L-R: BJ Welling, Hana Cutler, Brian Cummins, Chloe Kreuser, Mike Beacom, Rosalind Kealiher, Marc Christianson, Tara Manzke. (Metro Wire photo)

Downtown BID kicks off ’25 with election of board, outlines goals

By Emmy Pinzon

Business and property owners in Stevens Point are gearing up for a year of events and downtown liveliness.

The Downtown Business Improvement District hosted its first meeting of the new year on Jan. 7 at the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The BID, which officially replaced the Stevens Point Alliance on Jan. 1 in managing the downtown, supports the district’s vitality through event management and promotion, resource allocation, and downtown maintenance.

“In 2025, we are running events downtown for the first time through the support of the Stevens Point Alliance board and volunteers,” said Chloe Kreuser, the BID’s executive director. “Supporting small businesses is huge; I have no doubt that our downtown will be captivating for people who haven’t been downtown in years or have never been downtown.”

Positions for the 2025 board were appointed at Tuesday’s meeting. The new positions are as follows:

  • Chair: Brian Cummins of Great Northern Distillery
  • Vice Chair: Tara Manzke of Bria Bella & Co.
  • Treasurer: Mike Beacom of Point Housing
  • Secretary: Rosalind Kealiher of The Rose House
  • Alderman Marc Christianson
  • Members: Hana Cutler and BJ Welling

“The reason the BID was introduced was to bring more structure to the downtown community and our ability to work with one another,” said Beacom. For 15 months, Beacom served as the BID’s chairman and is now its treasurer. “All the funding needs to be used for the benefit of our local businesses, and we take that very seriously.”

“As chair, I represent people that run businesses and those who own property downtown,” Cummins said. “This is a year of change; we hired an events coordinator to help run events that the Stevens Point Alliance used to run. Since the Stevens Point Alliance was only business owners, we’ll be garnering a wider group of volunteers as well, and we want to ensure we’re serving everybody.”

In addition to events, the BID hosts workgroups focused on operations, design, economic vitality, and promotion. Cutler, Kealiher, Welling, and Manzke respectively lead the workgroups. This spring, the BID will launch a new website where users can volunteer for workgroups and events.

Another project the BID is working on is “Alleyway Activation,” an initiative to fill empty storefronts downtown.

“In the last few years, there has been attention for filling vacancies,” Kreuser said. “This year, we were approved to do a public space enhancement project to make use of underutilized spaces, and creating a vibrant community.”

The Downtown BID began operations in 2023, with the workgroups established last March. BID meetings take place on the first Tuesday of every month at 2:30 p.m. at the CVB, 1105 Main St., and are open to the public.

How will the BID plans to reach its goals

The BID outlined its strategy for revitalizing and sustaining the area’s core through 2025 and beyond, focusing on four key areas: economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.

The “Main Street America Four-Point Approach” approach is designed to guide efforts that will improve the downtown experience for businesses, residents, and visitors. Each component targets specific aspects of development to ensure continued progress.

Economic Vitality

The BID aims to build a more diverse economic base by attracting new investment, supporting entrepreneurs, and fostering a strong ecosystem for small businesses. Expanding opportunities for startups and enhancing the local economy are key objectives under this strategy.

Design

Plans to enhance downtown’s appearance and functionality include creating more accessible, pedestrian-friendly spaces and maintaining the district’s historic character. Improving public spaces to foster a welcoming atmosphere is central to this effort.

Promotion

Promoting downtown Stevens Point’s unique identity is another major goal. The BID intends to highlight defining features of the district through storytelling, marketing campaigns, and events, while supporting local businesses and encouraging community engagement.

Organization

Building leadership capacity and strengthening partnerships across various sectors are critical to sustaining long-term growth. The BID plans to broaden community involvement and improve collaboration with local stakeholders to drive future initiatives.

The BID plans to prioritize community input and collaboration as it moves forward with these strategies, ensuring downtown Stevens Point remains a vibrant and economically resilient destination.