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Business Improvement Districts - BIDs

Wisconsin Act 184, signed into law in 1984, gives Wisconsin municipalities (i.e., cities, villages and towns) the power to establish one or more Business Improvement Districts within their community and an assessment methodology that allows business properties within that geographic area to contribute to programs aimed at promotion, management, maintenance and development of that district. BID assessments are restricted to commercial and industrial properties subject to real estate tax. Tax-exempt properties (i.e., religious, public utility, or government properties) or those used exclusively as residences cannot be included in the assessment district.

The University of Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX), through its statewide network of county-based UWEX educators, is a leader in helping Wisconsin communities examine and evaluate how Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) can support their economic development plans. Read more about UW-Extension's BID education work. ( PDF, 92 kb)

Local Government Center educational materials may be viewed and printed using Adobe Acrobat. You must have this program installed on your computer. A copy of this program is available free from Adobe.

Wisconsin BIDs in the News (Updated: November 17, 2008)

Reedsburg BID Becomes Wisconsin's Fifth to Dissolve (November 17, 2008) ( PDF, 100 kb)

City of Janesville's Attempt to "Recreate" Their Downtown BID Halted (September 18, 2008)

Downtown Oshkosh BID Reimburses Publication for Misuse of Star's Photograph (September 18, 2008) ( PDF, 68 kb)

Kenosha BID's Support of a Vacant Building Ordinance Already Having An Impact (August 15, 2008)

Educational Support Materials

Creating a BID ( PDF, 32 kb)
Directory of BID Contacts ( PDF, 396 kb)
State Statutes Regulating BIDs: Section 66.1109 ( PDF, 12 kb)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the Legal Requirements for Minimum and Maximum BID Assessments? ( PDF, 36 kb)

Related Educational Programs

Since 2003, UW-Extension's Local Government Center has helped coordinate and offer a series of annual programs aimed at educating Business Improvement District managers, their Board members and interested parties about BID operations and programming. View seminar dates.

Related Reading

Becker, Carol. 2008. Government without Government: Alternatives to Market and Government Failure. Hamline University Doctorate Dissertation. ( PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Law, Charles. 1992. BIDs in Wisconsin: An Interim Report. In Action News - Newsletter of the Wisconsin Downtown Action Council. June/July. ( PDF, 976 kb)

Law, Chuck. 2001. Business Improvement District (BID) Development in Wisconsin. In Let's Talk Business: Ideas for Expanding Retail and Services in Your Community. Madison, WI: Center for Community Economic Development, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Issue 55. March. ( PDF, 148 kb)

Mitchell, Jerry. 1999. Business Improvement Districts and Innovative Service Delivery. Arlington, VA: PricewaterhouseCoopers Endowment for the Business of Government, 32 p. ( PDF, 152 kb)

Mitchell, Jerry. 2008. Business Improvement Districts and the Shape of American Cities. State University of New York Press.

Wisconsin BID Operating Plans

West Racine BID Operating Plan (2009) ( PDF, 790 kb)

Uptown Racine BID Operating Plan (2009) ( PDF, 704 kb)
Uptown Racine BID Operating Plan, Appendix B (2009) ( PDF, 68 kb)

Related Links

Below are several related Internet Resources that may be of interest. The University of Wisconsin-Extension assumes no responsibility for the quality or integrity of the sites listed. The viewpoints and opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of UWEX.

Wisconsin BID Web Sites

Madison Business Improvement District (http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/planning/bid.htm)
Includes copies of Central Madison's BID Operating Plan for 2001, Year 2000 accom plishments, and the District Renewal Cover Letter.

Milwaukee BIDs (http://www.mkedcd.org/business/busbid.html)
Contains a complete listing of BIDs operating in the City of Milwaukee including contact information, websites (if applicable) and a map of the City showing BID locations.

Neenah Downtown Business Improvement District (http://www.neenah.org/)
Includes a brief history of events leading up to the BID's creation, identifies current programming, accomplishments and its Board members.

West Allis Downtown Business Improvement District (http://www.downtownwestallis.com/)

See also (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cfa/EF/recycle/Grantees/wabid.htm) to read about how the West Allis BID received a $14,899 waste reduction and recycling demonstration grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

If you have any questions or comments about the Wisconsin Business Improvement District web page, e-mail Chuck Law (chuck.law@uwex.edu).

This page last modified: April 3, 2009

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