River District

Downtown Wausau

Facts

Main Street

  • Main Street is a private non-profit corporation accredited by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce Wisconsin Main Street Program. It was organized in 2002
  • It is a collaboration of businesses, public and private institutions, and property owners
  • Purpose: to be a forum through which business owners coalesce to promote the Business Improvement District (BID) and provide strategic marketing for the downtown area
  • Develops work plans within Organization, Economic Restructuring, Design, and Events committees
  • Named the marketing area the River District and supports the branding with distinctive logo, brochure, map, directories of businesses, signs, banners and information kiosks
  • Serves businesses with consultative resources for business start up, operation and marketing, façade renovation, architectural drawings and sign grants
  • Maintains River District property data base for economic development marketing
  • Main Street works cooperatively with Wausau Area Events (privately sponsored), the BID and the City of Wausau
  • Funding: BID $60,000, City of Wausau $30,000, plus other corporate and private donations

Events

  • Main Street and Wausau Area Events cooperatively organize events that will attract people to the River District and promote economic activity in the BID
  • River District signature events: Exhibitour - stores become art galleries - Wausau Balloon Glow and Rally, Concerts on the Square series, River District Marketplace, Holiday Parade - all accompanied by shopping and sales promotions
  • Events promote and contribute to economic activity in the BID

Business Improvement District - BID

  • The BID was created in 2004 by vote of business property owners within BID boundaries and by City Ordinance according to State Statute
  • The BID boundary is the same as the Main Street River District boundary
  • There are 117 properties in the BID, the majority are zoned commercial business
  • BID properties are assessed for BID purposes based on the percentage of square feet dedicated to business and commercial use.
  • The minimum assessment is $250 and the maximum assessment is $2,500
  • $60,000 in BID assessment is appropriated to Main Street

Fact Sheets