BID Business Update

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News and information for business owners about BID summer programs

Downtown Ambassadors

The Downtown Ambassador program has begun. The Ambassadors serve visitors and locals with accurate information on local events, referrals to shops and restaurants, directions, things to do, and more. If you see them make sure to say hi! We have a great crew of 11 Ambassadors this year. All are well trained about Downtown, the North Main District, and the Durango area. Each brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm about our town. The Ambassadors will work approximately 900 hours over the summer and fall. Ambassadors will create 10,000 positive interactions with people visiting Downtown.

Updated Business Directory & Map

BID has updated its annual brochure, which contains a business directory listing by block of every retail, food and beverage, attraction and accommodation business in Downtown and in the North Main District. The brochure also includes a color-coded map of Downtown and the North Main District. The brochure is distributed by BID Ambassadors, at the Durango Welcome Center, and at area hotels.

BID also updates two large signs in Downtown, which are located at Buckley Park and at the D&SNGRR Depot. These signs replicate the brochure with all the same information, including a business listing by block and a large map.

Important Dates

Downtown Street Closures

Over the course of the summer there are three street closures that businesses should be aware of. As we get closer to these event dates more information will be provided.

4^th of July parade – July 4, closure from 3 to 6 pm – Main Ave and 5th Street from Main to E. 3rd Ave.

National Night Out – August 6, 2 to 8 pm – 1200 Block of Main Ave.

San Juan Brewfest – August 23 and 24, 11 am Friday to 8 pm Saturday, 1200 block of Main Ave.

BID Coffee and Conversation Meeting

Join us on the second Friday of the month for BID's Coffee and Conversation Meeting. The meeting is held at TBK Bank Community Room from 8:30am- 9:30am. Each meeting provides different topics and information for business owners.

Click HERE for meeting dates and agenda packets.

Meeting Dates for 2024

August 9, September 13, October 11, and November 8

*No meetings in July or December

Post Your Events and Get Noticed!

Do you have an event coming up this year? Make sure to post your event to BID's event calendar. BID contiues to partner with WhatsHappeningDurango.com to bring a fantastic event calendar to BID's website.

When you post to BID's calendar it comes with great benefits and free PR for your event. This includes:

Event listed on BID’s websites DowntownDurango.org and HeartOfDurango.com (BID's microsite for visitors), as well as WhatsHappeningDurango.com
Your event will be considered for BID's scrolling screens in the Durango Welcome Center front window
Your event will be considered for BID's social media weekly post about upcoming events
You event considered for BID's weekly E-news event list
Your event considered for the event list shared at BID's monthly Coffee and Conversation meeting
Your event considered for BID's Seasonal Event Poster for summer, fall and holiday events
Your event can be promoted by BID's Ambassadors
WhatsHappeningDurango.com also sends out a E-Blast to nearly 4,500 subscribers. They also create social posts each week to promote events.

Learn more on how you can post your event HERE.

BID Services to Help Your Business

Shoplifting Alert System

Reminder about using BID's shoplifting alert system for any incident in Downtown or in the North Main District. BID can share reports with 500+ contacts at BID businesses to raise awareness and many times to identify suspects.

Click HERE to make a report

Sidewalk Cleaning

BID, the City of Durango and Local First have partnered to hire Pro Mobile Wash to power wash the Main Ave. sidewalks in Downtown from 5th to 12th Streets.

The work is planned to start at 10 pm Tuesday June 18 and will continue until 2 or 3 am the next day. The work is planned to continue Wednesday and Thursday nights, weather permitting.

Summer Events

Durango is packed with many great events year round! Here are some of the best events this summer.

Durango Playfest - June 25-June 30 @ Durango Arts Center

Summer Fun Arts & Crafts Fair - June 29 @ La Plata County Fairgrounds and Event Center

KSUT's Party in the Park - July 26 @ Buckley Park, 5 pm

4th of July Celebrations - July 3-6 @ Downtown Durango & North Main District

Music in the Mountains - July 11- August 4 @ multiple locations

Four Corners Gem & Mineral Show - July 12-14 @ La Plata County Fairgrounds and Event Center

Christmas in July - Holiday Market - July 20 @ La Plata County Fairgrounds and Event Center

Fiesta Days - July 22-28 @ La Plata County Fairgrounds and Event Center

Carve Wars - August 2-4 @ Purgatory Resort

Arts & Crafts Festival - August 3 @ Buckley Park, 9am-2pm

La Plata County Fair - August 7-10 @ La Plata County Fairgrounds and Event Center

San Juan Brewfest - August 23-24 @ Buckley Park

For more information about these events visit

DowntownDurango.org/summer-events

For a full list of events visit DowntownDurango.org/Events

Downtown Employee Parking

As the summer heats up and more visitors come to Durango, here is a friendly reminder of the best places for Downtown employees to park this summer.

Free parking at any meter on 7th , 8th and 9th Streets between Narrow Gauge & Camino del Rio in June, July and August
City parking lots & Narrow Gauge Ave. with parking pass on weekdays - only $30 per month
Metered spaces on cross streets & E. 2nd Avenue
City parking lots are free after 5pm weekdays and all day on weekends

Please do not park in the prime locations on Main Avenue during the summer. This takes away the parking for customers. The above options are less expensive than parking in prime spaces on Main. Also remember to NOT park at TBK Bank or City Market South parking lots as those spaces are for customers only.

Another great option for getting Downtown is to ride public transit. The Main Ave. Trolley and all City busses are free all summer (June, July and August) thanks to an investment from the City from Lodgers Tax collections. The Trolley runs from the North Main District to Downtown and back every 20 minutes. A late night bus is available through the DuranGO! app for only $2 per ride from 5 pm to midnight.

Reminder that anyone can purchase an all-day parking pass at the Transit Center lot for just $5 per space. All-day passes are for Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. The all-day pass offers convenient, affordable and available parking and is perfect for visitors, especially if they have oversized vehicles.

New Board Members

BID would like to welcome its new board members – Sharon Taylor, owner of Tippy Canoe and Colin Carver, co-owner of Carver Brewing Company. Sharon and Colin join BID's current board members Carly Thomson (Zia Taqueria and Sage Fresh Eats), Monica Broderick (Urban Market), and Geoff Overington (Keller Williams Realty Southwest Associates).

Tim Walsworth

Executive Director

(970)-375-5068 (office)

(970)-749-1157 (cell)

timw@downtowndurango.org

Tanya Clegg

Director of Marketing and Communications

970-375-5067 (office)

970-946-8509 (cell)

tanyac@downtowndurango.org

Checklist for business owners

Update your business directory Listing - contact Tanya or Tim for your link.
Join us at BID's Monthly Coffee and Conversation meeting - learn more.
Enter your events on the event calendar. Learn more HERE.
Read the latest E-news.
Like or follow us on social media- Facebook and Instagram
Join us at one of our events!

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