Summary
February 2022 — In this webinar, we discuss how city leaders, businesses, property owners, and others can “shape their city” for the betterment of all and how Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) can be used as a tool in that process. The focus of the webinar is on leadership and partnerships that help create an effective downtown organization. This program provided the perspectives of two experts – developer and author of Shaping a City, Ithaca, NY: a Developer’s Perspective, Mack Travis, and Executive Director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, Gary Ferguson. Mack and Gary share their story of downtown transformation as it relates to the creation of a BID and the hiring of excellent leadership. In the past 25 years, $750 million has been invested, 25 major projects were developed, and three 10-Year Strategic Plans were conducted to guide this growth. Successful responses to the COVID-19 crisis are discussed. The webinar also included the knowledge and expertise of participants from throughout the state of Wisconsin including Beaver Dam, Baraboo, Mazomanie, Menasha, Middleton, Mount Horeb, St. Croix Falls, and Stevens Point.
Webinar Recording
Additional Materials
Summary of Event & Supporting Materials and Event Transcript
Economic Development Tools for Commercial Districts (Issue 165, March 2010)
