On December 22, 1997, a local law was passed in accordance with Article 19-A of the New York State General Municipal Law establishing a “Business Improvement District” (B.I.D.) for Downtown Batavia. This permitted a core group of downtown property owners and city officials to organize a formal downtown management association.
In March 1998, the Batavia Business Improvement District Management Association Incorporated was established as a 501(C)(6) not-for-profit corporation (municipal/business organization). Its mission is to finance improvements and services beyond those provided by the City, and fund an operational budget for the purpose of revitalizing and promoting business activity. In October 2013, the association changed its tax status to a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. This was to enable the BID to apply for more grants.
The Batavia Business Improvement District is comprised of property owners and tenants. It has a fourteen-member Board of Directors. There are twelve elected representatives from the district, and three city-appointed public representatives. The Board includes merchants, professionals, a municipal official and citizens that develop policy and provide leadership for the association.
