San Jose Downtown Association
Downtown San Jose is our business
The San Jose Downtown Association represents more than 2,000 businesses, non-profits and property owners who work collaboratively to enhance the Downtown experience. We make downtown a better place.
How we do it
Our impact
removed in 2024
Our organization
Business and Property-based Improvement Districts
Business
Property-Based
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.
Business Improvement District FAQ
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. 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.
San Jose Downtown Association
Board of Directors
Emily Ruvalcaba*
Chair
Bridge Bank
Adolfo Gomez*
Vice Chair
Mezcal Restaurant
Jill Perez
Treasurer
Pinnacle Peak Advisors, LLC
Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez*
Secretary
MACLA
Alan “Gumby” Marques*
Immediate Past Chair
Heroes Martial Arts
Members
Indu Chakravarthy*
RMW Architecture Interiors
Nick Goddard*
Colliers International
Andrew Jacobson
Westbank Projects Corp
David Mulvehill
Nouveau Hospitality Group
Brendan Rawson
San Jose Jazz
Sanjeev Sethi
Adobe
Chris Shay*
Sharks Sports & Entertainment
Shawn Whalen
San José State University
Directors
Dap Ashaolu*
Nirvana Soul
Cache Bouren
Cash Only Bar
Blair Carson
Pageboy
Gabriela Chavez-Lopez
Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley
Elizabeth Chien-Hale
Appleton Luff
Dan Georgatos
Purple Lotus
Maia Harris*
Jay Paul Company
Joshua Melander
Provident Credit Union
Chris Neale
The Core Companies
Frank Nguyen*
Academic Coffee
Eric Nielsen*
55 South and SP2
Laura Riparbelli
Hoge, Fenton,
Jones & Appel, Inc.
Christina Ramos
PG&E
Leah Toeniskoetter
San Jose Chamber of Commerce
Corinda Wong
Gensler
*Executive Committee Member
Interested in joining the board? Contact us at sjda@sjdowntown.com
SJDA Financials
SJDA receives financial support from private sponsors and contributing members, the Business Improvement District, Knight Foundation and the City of San Jose.
Year: 2023-24
Year: 2022-23
Year: 2021-22
Year: 2020-21
Year: 2019-20
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.
