Since the BID’s implementation of the Main Street Approach in 2005, the BID has met many of the goals its members have set to date. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, King Drive has achieved 26 new businesses and over $100 million in investment in the last three years. The BID’s Main Street approach has five committees: Organization, Marketing, Economic Restructuring, Design, and Maintenance & Public Safety. Every year, each committee puts together a work plan and budget that is approved by the BID Board.

Marketing Committee
The Marketing Committee is responsible for designing marketing campaigns and promotional events that will sell the image and promise
of King Drive. In 2008, the Marketing Committee will continue the “Living the Dream” newsletter, but instead of it being published quarterly, it will be published three times a year.
The Marketing Committee annually updates and republishes the Merchant Directory and District Map, and will continue to co-host the
Dr. King Birthday Celebration. The Marketing Committee will continue its support of the streets’ festivals, including Juneteenth Day, Garfield Avenue Jazz, Blues & Gospel Festival, an upcoming BID festival, and neighborhood block parties.

Economic Restructuring Committee
The Economic Restructuring Committee is responsible for developing programs that sharpen the competitiveness and profitability of businesses in the BID, including assistance to help existing businesses expand and recruit new businesses to the district. In 2007, the Economic Restructuring Committee met their goal to conduct a survey of tangible assets in the district and to match those assets to potential new businesses. With the data collected through this survey and the catalytic bus tour and forum that was held on January 21, 2008, the committee will focus on a comprehensive parking plan for the district and evaluate opportunities for financing public parking as our district continues to grow.

Design Committee
The Design Committee is responsible for getting King Drive into
top physical shape and creating an inviting atmosphere through streetscaping and other design efforts. In 2007, this committee
worked with a landscape architect to come up with a plan for King Drive that includes improvements that would create an inviting atmosphere, such as trash cans, planters, new bus shelters, gateways, kiosks, and other aesthetics. By June 2008, the street-scape plan is expected to be complete. This committee is also responsible for the planters in front of several businesses on King Drive. In 2007, the BID received a generous donation of 40 holiday wreaths. The wreaths were installed, but the committee would like to see more holiday decorations to improve the aesthetics of King Drive during the 2008 holiday season. If you have an economically feasible idea to make the street look more festive for the holiday season, please call the BID Office at (414) 265-5809.

Organization Committee
The Organization Committee is responsible for getting everyone working toward the same goal by recruiting volunteers that reflect the stakeholders in the district, and helping to build cooperation and consensus among those stakeholders. The Organization Committee will continue the Annual Breakfast (scheduled for May 22, 2008), annual Bus Tour that takes place during Dr. King’s Birthday Celebration, and Business Mixers. On January 21, 2008, the Organization Committee held a catalytic project bus tour and forum at America’s Black Holocaust Museum during Dr. King’s Birthday Celebration to facilitate the Economic Restructuring Committee’s goal of identifying where the next catalytic project should be on King Drive. The committee will continue working on a comprehensive database and contact list so that business owners can get the vital information they need about what is happening in the district. New this year, the Organization Committee has plans to host its first-ever festival in August, 2008.

Maintenance and Public Safety Committee
Our last committee is the Maintenance and Public Safety Committee. This committee is charged with the upkeep and overall safety of the district. This committee is responsible for graffiti removal, street-sweeping, community clean-ups, and any other maintenance and public safety matters. In 2008, the Maintenance and Public Safety Committee will have increased their services by nearly 100%.

The 2008 plans are set and it is now time to execute; however, volunteers are needed to make things happen. Although we have been successful in revitalizing King Drive to date, we need your input as to what a business owner or a stakeholder would like to see on King Drive. Therefore, we rely on the ideas, opinions, and views of volunteers who participate. Volunteers are also the people that are in the loop as far as what’s going on in the district and know the BID’s efforts and intentions.