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| Partnership News | Fall 2010 |
Greetings friends and fans of downtown! As I am enjoying a sunny fall day with that wonderful crisp air, I am also reflecting on a great summer season here at the Downtown Bellingham Partnership. I am proud of the work our team did to bring you a fruitful Sidewalk Sale, five fantastic Downtown Sounds Concerts, a delicious Bite of Bellingham, beautiful hanging baskets and sidewalk flower beds, and inspiring Art Walks.
Now it's back to business -- that is, your business! We are looking to get your feedback on a few things.
Downtown Dollars
We'd love to hear your thoughts on the Downtown Dollars program. Our goal for Downtown Dollars is to provide an easy way for people to give the gift of downtown to friends, family and business associates. Perfect for the holidays!
Currently, we have about 30 retailers who have agreed to participate in Downtown Dollars. It's a simple program whereby we sell Downtown Dollars for face value through our Information Center and the Public Market. Customer's use them to make purchases at participating businesses. They are then returned to DBP and we reimburse them for 95% of the value. This five percent administration fee has traditionally covered our marketing and printing costs.
Have you accepted Downtown Dollars? Are you interested in trying it out? As we gear up for the holidays, please let us know if it's a program that you'd like to see continue.
Downtown Map and Business Directory
We are approaching the deadline October 22 for advertising and listings for the 2011 Downtown Map and Business Directory. This is an invaluable tool that groups all of you in an attractive format that makes it easy for visitors and customers to learn more about our downtown - the shops, restaurants, attractions and great services found here. Please contact Alex Hart as soon as possible if you have not already signed up - alex@downtownbellingham.com or 360.527.8710.
Downtown Vitality and the PBIA
Many of you have been working with my co-director, Vanessa Blackburn, on efforts to bring a new business improvement district to downtown. She will offer a snapshot of what's happening below.
Holiday Ideas and Shop Where Your Heart Is
We have heard your concerns over the cost of event programming and have enlisted the brains and energy of the WWU PR Club to develop a comprehensive holiday campaign for downtown. Planning is underway to create a fun, festive and crowd gathering holiday season downtown. More details will follow in the coming weeks. Preliminary ideas include: holiday window decorating competitions, free parking days, evening entertainment in the streets, and Christmas sweater day! Let us know what else you'd like to see! (Note the holiday timing of Sustainable Connections' 8th Annual Buy Local Week in our event section to the left.)
It has been my pleasure to work with you over the past three months. I look forward to staying involved in our downtown once Kirsten returns in November. Hope to see you at the Downtown Trick or Treat on Saturday, October 30th!
Best, Susan
Susan Holden Walsh, Interim Director
Downtown Bellingham Partnership
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Events
| Futurewise Whatcom Presents "Blueprint for Transit Oriented Communities"
A Workshop for Planners and Decision Makers
In partnership with Whatcom Transit Authority, Whatcom Smart Trips, Sustainable Connections, Downtown Bellingham Partnership
and Bellingham Public Development Authority
Presenters: Sara Nikolic, Urban Strategies Director - Futurewise and
David Cutler, Associate - GGLO
Friday, October 22nd @ Bellingham's City Hall, 210 Lottie Street
9:30 coffee reception, 10-noon workshop
Workshop is open to the public!
20 Minute Living Tour - November 12, 2010
DBP along with Futurewise and Sustainable Connections will present a tour for leaders from the public and private sector, to illustrate the ease and advantages of living and working within a 20 minute radius. The event will highlight issues and inform the 2011 Master Planning process.
8th Annual Buy Local Week November 29th through December 5th is the 8th Annual Buy Local Week. This year, Sustainable Connections is specifically asking the community to make a 10% shift in their holiday purchasing, challenging folks to shift at least10% of their spending from regional chains to locally, independently owned businesses in Whatcom County this holiday season. Flyers listing local businesses, special discounts and deals, and local gift suggestions will be available in the Bellingham Herald, Cascadia Weekly and Foothills Gazette and at local businesses throughout downtown and the county. Contact Sustainable Connections for details.
Thursdays
Brown Bag Programs at Whatcom Museum in the Old City Hall building, 121 Prospect Street. $3/Museum members free.
