Great Falls Business Improvement District

Call to Artists – Western Art Week

BID — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:17:14 +0000

A goal of the newly adopted Downtown Master Plan is to work on promoting downtown during Western Art Week. In light of that goal the downtown community has come together to create an Art of Downtown day during Western Art Week on Thursday, March 15, 2012.

This day will focus on the art of up and coming artists in the community. It will be a juried art show. The deadline for art to be considered for this show will be March 1st. Artists are encouraged to submit multiple works of art.

Complete the below form and submit it with your art by March 1st to the Portal Gallery at 314 Central Avenue.
Click here: Artist Form

If you have any questions please contact the BID office at (406) 727-5430.

Downtown Logo Hat & T-Shirt

BID — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:40:59 +0000

The BID is selling Downtown logo hats & t-shirts for $20!

We’ve got limited quantities of Large and X-Large – give us a call if you are interested, 727-5430.

Downtown Business Watch 1/10/12

BID — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:46:41 +0000

Downtown Business Watch Program

WHERE: NeighborWorks Learning Center at 509 1st Ave South

WHEN: Tuesday, January 10th 5:30pm to 6:30pm

TOPIC: Shoplifting and Identifying Perpetrators

SPEAKER: Dorothy Nunez

SPONSOR: William O. Bronson, PLLC

CATERER: Charlie’s Coffeehouse

Come to the Downtown Business Watch program!

The Downtown Action Alliance has created a Downtown Business Watch program. Meetings will be held every other month and will last one hour. The meeting format has been established to allow for a 30-minute presentation on a specific topic, 15 minutes for questions & answers on that topic and closing with 15 minutes of discussion on current downtown issues. Refreshments will be served, compliments of our monthly sponsor. If you have any questions regarding this event please contact the BID office at 727-5430.

Business Watch Press Release – 1-10-12

Holiday Open House

BID — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:30:28 +0000

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Downtown Business Watch 11/8/11

BID — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:43:55 +0000

Downtown Business Watch Program

WHERE: NeighborWorks Learning Center at 509 1st Ave South

WHEN: Tuesday, November 8th 5:30pm to 6:30pm

TOPIC: Code Enforcement

SPEAKER: Heather Rohlf, City of Great Falls

SPONSOR: The Daily Grind

Come to the Downtown Business Watch program!

Downtown Master Plan

BID — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:39:52 +0000

In a unanimous vote of support the City Commission approved the Downtown Master Plan on October 18, 2011.

Downtown Master Plan 2011

Traffic Signal Box Project 2011

BID — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:37:41 +0000

The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is pleased to announce the installation of its first Traffic Signal Box (TSB) Project. The event began on Friday, August 19^th and ended on Wednesday, August 24^th. The TSB’s on Central Avenue from Park Dr. to 7^th St (with the exception of the corner of Central and 4^th St S) and one additional TSB at the corner of 2^nd Ave S and 2^nd St were transformed into works of art by seven local artists. Within the BID boundaries there are 21 TSB’s; seven have been completed this season with the goal of completing the remaining 14 over the next few years.

There will be a reception held for the artists on Friday, September 2^nd in the BID office at 13 5^th Street North. Everyone is welcome to attend the reception.

The artists chosen for the 2011 TSB Project, their locations and the title of their work:
Sheree Nelson – Central & Park Dr “Electric City”
Halley Gallagher – Central & 2^nd St N “Emergence”
Alissa Nelson – Central & 3^rd St N “Take a Picture, It’ll Last Longer”
Vickie Meguire – Central & 5^th St N “Old Cascade County Courthouse”
Jennifer Mathson – Central & 6^th St N “Gibson Park”
Katy Lunstad – Central & 7^th St N “Revamped”
Rachel Kaiser – 2^nd Ave S & 2^nd St “Downtown Great Falls”
This program is part of our ongoing efforts to continue beautification in Downtown Great Falls. The Traffic Signal Box (TSB) Art Project enhances the pedestrian and driving experience by incorporating artwork directly into the streetscape.

The event coverage:

KFBB Coverage of the event

KRTV coverage of the event

Great Falls Tribune coverage of the event

Be sure to check out the photo album posted on our Facebook page as well – “Like” Destination Downtown Great Falls

Traffic Signal Box Art Project 2011

Of course we encourage you to come downtown and check out the artwork for yourself!

