Date:  February 28, 2013
Contact:  Joan Redeen 727-5430
For Immediate Release
Great Falls, Montana –

The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is pleased to announce the continuation of its Traffic Signal Box (TSB) program for local artists interested in design 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 TSB Art Project enhances the pedestrian and driving experience by incorporating artwork directly into the streetscape.  Phase one involved seven TSB’s completed during the summer of 2011 on Central Avenue.  Phase two involved five additional TSB’s located on 1^st and 2^nd Ave South. Phase three will commence on May 15, 2013 and will include seven additional TSB’s located on 1^st Ave North.  Installation of all TSB’s completed during the summer, 2013, will be accomplished using vinyl and will be done by the Clean Slate Group.

The TSB 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 or downloaded from our website at www.greatfallsbid.com.  Emerging artists are encouraged to apply.

The Call to Artists is being made public on Friday, March 1^st.  The submission deadline for artists to be considered for the project is Friday, May 3^rd at 12:30pm.

Download the Call to Artists HERE

BEFORE photos -

AFTER photos -

BEFORE & AFTER photos -

Stairwell before & after -

Second Floor before & after -

Facade before & after -

Church Harris entryway today -

An historic photo of the building -

Some BEFORE photos -

Some BEFORE photos -

Proposed rendition of AFTER -

Some BEFORE photos -

Some AFTER photos -

Some BEFORE photos -

Our final schedule is here:  5th Annual Montana Downtown Conference

Incredible thanks extended to ALL of our fantastic sponsors:  5th Annual Montana Downtown Conference Sponsors

Conference Information 2012

2012 Proposed Conference Schedule

Registration for the 5th Annual Montana Downtown Conference is NOW open!

Take advantage of the Early Bird Registration rates until September 30th!

Click here:  Registration Form 2012

Complete the registration form and submit it to:

Look forward to seeing YOU October 24th to the 26th in Great Falls!

Additional information will be posted – check the Montana Downtown Conference tab for more details as they become available

The 2012 conference is sponsored by the following:

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

We continue to seek additional sponsorships, if you or your organization would be interested please click here:  Sponsorship Information

In conjunction with the City of Great Falls Public Works Department and the Montana Department of Transportation the BID would like to install a large, outdoor mural on the underpass of 1^st Ave North running between Gibson Park and the Civic Center from River Drive up to Park Drive.

The 1^st Ave N underpass 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 5th Street North or downloaded from our website at www.greatfallsbid.com.

The submission deadline for artists to be considered for the project is Friday, June 22^nd at 12:30pm.

Also involved in this project are the Montana Department of Transportation, the City of Great Falls, T&L Painting, and Ace Hardware.  The BID welcomes any additional community support to make this project a reality, including tax deductible donations.

For complete information and the Call to Artists, click here Call to Artists – implementation

Continuing our beatification efforts in downtown Great Falls the Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is launching an Adopt-a-Tree program.  Within the BID boundaries there are 331 trees.  In September, 2009, the City of Great Falls allotted $50,000 of Tax Increment Fund dollars for the BID to replace, maintain and tend to the trees.  Those funds have been used replacing over 20% of the trees downtown, weeding, and long overdue pruning.  As a result of the past three years the trees have never looked better but the need for ongoing, routine maintenance remains.  The BID is serious about protecting our trees and maintaining the appeal downtown Great Falls offers to our community, but we can’t do it alone.

Some important facts to consider:  studies have shown that every $1 dollar spent on maintaining trees, the public receives $3 worth of benefits, primarily in the form of reduced heating and air conditioning bills and higher property values; trees not only bring an aesthetic appeal to Downtown Great Falls, they also play an important role in filtering out pollution; and they absorb noise, calm traffic, reduce stress and crime and create a peaceful place to relax and socialize.

How can you help? Participate in our Adopt-a-Tree Program! Each adoption commitment is for five (5) years, and costs $375 per tree ($75 per year for five years).  We will acknowledge your sponsorship with a personalized plaque on the tree or trees of your choice for five years, and on our website.  Adopt-a-Tree contributions are tax deductible.

For more information, please contact the BID office at 13 5^th Street N, (406) 727-5430 or info@greatfallsbid.com.  This program is open to any interested members of the Great Falls community.

For complete information and the application, click here BID Adopt a Tree Program 2012

Date:  April 10, 2012
Contact:  Joan Redeen 727-5430
For Immediate Release

Great Falls, Montana –
The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is seeking proposals from qualified artists to create a design for the 1^st Ave North underpass project.  The goal of the project is to create an eye-catching, descriptive entryway to Downtown Great Falls, with one artists’ design being implemented by a team of approved artists working together.

In conjunction with the City of Great Falls Public Works Department and the Montana Department of Transportation the BID would like to install a large, outdoor mural on the underpass of 1^st Ave North running between Gibson Park and the Civic Center from River Drive up to Park Drive.

The selected design will function as a form of communication to a moving audience with the goal of creating an interesting entry/exit to downtown.  The design will take into account what makes Great Falls and Downtown Great Falls unique including the arts, history, music, historical figures, community events, recreational opportunities, and special attractions.   Successful proposals will foster community pride and convey the sense of community.

The 1^st Ave N underpass 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 5th Street North or downloaded from our website at www.greatfallsbid.com.

The submission deadline for artists to be considered for the project is Friday, May 4^th at 12:30pm.

Also involved in this project are the Montana Department of Transportation, the City of Great Falls, T&L Painting, and Ace Hardware.  The BID welcomes any additional community support to make this project a reality, including tax deductible donations.

For the Call to Artists, click here: 1st Ave N underpass – Call to Artists 2012

1st Ave N underpass as of April, 2012:

Everyone attending met up on the steps of the Civic Center at 11am, at that time it was announced that we were all headed to Pizazz to shop!  The rules for a Cash Mob are very simple: 1. Have fun; 2. Meet 3 new people; and 3. Spend $20.  The only requirement for the store is that it must be able to accommodate both male and female shoppers.  With the BID and DGFA working together to bring this fun event to downtown Great Falls we did add one more stipulation, the store had to be a member of Downtown Great Falls Association.  Once the list of stores was compiled all names were placed in a hat and the winning store was drawn – congrats to Pizazz on having the honor of hosting the state’s first Cash Mob!

http://www.krtv.com/news/montana-s-first-cash-mob-charges-downtown-great-falls-business/

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120325/NEWS01/203250318/Cash-mob-strikes-Pizazz-support-local-businesses?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

http://www.kfbb.com/news/local/Weekend-Events-in-Great-Falls-Boost-Local-Economy-144316875.html

For more information on Cash Mobs check out:

https://cashmobs.wordpress.com/

Check out all of the specials available here: Thursday, March 15 Downtown Specials

Date: February 29, 2012
Contact: Joan Redeen 727-5430
For Immediate Release
Great Falls, Montana –

The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is pleased to announce the continuation of its Traffic Signal Box (TSB) 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 TSB Art Project enhances the pedestrian and driving experience by incorporating artwork directly into the streetscape. Phase one involved seven TSB’s completed during the summer of 2011 on Central Avenue. Phase two will commence Friday, June 15, 2012 and will include seven additional TSB’s located on 1st and 2nd Ave South.

The TSB 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 5th Street North or downloaded from our website at www.greatfallsbid.com. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply.

The Call to Artists is being made public on Thursday, March 1st. The submission deadline for artists to be considered for the project is Friday, May 4th at 12:30pm.  There will be no exceptions made to this deadline.

Click here to download the Call to Artists:  Traffic Signal Boxes – Call to Artists 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.

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

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

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!

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.

Downtown Master Plan 2011

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!