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May 6, 2024 Welcome to Business Profiles 2024

Hartford Business Improvement District (BID)

The Hartford Business Improvement District (BID) works hard to create a positive, welcoming, vibrant experience in the commercial heart of Hartford. It’s impressive to hear all the nonprofit does.

The BID is a 60-block special services district in the commercial core of Connecticut’s capital city. Its mission is to bring about positive and lasting change by enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life within the district while working collectively with the mayor’s office, police and public works departments, as well as over 100 property owners and other organizations.

The organiization delivers meaningful and measurable supplemental services beyond what is provided by the municipality. Annual investments from property owners support detail-oriented cleaning, public safety and marketing services which mitigate many of the real and perceived challenges that face the district.

The BID’s $1.3 million budget is primarily funded by a levy on the taxable property within the district’s boundaries generating about a million dollars per year. Additional funds come from event sponsorships, grants, fee-for-service agreements, individual contributions and a $100,000 contribution from the City of Hartford.

This revenue supports 60-80 free events each year, such as the popular Salsa Socials on Pratt Street and an outdoor horror movie series. It funds flower plantings, seasonal decorations, art installations, citywide marketing through Hartford.com and the BID’s Ambassador Program, which contracts for a dozen people to provide hospitality, cleaning and security services from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ambassadors give directions, remove litter, power wash sidewalks and perform roadside assistance. They also operate the only free on-site bicycle roadside assistance program in North America, earning them an award from the International Downtown Association.

Leading this small organization that packs a punch is Jordan Polon, executive director and creator of the well-known tagline, “Hartford Has It.”

“The goal is to improve the experience for every single person who sets foot in our district, from the property owner to the merchant to the person who’s going into the restaurant to the line cook in that restaurant to the person who is experiencing homelessness or having a mental health crisis,” she said.

All of Hartford.com’s promotion of events, restaurants, hotels and other venues is done free of charge to organizations. “Our role is to ensure that Hartford.com has as much information as possible about the unbelievable range of events taking place in our city, the rich diversity of restaurants, and all of the arts and historical assets in our city.” While the district’s Ambassador program operates within their 60-block boundaries, Hartford.com promotes all of Hartford.

Ultimately, the work that the BID undertakes on behalf of the private sector in partnership with the City is geared toward the individual. Polon says, “Strengthening our community, increasing the vibrancy on our streets, giving people a sense of comfort and welcome when they’re walking around in our district, giving them beautiful things to look at, good music to listen to, interesting outdoor free events to participate in - those things all improve the business climate.”

Address: 90 State House Square, 10th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103

Website: www.hartford.com

Product or Service: Urban Place Management Organization

Number of Employees: 4

Top Executive: Jordan Polon, Executive Director

Year Founded: 2006