Durango Business Improvement District set to Spring it On!

Umbrella marketing program to promote May events in and around Downtown

Durango, CO – The Durango Business Improvement District (BID) is set to “Spring it On!” as it kicks off the umbrella promotion designed to market those events happening in and around Downtown Durango throughout the month of May 2013.

Spring it On! 2013 will promote more than 50 events, some multi-day. The marketing effort helps further the adage unofficially adopted by the BID: a rising tide floats all boats.

“Several years ago the BID recognized that spring needed a push,” said BID Executive Director Tim Walsworth of the 2007 launch of Spring it On!. “Since then we’ve been able to not only promote those established events such as Taste of Durango and the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, but encourage other organizations to add events to the mix. May is now incredibly rich with activities, and we’re hoping to attract a great many visitors to Durango and enjoy a strong economic start to the summer season.”

In recent years, the BID’s umbrella promotions, including the holiday effort HOLiDAZZLE and September/October program, Fall for Downtown Durango Days, have helped boost sales tax revenues and stimulate traffic in the Business Improvement District. For Spring it On! the BID is underwriting costs for posters, newspaper inserts and radio advertisements to encourage visitors locally and from outside the area to participate in the numerous events during the month.

“Activity begets activity. The more folks we can attract to businesses in the District, the better the sales, and thus the stronger the spring numbers will be as we move into summer,” added Walsworth. “Given the economy, it’s important we do all we can to support business in our community.”

The BID web site, www.downtowndurango.org features a complete list of Spring it On! events, as well as a regularly updated listing of May sales, specials and giveaways at businesses in the District.

The Durango Business Improvement District was formed in 1997 with a goal and mission to support businesses within the District by assisting with special event marketing, providing research on topics of concern to the District (facilities, special events, best practices), planning and development of new facilities, and providing capital budget for equipment that enhances business in the District. Funding is generated by a 2 mill levy on property owners within the district, with additional marketing dollars contributed by the City of Durango and Durango Area Tourism Office.