Downtown
BHM’s
Business Improvement District
Part of Downtown Birmingham’s secret sauce is a tool that cities across the world use to create and manage vibrant downtowns—a Business Improvement District (BID). Birmingham’s BID includes the CAP Clean and Safe team, REV Birmingham‘s downtown team doing projects small and large that improve places, and even the creation of management of this website. Keep reading to learn more!
About Downtown BHM’s Business Improvement District
Did you know the Downtown BHM Business Improvement District (BID) now includes 3 districts? See the map below to see where BID services make the City Center (blue), The Switch (purple) and Five Points South (red) more vibrant!
(Click here for billing information, here for the board schedule, and here for sub-district-specific meeting information.)
A Business Improvement District (BID) is enabled by state law and granted by city ordinance after property owners petition their support. It is a district where property owners formally pool their resources to provide supplemental services that build on services provided by the city. Determined with input from property owners, BID services can include security, litter pick-up, graffiti removal, pressure washing, district events, marketing programs, and other special projects. Services are funded by BID property owners via an assessment based on their property values. Think of it as a homeowners’ association for a business district. Those extra services can make a place more competitive by creating a cleaner, more attractive district and giving it a distinctive identity.
The BID property owners are represented by a board of directors that is legally called the City Center District Management Corporation but is more informally and publicly called the Downtown BHM BID board. The BID board is comprised of property owners or representatives of property owners, and one-third of seats are held, by state law, for property owners representing the lower third of properties by value.
The board contracts REV Birmingham to manage the BID, from overseeing the CAP Clean and Safe program to facilitating public space improvements to creating this website that helps people navigate and plug into downtown. REV Birmingham is a place-based revitalization and economic development nonprofit with a mission to create vibrant commercial districts. Learn more about how it all works together in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)!
Downtown BHM BID Board Meeting Schedule
All meetings are at the offices of Balch & Bingham at 4 p.m. unless otherwise specified. Meetings in bold are open to members of the public.
- Wednesday, January 31, 2024
- Wednesday, February 14, 2024
- Wednesday, March 6, 2024
- Wednesday, May 15, 2024 — Public Annual Meeting
- Wednesday, July 17, 2024
- Wednesday, September 18, 2024
- Wednesday, November 13, 2024 — Public Budget Meeting
Billing Information & Annual Reports
Do you have billing questions regarding your BID assessment? Email billing@downtownbhm.com or call 205-994-9902. If you prefer to pay your assessment online with a credit card or ACH, we can email your invoice directly to you.
Click the buttons below to see annual reports that include BID program and project descriptions and data as well as financial information.
BID Sub-District Meetings
Have more questions or ideas? BID Sub-District Advisory Forums invite community stakeholders to share their priorities and concerns with their representatives on the BID board. Expand the sections below to see information about upcoming Advisory Forums, or see our BID board schedule to make plans to attend one of our public meetings. You may also contact our team any time at hello@downtownbhm.com.
City Center
UPCOMING ADVISORY FORUM
City Center Advisory Forums invite community stakeholders to share their priorities and concerns with their representatives on the BID board
📅: TBD early 2025
⏰: TBD early 2025
📍: TBD early 2025
The Switch
On Dec. 12, 2023, Birmingham City Council approved an amendment to a city ordinance to allow the Downtown BHM Business Improvement District (BID) to expand into two additional downtown districts, Five Points South and The Switch, where services began July 1, 2024. (See the information presented to City Council here.)
UPCOMING ADVISORY FORUM
The Switch Advisory Forums invite community stakeholders to share their priorities and concerns with their representatives on the BID board
📅: TBD early 2025
⏰: TBD early 2025
📍: TBD early 2025
Five Points South
On Dec. 12, 2023, Birmingham City Council approved an amendment to a city ordinance to allow the Downtown Birmingham Business Improvement District (BID) to expand into two additional downtown districts, Five Points South and The Switch, where services began July 1, 2024. (See the information presented to City Council here.)
UPCOMING ADVISORY FORUM
Five Points South Advisory Forums invite community stakeholders to share their priorities and concerns with their representatives on the BID board
📅: TBD early 2025
⏰: TBD early 2025
📍: TBD early 2025
If you have billing questions, email billing@downtownbhm.com or call 205-994-9902. You can also see our frequently asked questions to better understand what to expect as a BID sub-district property owner.
Stay up-to-date on the BID and more happenings downtown by signing up for our newsletter below!
Clean & Safe
Ensuring that downtown feels safe and clean to its residents, employees and visitors is the foundation for creating vibrant places! Downtown’s CAP Clean & Safe Program is one of those extra services funded by the BID.
CAP Ambassadors welcome you to Downtown Birmingham, patrolling on foot, Segways and bikes. Their visibility and attention often deter bad behavior and activities, and they look for opportunities to help people and tidy up our district as they’re out and about.
How can CAP help you? Call 205-251-0111 to request help within the Downtown Birmingham Business Improvement District.
Contact Information for BID Property
Do you need to submit or update contact information for a property within the Downtown Birmingham BID? Please complete the form below to share information for the person who should receive annual invoices. If you are updating your information for more than one property or if you have additional questions, you may email billing@downtownbhm.com or call 205-994-9902.
Downtown Birmingham BID Property Owner Contact Information
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