HISTORY OF THE YONKERS DOWNTOWN/WATERFRONT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)

The Downtown/Waterfront Business Improvement District, Inc. of Yonkers, NY is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation created in 2002. The BID was formed to build working partnerships, encourage investment, and support initiatives for a healthier commercial district in the downtown of Yonkers.
The public/private partnership between the BID and the City of Yonkers delivers supplemental services such as sanitation and maintenance, public safety and visitor services, marketing and promotional programs, capital improvements and beautification in downtown waterfront Yonkers. Additionally, the BID operates an up-to-date website www.YonkersDowntown.com.
The services provided by the Yonkers Downtown BID are supplemental to the services provided to the district by the City of Yonkers and its agencies
The Yonkers Downtown/Waterfront Business Improvement District (YDWBID) is an agent for businesses within its specific geographic bounds. The YDWBID serves to formulate, promote and implement the economic revitalization and general welfare of the District and the City of Yonkers. The BID forms public/private partnerships to maintain its streets, contributes to public safety, landscapes the district with flowers and greenery, markets special events and creates promotional opportunities to highlight the area. Additionally, the BID preserves and encourages the cultural, historic, tourist and civic interest of the District and the City of Yonkers.  The BID mobilizes available public and private resources for the above purposes and provides a mechanism by which property owners, retail establishments, service firms, employers, citizens and others cooperate to develop business opportunities, employment, consumer choices, shopping facilities and general civic interest. Furthermore, the BID assists, participates and contributes to the activities of other organizations, individuals, public and private entities within and outside the City to promote the Business Improvement District.
The Board of Directors of the BID is comprised of seven property owners (Class A) and two tenants with commercial leases (Class B) in the downtown Yonkers geographic area defined in the establishing legislation. These members are elected by a vote of their respective class every two years at the Annual Meeting.  Also on the board are one resident (Class C) and three ex officio members (the Mayor, the Chief Financial Officer of the City and the Council person in whose district the BID properties lie) (Class D). 
Some of the initiatives with which  the BID has traditionally and historically been involved are:

• Sidewalk Sales, with music at noon on Fridays
• Collaboration with the City of Yonkers and other sponsors to produce Riverfest, Jazz & Blues @ Dusk, Main Street Films @ Dusk, Jazz & Films on the Pier, Farmers Market and “Fresh Off the Barge,” Waste Vegetable Oil (VO) forum, Mayfair, Mardi Gras dances and other special cultural events (“Cherish the Ladies” concert, “9/11 Suite in Four Movements” concerts, etc.), Winter Carnival, holiday tree lightings, ribbon-cuttings, art and photography exhibitions
• Maintain an up-to-date website
• Publish quarterly newsletters
• Manage grants (awning and canopies, NYS Main Street Grant, etc.)
• Landscaping and beautification programs with Groundwork Yonkers
• “Museum in the Streets” historic signage project in the downtown
• Marketing assistance for existing business and other entities within the District
• Coordinate the ranger street-cleaning program
• Graffiti database and removal
• Continued advocacy for the specific needs of each business

New initiatives in 2008 included “Let’s Dance Downtown!” and “Evolution Arts,” an arts “crawl” through Downtown Yonkers.