First Fridays
Downtown Art Walk
Art lovers are invited to stroll through the streets of downtown to enjoy an array of artwork by local and visiting artists. 6-10 pm.
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Trick or Treat Downtown - October 30, 2010
Ghosts, ghouls, goblins and the like will be roaming the streets of downtown for our annual Downtown Trick or Treat, October 30th from 2-5 pm. Thanks to the more than 100 of you who have agreed to participate in this family event that provides a safe and fun way for kids and parents to enjoy Halloween. Escorted kids under 13 are encouraged to attend this free event.
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Art Walk
Downtown Art Walk exhibits the high quality of artists and remarkable variety of venues present in downtown Bellingham. On the First Friday of every month from 6-10 pm, galleries, boutiques, restaurants, studios and more keep their doors open to showcase a wide array of artwork by local and renowned visiting artists. We are happy to announce the addition of several new participants, including the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher building, O'Donnell's Bellingham Flea Market, Bloom, The Table, and Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen. Check out the new Art Walk website featuring participating venues and artists and a Dining Guide for participating restaurants. Visit http://downtownbellingham.com/artwalk/index.html. Come stroll through the streets of downtown, enjoying art, food and community!
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Downtown Vitality - PBIA Snapshot
The Downtown Bellingham Partnership board has been working for several years on a plan to provide an expanded range of services for the downtown, including improved security, cleanliness and beautification. The board is pursuing the formation of a new Parking and Business Improvement Area for downtown, which would enable property owners in the district to pool their resources to provide needed services for downtown. The process involves property owners petitioning the Bellingham City Council to adopt a new ordinance to create this area, and in the next several weeks, downtown property owners will receive more information in the mail about this effort and what this would mean for them. Later in the year the DBP will hold evening town hall meetings about the proposed area to gather feedback and answer questions about the process. For more information on this ongoing effort, please contact Vanessa Blackburn at vanessa@downtownbellingham.com.
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Join DBP and the Toward Zero Waste Campaign
Are you interested in recycling more in your business & getting the resources to make it happen? Join the over 230 businesses participating in the Toward Zero Waste campaign and be a leading business in our community. The Toward Zero Waste Campaign is free to join. It is a great way to promote your recycling efforts and maybe even step up and reenergize recycling in your business. Interested?? Want to know more...Details at www.sustainableconnections.org/bizdev/tzw or contact Mariah Ross mariah@sconnect.org |
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Partnership Programs & Deadlines
As a member, you not only support our ongoing advocacy on behalf of downtown, you have the opportunity to benefit from a variety of programs and member discounts the Partnership offers throughout the year. Please be aware of the following programs and deadlines in order to realize maximum value from your membership.
Downtown Map & Business Directory:
The deadline for the 2011 Downtown Map and Business Directory is fast approaching -- October 22, 2010! We publish this popular publication annually. The 2010 downtown Directory is available and has been distributed throughout the region from Seattle to Vancouver. All participating businesses have received their maps and more are available at the center. Please email alex@downtownbellingham.com to sign up for 2011.
Downtown Info Center:
Each member receives a free brochure slot at the center and a free listing and link on our interactive online map at DowntownBellingham.com. We accept brochures for the center year round. Additional business advertising is available for a low fee at the center and on our website.
Cooperative Marketing Promotions:
The Partnership organizes cooperative advertising campaigns to help leverage your advertising dollars. Our 2010 campaigns include the Bellingham Escapes marketing campaign, Ladies Night Out, the Sidewalk Sale and Shop Where Your Heart Is.
Downtown Dollars:
Participation in the program is free with a small fee when Dollars are spent in your business. We accept new participants anytime.
Promotional Events:
The Partnership organizes events throughout the year that attract thousands of people to downtown. These include Art Walks, Downtown Sounds, the Bite of Bellingham and Trick or Treat.
If you have further questions about your membership, contact Alex Hart at alex@downtownbellingham.com.
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About Us
Since 2000, the
Downtown Bellingham Partnership has been the only organization that unites
the diverse interests that define our city center. Through our
network of members, we present a powerful voice for Downtown
Bellingham.
1304 Cornwall Avenue | 360.527.8710 | downtownbellingham.com
Bellingham, WA 98227
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