Rocky Mountain Building art project

BID — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:44:13 +0000

The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is pleased to announce another downtown art project. To continue our beautification efforts downtown the BID has partnered with local artist Julia Becker to paint the boardwalk around the Rocky Mountain Building on the corner of 6^th Street and Central Ave. Julia is coordinating with nine additional artists; each artist will work on a 26-foot long area of the boardwalk as well as collaborate together and with additional artists/participants. The finished project will be a celebration of community and art and improve the appearance of the Rocky Mountain Building.

The event is scheduled to take place all day on Sunday, July 10^th.

The event coverage:

KFBB coverage of the event

Great Falls Tribune coverage of the event

KRTV coverage of the event

Be sure to check out the photo album posted on our Facebook page as well – “Like” Destination Downtown Great Falls

When all was said and done, 21 artists participated in the process!

Of course we encourage you to come downtown and check out the artwork for yourself!

Update: 7/13/11 Our little story got picked up by a national blogger -

The Commercial District Advisor

Downtown Business Watch 7/12/11

BID — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:39:41 +0000

Downtown Business Watch Program

WHERE: NeighborWorks Learning Center at 509 1^st Ave South

WHEN: Tuesday, July 12^th 5:30pm to 6:30pm

TOPIC: Cybercrime

SPEAKER: Justin Jones, Certified Ethical Hacker

SPONSOR: Charlie’s Coffeehouse

Come to the Downtown Business Watch program!

The Tribune’s recent editorial on Downtown Great Falls

BID — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:33:53 +0000

Have you been working out?

It’s the kind of thing anyone who’s spending time at the gym or pounding the pavement is usually pleased to be asked.

It confirms that the Zumba class, an extra mile on a daily walk or new weight-lifting routine is making some improvement and that people notice the difference.

So it’s with admiration that we say: Downtown Great Falls, you’re looking good.

Certainly the construction of a new Public Drug building in the 300 block is the most noticeable. It’s great to see framework beams going up in what had been a vacant lot after the B&B Loan fire several years ago.

The Tap House Grill is almost ready to reopen and The Crooked Tree Coffee & Cakes over on 1st Avenue North will be a nice addition.

But there’s a lot going on downtown in addition to the aforementioned brick and mortar projects.

We take issue with critics, including those who have recently expressed such opinions on this page, who say the city’s core is letting itself go.

So does a longtime downtown business owner Rick Enge, whose shop, The World of Time, opened downtown 33 years ago.

“I’m an old time downtown person,” he said. “I started working at Kaufmans (Menswear Centre) when I was in high school. We call ourselves the Kaufmans alumni.”

He’s earned his stripes when it comes to pitching in to make downtown great. He runs a business, owns the building it is in and even plants and cares for flowers front of World of Time every year.

“I do think downtown looks nicer now than it did, say, 10 years ago, with the streetscape projects,” he said. “Last year the Business Improvement District replaced some of the trees that had died, which is great.”

The BID also is paying for a downtown ambassador, Justin Redeen, to help out this summer. In addition to helping direct people to places to shop, dine and recreate downtown, Redeen is charged with keeping the area’s sidewalks clean and watering the flowers in hanging pots and planters in the district.

The latter hasn’t been the easiest task — the BID is working to remedy a lack of portable equipment available to water the flowers, but in the meantime Redeen fills a plastic trash container with water that sits in the back of a pickup and drives around downtown to nourish the plants.

“I told my mom I probably will never plant flowers at my own place,” said Justin, who will be a senior at the University of Montana-Missoula this fall majoring political science. His mom, Joan, is the office manager for the BID.

Although it’s understandable that Justin is a little watering weary, we’re pretty sure he’ll rescind his vow to ban flowers from his future abodes. For one thing, he’s darn good at caring for the ones he’s charged with summer. They are beautiful.

Enge will give the hanging basket of flowers placed near his store by BID a drink when he’s watering his own planters, “but more often than not just when I think they look like they need one, I look out and there’s water dripping from the basket on the sidewalk because Justin’s been by. He’s got a little bit of a height advantage on me, too, so it’s easier for him.”

