About the Downtown Spokane Partnership

Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP)

The DSP is a private, non-profit membership organization that serves as Spokane's central city advocate and service provider dedicated to the creation of a dynamic, vital and sustainable Downtown as the basis of an economically healthy region.

The DSP board meets monthly the fourth Wednesday of the month to discuss budget, management and program delivery issues on behalf of the DSP membership.

In order to ensure Downtown's continued success, the DSP actively pursues five strategic initiatives in collaboration with its partners, subsidiary corporation Ventures, and the community:

• Planning and Design
• Public Policy and Advocacy
• Business Development
• Enhanced Municipal Services through the BID

Vision

The members of the Downtown Spokane Partnership envision an exciting, attractive, and productive Downtown providing employment and living opportunities, unique shopping, entertainment, cultural events, and recreational activities integrated with surrounding neighborhoods. Ultimately, the Downtown is a destination for people, drawing visitors from within the greater Spokane region and beyond.

Mission

The Downtown Spokane Partnership is dedicated to the creation of a dynamic, vital and sustainable Downtown as the basis of an economically healthy region.

Strategic Initiatives

The Downtown Spokane Partnership and Downtown Spokane Ventures Association (Ventures) actively pursues five strategic initiatives in collaboration with its partners and the community.

• An Enhanced Public Services strategy to maintain and promote a clean, safe, and accessible Downtown (through the Business Improvement District).
• A Public Policy strategy to encourage the adoption of governmental tools, guidelines, and incentives to support the realization of Downtown’s full potential.
• A Planning and Design strategy to create a beautiful, pedestrian-oriented urban environment maximizing the unique appeal of a Downtown offering employment, culture, entertainment, housing, and natural assets.
• A Business Development strategy to help generate jobs and economic vitality by anticipating the ongoing and rapid changes in the location, type, and requirements of new commercial activity.
• A Project Development strategy to use the 501(C)(3) tax exempt status of Ventures to aggressively push necessary projects by securing public and private funding, ownership, and partnership.

Funding

The DSP has three main funding sources to support these initiatives.  First, as a membership organization, it receives dues from members throughout the community who want to invest in the future of Downtown.  Second, grants, contracts and private foundations secured through Ventures to advance specific development projects Downtown.  Third, as the management entity for Downtown’s Business Improvement District (BID), the DSP receives funding from assessment payments by Downtown business and property owners.  The City has hired the DSP to operate the BID through December 2007.

DSP Partners

The DSP works with a range of organizations in its advocacy of Downtown.  Its partners include government agencies and neighborhood associations, as well as business, community, civic, and cultural organizations. View strategic partners...

DSP Documents

• Join Now! Download the DSP Membership Application (PDF - 80MB requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
• Download the 2006 DSP Business Plan (PDF-requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
• Download the DSP Planning Overview Chart 
• Download the DSP Strategic Plan 2010 (PDF - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
• Download the Plan for a New Downtown (use the bookmarks on the left-hand side to navigate through the plan)
• Download the Plan for a New Downtown Design Guidelines

Ventures

In 1999, DSP created a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit development corporation called Ventures. Ventures is dedicated to carrying out projects, programs, and actions that give life to the "Plan for a New Downtown" and build continual momentum for Downtown.

Ventures has been involved in the business and project development including such projects as the Post Street two-way conversion and pedestrian enhancements, Downtown housing focus groups, housing code amendments, Downtown gateway design issues, and more.

• Go to Downtown Business Profile

 

The Survey Says... Download the 2004 DSP Stakeholder Survey Results Summary

Become a Board Member!

• Join Now! Download the DSP Membership Application (PDF - 80MB requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)