Helping Business is Our Business!

The DSP accomplishes its mission through advocating for public policies, business and project development, quality planning, physical improvement projects, public safety, beautification, and marketing programs that ensure Downtown's continued success.

The DSP board meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month to discuss budget, management and program delivery issues on behalf of the DSP membership, setting policies and strategic direction to build a more vital Downtown.

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:

The BID was created by Spokane City Council in July 1995 and reauthorized in 2001 at the request of the area's business and property owners. The City of Spokane hires the DSP to administer the BID on the City's behalf to deliver enhanced services including clean, safe, promotions, and parking in order to make Downtown a more attractive place to visit, shop, and invest.

The BID programs of clean, safe, fun, and parking have been fundamental since 1995, stabilizing Downtown and stimulating new investment. The BID encourages investment by providing the revenue and political will, to keep our commercial streets clean, safe, and economically vibrant.

The Downtown Spokane Ventures Association is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit development corporation doing business as the University District. As the revitalization and development opportunities continue to grow in the University District, the stakeholders in the University District Development Association (UDDA) transitioned from their informal community development network into a formal non-profit organization by attaining the legal 501(c)3 tax-exempt status through Ventures. This move creates a defining body better able to maneuver the intricacies of government partnerships, charitable donations, grant management, as well as other revitalization and development strategies. The newly-formed University District Board of Directors serves as the policy and decision-making body for the University District, while receiving its guidance from the larger representation of the University District Advisory Council.

The University District offers opportunities to address economic development issues, urban growth, environmental restoration, transportation and affordable housing needs. Connecting the core strengths of the educational institutions with regional economic drivers forms an urban laboratory for the creation of new knowledge and opportunities for applied, community -engaged research, resulting in economic value and quality of life.