The San Jose Downtown Association represents more than 2,100 businesses, non-profits and property owners who work collaboratively to enhance the Downtown experience. We make downtown a better place.
Best known for its Groundwerx program, the PBID was established in 2007 and provides clean and safe services, small business and permitting assistance and beautification projects. Property owners fund these service.
A group of property owners forms the Board of Directors, which governs the programs of the 501(c)6 non-profit organization.
BID stands for Business Improvement District. A BID is authorized by state law and created by the city council. Its purpose is to promote and improve a specific area for the benefit of businesses within the area. The BID fee a property assesment that pays for that work. In San Jose, the city assesses all business license holders a BID fee annually.
The San Jose Downtown BID is bounded roughly by Julian Street, Fourth Street and highways 280 and 87, where it jogs west to include the arena and the train station, and Coleman Loop area.
Every year since 1989, the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA), a nonprofit organization, has been selected by the city council to manage the Downtown BID. Every business in the boundaries pays fees and is automatically a member of the Downtown Association. The members elect a board of directors to determine budgets and programs.
No. Since 1989, the BID has been raised three times: in 1994, when the BID boundaries extended to include the Arena area; in 2003 to include San Jose MarketCenter, and a modest rate adjustment in 2011.
BID fees represent about 25 percent of SJDA’s budget. The rest of SJDA revenue comes from earned income through events and sponsorships, plus contracts and fees for services. For every dollar the business community puts into the BID, four more dollars are leveraged by SJDA to improve Downtown. By state law, the BID money can only be used to support general business activities, promote public events, decorate public places and provide music and entertainment in the BID area. The Downtown Association uses its budget to promote downtown through stragetic marketing, by helping businesses navigate city hall and events including Music in the Park.
BID funds are spent on a variety of projects including advertising, marketing brochures, maps, websites, weekly e-letters, holiday lighting and events including the Farmers’ Market, South First Fridays and Downtown Ice, the outdoor skating rink. SJDA advocates on behalf of BID members for a vital and vibrant Downtown for businesses, their clients, customers and employees. Association staff members are available to assist BID businesses and property owners and address their individual concerns. SJDA provides a strong voice for Downtown to the media, government officials and policy makers and manages the Groundwerx clean, safe and beautiful services.
Alan “Gumby” Marques
President
Heroes Martial Arts
Frank Nguyen*
VP of Marketing:
Academic Coffee
Jeanne Serpa*
VP of Operations
Republic Services
Garrett Perez*
Treasurer
Pinnacle Peak Advisors, LLC
Elizabeth Truong*
Secretary
Lee’s Sandwiches Corp.
Katia McClain*
Immediate Past President
Steinberg Hart
Dap Ashaolu
Nirvana Soul
Cache Bouren
Cash Only Bar
Joshua Burroughs*
Urban Catalyst
Edwin Tan
San José State University
Indu Chakravarthy
RMW Architecture Interiors
Elizabeth Chien-Hale
Downtown Resident’s Assn.
Elizabeth Cirone
Hopkins & Carley
Brian Corbett
Gensler
Gino De Bernardo
Comerica Inc.
Neda Tabatabaie
San Jose Sharks
Nick Goddard*
Colliers International
Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez*
MACLA
Matt Lituchy
Jay Paul Company
Joshua Melander
Provident Credit Union
Chris Neale
The Core Companies
Eric Nielsen
55 South and SP2
Henry Phan
Hotel Clariana
Dan Pulcrano*
Metro Silcon Valley
Emily Ruvalcaba*
Bridge Bank
Miguel Salinas
The David and Lucile Packard Fdtn.
Derrick Seaver
San Jose Chamber of Commerce
Thoi “Toy” Trinh
The Good Spot
Stan Vuckovich
KBM-Hogue
*Executive Committee Member
Interested in joining the board? Email Nathan Ulsh at nulsh@sjdowntown.com
SJDA receives financial support from private sponsors and contributing members, the Business Improvement District, Knight Foundation and the City of San Jose.
Love the Downtown Doors program showcasing student artists on utility doors and boxes? The San Jose Downtown Foundation is focused on enhancing the cultural, aesthetic and educational environment downtown. The foundation also funded murals and other projects. It is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a Board of Trustees.
The Downtown Community Development Corporation (DCDC)’s mission is to stimulate public and private investment, community partnerships and resources to support the revitalization of Downtown San Jose.