Justin’s tall stature also came in handy last week when he led a team of 15 Boys & Girls Club members and their two counselors through downtown to weed, water flowers and sweep sidewalks.

Member of the Club called the BID to volunteer to do community service projects.

“I thought it was great to see them all working downtown in their blue and green T shirts, with the downtown Great Falls logo,” said Enge. (The shirts were provided by BID, and the kids were thrilled.) “I think it helps make them all more aware of what downtown has to offer and the kind of work it takes to keep downtown looking nice.”

It takes a lot of collective effort by property owners, business proprietors, downtown promoters, public servants and community volunteers.

So again, to downtown and all of your vested partners, we say, you are looking good and we appreciate and notice the work you put in to make that happen.

To view the article click here

The Boys & Girls Club has ‘The Club’ kids volunteering downtown this summer

BID — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:22:05 +0000

KRTV Coverage -

More than a dozen children from the Boys & Girls Club have committed to help clean up downtown Great Falls every Tuesday for six weeks during the summer.

One of them, Karlee Palagi, says that volunteering is fun, telling us, “Just hanging out with my friends and just making downtown look more pretty.”

Justin Redeen, the “downtown ambassador” for the Great Falls Business Improvement District, is pleased with how smoothly everything is going.

Redeen said, “It’s really important because a vibrant downtown is key to any community and it lets you know that the community is doing well, thriving.”

To view the video click here

KFBB Coverage -

You may have seen the new Downtown Great Falls Ambassador sporting his blue shirt as he makes his rounds, but now he has a few helpers.

For the next six Tuesdays members of the Boys and Girls Club will complete community service projects downtown.

Tuesday, they swept up on the corner of 3rd Street and 1st Avenue South in anticipation of Thursday’s Alive @ 5 event.

Volunteer August Rodriguez says he sees the value in helping out. “People need clean sidewalks,” he explained. “A biker could hit one of these rocks and be injured. I like volunteering because I get to be with my friends and I like outside.”

While one group was busy sweeping, a second headed out to do some light landscaping upkeep, pulling weeds and keeping hanging flower baskets watered on this sunny day.

To view the video click here

Great Falls Tribune Coverage -

Members of The Club, a teen program at Boys & Girls Clubs of Cascade County, are looking for opportunities to do good in Great Falls.

The Business Improvement District is an entity devoted to making the downtown area of Great Falls more inviting for businesses and patrons.

So when the leaders of The Club called the BID looking for a project, Joan Redeen, the office manager, was ready with a list.

About 15 club members showed up Tuesday with brooms, gloves and trash bags.

“They helped out by sweeping the area where Alive@5 will be this week and doing some badly needed weeding,” Redeen said.

The Club is for kids roughly 11 years old to 18, and its mission is to provide opportunities for positive interaction with the community through service projects, said Jessica Stroop, a youth development professional.

“The kids also do some mentoring with younger kids,” she said.

John Silva, 16, will be a junior at Great Falls High School in the fall. This summer he is taking English in summer school, and he decided to join The Club “to have something to do.”

Last week, members helped bundle wooden tokens that were for sale at Taste of Great Falls.

“It’s been fun, and it keeps me busy,” Silva said.

To view the article click here

Taco del Sol – Facade & Interior Grants

BID — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:05:12 +0000

Taco del Sol - Facade & Interior Grants

Murphy McClay Building Grants

BID — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:03:58 +0000

Murphy McClay Building

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Subway Building Grants

BID — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:59:13 +0000

Facade & Interior Grants

Subway Building - houses the Downtown Dog House

Subway Building - houses Guitars of Montana

Traffic Signal Box Art Project 2011

BID — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:24:53 +0000

The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is pleased to announce a new program for local artists interested in design and installation of public art on selected traffic signal boxes within the BID boundaries. The program is part of an effort to continue beautification in Downtown Great Falls. The Traffic Signal Box (TSB) Art Project enhances the pedestrian and driving experience by incorporating artwork directly into the streetscape.

The Traffic Signal Box Art Project is a public art opportunity open to all artists residing in Cascade County. Artists who wish to participate can review the Call to Artists for the specific requirements. The Call to Artists can be picked up at the BID office located at 13 5^th Street North. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply.

The Call to Artists is being made public on Wednesday, June 1^st. The submission deadline for artists to be considered for the project is Friday, July 8^th. The installation of the project will take place Friday August 19^th through Wednesday August 24^th.

