What Is a Business Improvement District?

History & Overview

A Business Improvement District (BID) is created for the purpose of forming collective contribution funding for a portion or all of the future proposed public events, public activities, and promotion of the district as allowed by SDCL Ch. 9-55 to encourage economic development within the district.

The South Dakota Legislature during their 1986 session enacted what is now SDCL Chapter 9-55. This chapter allows municipalities to create and administer business improvement districts. This law was based upon similar statutes from other state, including Nebraska and Kansas. Amended in 1990, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, chapter 9-55 gives business districts and municipalities the tool that they need to create a special purpose district to overcome some of the problems of development and
promotion of business areas.

Funds collected through the BID process will be used to promote public activities, beautification efforts and promotion of the area within the district. The funds are managed by a voluntary BID Board made up of five owners of property within the BID who have been appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. The BID Board is responsible for reviewing proposed activities and making recommendations to the City Council.

What Kind of Projects Can Be Done?

A Business Improvement District can undertake the following projects and tasks:

1. The acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of public off-street parking facilities for the benefit of the district area;
2. Improvement of any public place or facility in the district area, including landscaping and
   plantings;
3. Construction or installation of convention or event centers, pedestrian shopping malls or plazas, sidewalks, including moving sidewalks, parks, meeting and display facilities, bus stop shelters, lighting, benches or other seating furniture, sculptures, trash receptacles, shelters, fountains, skywalks, and pedestrian and vehicular overpasses and underpasses or any useful or necessary public improvement;
4. Leasing, acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, extending, maintaining, or repairing parking lots or parking garages, both above and below ground, or other facilities for the parking of vehicles, including the power to install such facilities in public areas, whether such areas are owned in fee or by easement, in the district area;
5. Creation and implementation of a plan for improving the general architectural design of public areas in the district area;
6. The development of any activities and promotion of the district area;
7. Maintenance, repair, and reconstruction of any improvements or facilities authorized by this
   chapter;
8. Any other project or undertaking for the betterment of the facilities in the district area, whether the project is capital or non-capital in nature;
9. Enforcement of parking regulations within the district area; and
10. Employing or contracting for personnel, including administrators for any improvement or promotional program under this chapter, and providing for any service necessary or proper to carry out the purposes of this chapter. (SDCL 9-55-3)

What Kind of Projects CANNOT Be Done?

Any project that only benefits an individual business or property owner is not permitted.  Therefore, improvements to individual buildings, businesses, etc. are not to be addressed by a BID.

Current Status of a BID in Belle Fourche

We are currently at the very beginning stages of the project.  At this time, we are seeking community input and try to gauge support for ideas, projects and the project/idea as a whole.

I have Questions or Concerns, How do I voice them?

Please fill out our survey.  CLICK HERE.  During the survey you will have the opportunity to send us your name and contact information.  Someone from our committee will reach out to you to help answer your questions and/or address your concerns.