SURA grant to give downtown Sandpoint a boost

SANDPOINT — At a time when economic recession and changing patterns of commerce are hurting urban business districts across the country, Sandpoint will be taking proactive steps to maintain its downtown economic vitality this year — with a big assist from the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency.

SURA announced this week it is providing a $44,250 grant to the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association to support a range of marketing, event and vitalization activities that aim to bring people downtown to shop, dine, stay and find services.

The goal, said SURA President Eric Paull, is simple: To keep downtown Sandpoint economically vital, retain and attract business and provide jobs.

“A healthy downtown helps the city in many ways, and keeps the surrounding urban neighborhoods healthy too,” he said.

The grant will fund 16 different events and marketing initiatives during the coming year. Part of the grant will augment marketing of existing events staged by DSBA that have proven successful over the years but have lacked an adequate marketing budget, including the Holidays in Sandpoint promotion for Christmas and New Year, Winter Carnival, Wood Boat Festival and Oktoberfest. Elements of the grant will also allow DSBA to provide promotional support for events ranging from Panida and POAC shows to the Long Bridge Swim and Scenic Half marathon. A major new monthly promotion called “First Thursdays” will also be launched next spring, modeled on Boise’s very successful event of the same name.

In addition to event-specific promotion, the grant will support year-round general marketing campaigns utilizing radio, Internet and print collateral. It also will contribute funding to a part-time general-purpose custodian to address cleanup of vacant or neglected properties downtown, plus an element to work on parking enhancements.

DSBA President Chris Bessler said the grant will provide a major boost to the association’s efforts to bring more customers and commerce to downtown businesses.

He noted DSBA has an annual budget of little more than $100,000 raised through assessments on businesses within the downtown Business Improvement District. The grant will increase funds for marketing by a large factor, he said.

 “This is to augment and expand our programs to market and energize our commercial district,” Bessler said. “This is not replacing any of our existing resources.”

“I think one thing that convinced SURA to invest in the downtown this way is the fact our businesses are already stepping up to improve the downtown through those BID assessments,” he said. “We’re showing our commitment, and they’re matching it.”

Bessler added: “It’s not just about businesses – it’s good for residents of the city, too. A healthy downtown provides employment and can shoulder more of the tax burden – and it’s just nicer to live in a place with a bustling and attractive downtown.”

Paull said DSBA will provide a report as it fulfills each grant element as well as an annual “state of the downtown” report to the SURA board. “This is an annual review and there is no guarantee for future funding,” he said. “It is tied to measurable results by DSBA.”

With the grant cycle just under way, results so far are promising. DSBA was able to more than triple its promotional budget for the Oktoberfest event held Saturday downtown, with radio and newspaper campaigns as well as online promotions. In its fifth year, the event saw a major bump up in attendance – to an estimated 700 people, marking about a 25% increase over previous years, said DSBA Executive Director Kathleen Hyde.

“Oktoberfest, along with other events including the draft horse show and WaCanId bike ride, no question brought more people into downtown to shop, eat and stay,” said Hyde. “The stores and restaurants I surveyed said they were busy. Which is just what we want to accomplish, especially in these shoulder seasons.”

The Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency is an independent public redevelopment agency established by city council in 2005 and has two redevelopment districts, the downtown and a northern district. SURA partners with public and private entities to help improve economic vitality, create jobs and encourage investment.