Riverhead Business Improvement District [BID] Management Association [BIDMA]

WHAT IS A BID: A Business Improvement District (BID) is a specific geographic area, established under the guidelines of New York State law, which enables local property owners and businesses within the area to finance supplemental services and programs beyond those the local government provides. The BID is managed by a 501(c)4 management association [BIDMA], a board of directors comprised of district property owners, tenants, and one resident who determine the BIDMA budget and the budget priorities. The BIDMA budget is based on a special tax assessment, paid by the property owners in the BID district.

MISSION: The mission of the Riverhead Business Improvement District (BID) is to expand sustainable economic activity in historic downtown Riverhead, create and expand business, and develop jobs for community residents. The BID aims to improve business for merchants, bring additional foot traffic and customers to historic Downtown Riverhead (DTR), attract merchants that will complement and advance the commercial landscape, and create a vibrant and mixed-use neighborhood.

ABOUT: Established by the Town of Riverhead in 1991, the Riverhead Business Improvement District is the heart of Riverhead, New York. Located along the Peconic Riverfront, the BID district boundaries stretch from the Riverhead Library (west) to the Riverhead Police Department (east); with the Riverhead Train Station to the north and the Peconic Riverfront to the south [view the BID District map here].

Riverhead BIDMA Initiatives

DISTRICT SUPPORT

  • Liaison, connections and general insight for district parcel owners, tenants and residents 

  • Research and creation of resources that support district members, stakeholders, property owners, commercial and residential tenants, elected officials, and other regional influencers

  • Maintain a network of relationships with corporate, community, government, and institutional partners to fulfill the downtown objectives and mission

  • Represent and liaison for the downtown district, fostering communication and collaboration between businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, community members, municipalities, agencies, media channels, and the public

BEAUTIFICATION & SAFETY MEASURES

  • Downtown ambassador, maintenance, presence and oversight of district

  • Street lighting, wayfinding signs and park improvements

  • Lamp post decor ie. wreaths, snowflakes, banners, corn stalks, decorating contests

  • Inform and partner with buildings and grounds, engineering, electrical, highway, PD to maintain and improve the landscape, safety and security measures

  • Obtain grants, donations and sponsorships to support efforts

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

  • Social media

  • Public Relations 

  • Advertising

  • Soofa kiosk, town square

  • Graphic design for BID and external parties

WEBSITE

  • Business directories

  • Historic walking tour

  • Events

  • Community calendar highlighting all DTR events (search and outreach to compile content)

  • General inquiries including direction/guide to external entities

EVENTS

  • Alive on 25

  • 4th of July Fireworks

  • Cardboard Board Race

  • Halloween Fest

  • Holiday Parade & Bonfire

PARTNER & VOLUNTEERISM

  • Chamber of Commerce events ie. Cardboard Boat Race, tree lighting, job fair, networking, speaking

  • Reflextions sponsorship, grants, permits, promotion

  • Riverhead Library, Anti-Litter, Townscape, Lions Club, TOR Recreation Dept, ABTF, EETA, AACEF, Stop the Violence, Suffolk Theater, LI Aquarium, Northeast Stage, NY Cancer Society, Riverhead Schools, tourism, arts and cultural activations

  • East End Arts ie. Mosaic Fest, Soiree, gallery, fundraisers, public art initiatives

  • Assist community groups with event planning ie. town, PD, county and regional permits, scheduling, cross promotion, production

PENDING PROJECTS & GRANTS

  • $250,000 New York State DRI, public art initiative

  • $10,000 PSEG, murals on riverfront/playground comfort stations

  • $80,000 Suffolk County DTR, playground improvements (substrate, sensory pieces)

  • $40,000 Suffolk County DTR, south alley light/art installation 

  • Litter Critter, partnered with Anti-Litter Committee, Riverhead Recreation, River and Roots Community Garden

  • Additional grant applications and approval, pending 

GOALS

  • Retain line(s) of credit to activate grant projects 

  • Increase sponsorships, donations and profitability; reallocation to grant matches and projects

  • Increase marketing budget/efforts for consulting with content creators, media, website (itineraries, tours, profitability)

  • Assist CDA with recovery/reactivation of expired DTR grant projects (north alley, riverfront lighting, Grangebel Park lighting and electric, north alley)

  • Collaborate with TOR and CDA on downtown developments to curtail concerns of parking and construction impacts

  • Apply and manage public and private grants to supplement and increase funding of events, capital improvements and projects

  • Expand public art, beautification and programming initiatives ie. parks, trash receptacles, seating, bike racks

  • Decrease the risks, liability and legality concerns for co-sponsorship events and initiatives that are not produced or operated by the BIDMA (filing NYS, Department of Health, TOR, PD permits, grants and applications under BIDMA 510(c)4 organization, lack of monitoring and accountability of external parties such as financial reports for sponsorship and profits, status and execution reports, insurance requirements, vendor and participant contracts and releases, funding through BIDMA financial accounts and tax/workers compensation/insurance implications) - or - assume all production, operations and oversight for activations of which the BIDMA is the applicant/sponsor

  • Increase marketing and promotion of all events and happenings hosted by businesses and organizations (not only those produced by BIDMA)

  • Grow events produced by BIDMA and support new tourism and commerce drivers and to sustain interest and excitement for visiting downtown (coffin race, brewery/bar/restaurant events, culturally diverse initiaitives)