The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership manages three Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) that serve the Downtown Brooklyn area: the MetroTech BID, Fulton Mall Improvement Association, and the new Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn BID. These not-for-profit organizations provide the business community with nearly $6 million in supplementary services such as public safety, sanitation, promotions, business support and event planning. Serving a combined 55 square block area of Downtown Brooklyn, the BIDs are funded primarily through special assessments approved and budgeted by their respective Boards of Directors.
Map of Business Improvement Districts
in Downtown Brooklyn
Pedestrians shop along the Fulton Mall.
The BIDs have developed many innovative programs to support local merchants and businesses including the ValueCard shoppers discount, Building Facade Improvement program, SideWalk SalesDays, and holiday promotions. The BIDs also maintain public planting areas along Adams Street, Willoughby Plaza and Fulton Street Mall as well as over 60 planters located on Duffield, Bridge and Lawrence Streets. These services promote local businesses as part of a larger goal to make each district an attractive and vibrant place to live, shop, work, and visit.
The MetroTech Business Improvement District
The MetroTech BID, based at MetroTech Center, was founded in 1992 to further the revitalization of Downtown Brooklyn. It provides public safety, sanitation, economic development, marketing and promotional services throughout a 25-block district made up of diverse businesses, universities and government agencies. The MetroTech BID boasts many innovative programs that support local businesses, including the Facade Improvement Program, which offers design consultant services to retail merchants and property owners to improve the condition and aesthetics of building exteriors, and the ValueCard, which offers retail discounts to area employees, university students, and jurors serving in the district. Visit www.metrotechbid.org for more information.
Fulton Mall Improvement Association
The Fulton Mall Improvement Association (FMIA) works to further the economic, cultural and commercial revitalization of Fulton Street Mall. Incorporated in 1976, the FMIA is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to improving the economic health and quality-of-life on the Fulton Mall. The FMIA was instrumental in the City's $15 million appropriation of capital funding for the improvement and renovation of Fulton Mall. This streetscape improvement project will dramatically improve the appearance and functionality of Fulton Mall, enhancing the shopping experience for current users and attracting new ones. Currently, over 100,000 shoppers a day are attracted to 150+ retail businesses along the Fulton Mall. Visit FMIA for more information.
Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn Business Improvement District
The Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn (CLS) Business Improvement District began operations in October 2007 and serves nearly 200 properties in Downtown Brooklyn. The CLS BID provides supplemental sanitation services through The Doe Fund, a non-profit organization that employs formerly homeless individuals. As the BID ramps up its programs over the next few months, it will introduce new services to the district, including landscaping and tree pruning, a public safety program and targeted services for merchants and local businesses. Visit CLS BID for more information.