandard or unsafe buildings, resolving ongoing parking issues)
• Procurement of grants and funding from other sources to provide for public improvements and enhancements within the district that city and state governments would not otherwise provide. (Public sculpture, fountains, directional signage for the district, and other enhancements)
• Actively recruiting new businesses and building tenants to the downtown district to decrease vacancy rates within district boundaries and provide additional services for both visitors and stakeholders.
• Working in conjunction with property owners, city planning, developers and, consultants (as needed) to revive blighted or underused areas within the BID. (16th Street Mall, one and two square block areas that are blighted within the core of the district, and some perimeter areas)
• Marketing the district at a variety of levels to bring more visitors to the downtown area, attract more office and retail tenants to the area and, attract more residents to the area. Strategies include:

  • Developing a Downtown Omaha "Brand" that enhances the public's perception of the downtown area and encompasses all of the district's attractions and benefits. (Directional signage, web site, e-mail newsletters, walking tour, historic plaque program, cohesive street lighting)
  • Creating and executing special events to attract more visitors to the BID district. Events will include a variety of activities from small, informal sidewalk events, to large-scale festivals.
  • Reinforcing the concept that Downtown Omaha is a great place to live, work, and play.
• Developing a maintenance program to address the needs of high use areas as well as maintain newly acquired downtown improvements within the BID boundaries. (Provide cleaning and maintenance to a level higher than city services provide especially in high traffic zones, the revamped Gene Leahy Mall, new public sculptures or fountains. Maintain and/or replace existing trees beyond what the city provides.)