For the Call to Artists click here

See Traffic Signal Boxes Around the world

Letter From Montana Governor Schweitzer to New Ambassador

BID — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:26:20 +0000

This little bit arrived in our mail today. Needless to say we’re excited about Justin Redeen being recognized by our Governor! (see image below)

Ambassador hired for Great Falls Business Improvement District

BID — Wed, 18 May 2011 07:01:01 +0000

Justin Redeen, Ambassador, Great Falls BID

“A young man clad in royal blue will soon be a regular sight in downtown Great Falls.

Justin Redeen started in the newly created position of ambassador for the Business Improvement District on Monday.

As the community ambassador, Redeen will spend his days taking care of the flowers planted downtown and keeping sidewalks clean. He also will be on hand to answer question from visitors and locals about things to do, places to eat and where to find things downtown. Additionally, he will attend downtown events, where he will represent the BID.”

Read the full article on Justin at the Great Falls Tribune Online (or download archived PDF)

The Lofts at Johnson Hotel

BID — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:48:23 +0000

In August, 2008 the Board of Directors approved its second residential grant. The Lofts at Johnson Hotel were completed in September, 2009. Located on the 5th floor of the Johnson Hotel building at 417 Central Avenue these three residential units make for a comfortable home in the heart of downtown.

The Lofts at Johnson Hotel - BEFORE

The Lofts at Johnson Hotel - AFTER

Dunn Brown Building

BID — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:48:20 +0000

Steve Alley, the name is one you should be very familiar with. Three years ago, Steve contacted the BID to look for property to invest in. He could have bought property anywhere in the United States and he chose Great Falls. The Dunn Brown building at 316 Central to be exact. His vision was to take this mixed use building and refurbish the upper floors of the apartment buildings into more updated living space and to completely remodel the lower retail spaces into a shopping/eating boutique-like setting. His vision was something you would see in downtown San Diego or Seattle.

NeighborWorks

BID — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:47:06 +0000

The BID provided funding for NeighborWorks to update their façade at 509 1st Ave S.

NeighborWorks - BEFORE

NeighborWorks - AFTER

The Hastings Apartments

BID — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:43:49 +0000

The Hastings Apartment building located at 609 Central Avenue was affected by the fire in the Rocky Mountain Building (aka Public Drug Building) in May, 2009. The BID approved a residential grant for $50,000 and the building was renovated and is now fully occupied again.

Hayley Leray, BID Board Member presented Garry Hackett (owner of the Hastings Apartment building) with his final check.

CTA Architects Engineers

BID — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:39:00 +0000

The BID provided funding to CTA Architects Engineers for major renovations both to the interior and the façade of their building at 219 2nd Ave S.

CTA Exterior - BEFORE

CTA Exterior - AFTER

CTA Interior - BEFORE

CTA Interior - AFTER

L’Heureux Page Werner

BID — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:33:43 +0000

The BID provided funding for L’Heureux Page Werner for major renovations both to the interior and the façade to the Kathryn building at 15 5th St S.

L'Heureux Page Werner - Before

L'Heureux Page Werner - After

Business Incubator

BID — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:12:44 +0000

In 2002, the Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) partnered with other organizations to develop a facility for small businesses to get started in downtown Great Falls. The purpose of the facility is provide a fiber-optic hotel and conference center for the use of businesses who are currently located downtown and for businesses looking for a small start-up facility.
The Development Center is located on the 3rd floor of the Johnson Hotel at 417 Central Avenue and provides 6,500 square feet for business development.

The center consists of following:

Individual and private office space for business start-ups. These offices are available with a lease agreement through the BID.
A Real Time audio and video conference room that will facilitate 25 people. A conference room for private conferences.
Restrooms on the floor
Additional partners that provide and operate the fiber-optic hotel are: Vision Net and iConnect. These businesses provide the computer servers and switches for multiple businesses to operate on.

The Lofts at 503

BID — Mon, 02 May 2011 05:01:42 +0000

The BID is currently working with the owners of the Montana Building at 503 1st Ave N. The property owners are converting the 4th floor from commercial to seven residential condominium units. For more information go to http://www.loftsat503.com/

Montana Building