Current and Ongoing Projects
Convention Center Market & Feasibility Study
In 2022 The District engaged HVS Convention, Sports, and Entertainment Facilities Consulting to conduct a market study for a proposed downtown Columbia Center in order to inform the planning of potential convention center development in Columbia.
The full results of this study are available for review here.
Exterior Camera Grant for Businesses
The District, Downtown CID, has set aside $30,000 in grant funds for businesses to purchase outdoor cameras. In an effort to improve safety within downtown Columbia, businesses and property owners may take advantage of this program to receive up to $2,000. This will be reimbursed after purchasing and installing exterior or exterior-facing cameras.
This grant opens January 17th, 2023, and will run through July 31st, 2023, or until funds run out. To check for availability, contact info@discoverthedistrict.com.
Minority Owned Business Grants
The Downtown Community Improvement District has created a fund to assist entrepreneurs of marginalized identities with their marketing expenses. Applicants must be businesses starting or relocating a business to The District within six months of October 1, 2022. The aim of the funding is to increase the viability, visibility, and growth of each awardee’s business. Grants of up to $5000 will be awarded.
GRANT HISTORY
In 2021 our Board of Directors voted to create the Minority-Owned Business Grant. There is a considerable imbalance of diverse business owners in our downtown. This is a direct result of Black-owned businesses being pushed out of the Sharp End in the 1960s during urban renewal. While this grant will not fix the problem, our goal is that this small first step will help bring us closer to parity.
In March of 2022, our Board of Directors awarded the first 3 Minority Business Grants to:
In February of 2023, our second round of grant funding was awarded. Due to the success and interest in the first round, $30,000 was set aside by The District for this round. Here are the recipients:
In October for 2024 our winners are as follows:
Assmebly1977 (Will be working through The Shops at Sharp End)
UnFazed Culture (Will be working through The Shops at Sharp End)
Each business was awarded the full grant amount of $5,000 (dependent on proof of a signed lease within The District).
Gateway Plaza rendering
Wabash Station Light Hub
Flat Branch Park Light Hub
Alley Galleries
The purpose of the Alley Gallery public art initiative is to create more safe, friendly, and inviting alleys and thruways within the downtown area.
The Alley Gallery project is a submission-based program for local artists to paint alley doors downtown. Submissions will go through The Districts Economic Development committee, and afterward, an award will go to the artist that brings the most thoughtful and creative vision. We are currently not accepting submissions, but hope to be in the near future.
The next round of 2 alley doors to be part of the gallery are located in Alley A. One connected to Sake and the second is connected to 818 on Broadway Airbnb. The approximate usable space for the artist on each door can be found in the individual applications.
Artists chosen to participate in the gallery will receive $500 to use towards supplies and $1500 as payment for their work.
Please review the following for submission criteria and the application process - Artist Agreement, Application Instructions - Sake, Application Instructions - 818 Broadway.
Gateways
The Gateways Project is a series of iconic downtown landmarks that will enhance our civic identity and let visitors know they have arrived in the District.
The Gateways is an exciting combination of decorative public art, street beautification, and enhanced pedestrian safety. It is a celebration of what makes The District the cultural, entertainment, and commercial heart of Columbia. The project includes an iconic Gateway Plaza at Broadway & Providence, and four distinctive Entry Gateways and pedestrian improvements at major entrances to downtown. A series of illuminated art installations called Light Hubs will span select downtown streets, sparking the imagination and reflecting our unique civic identity.
This project represents an innovative public/private partnership. The Columbia City Council has endorsed The Gateways, granting the use of city-owned right-of-way for the project. With funding provided by the Downtown CID, the first three Light Hubs have been installed at Flat Branch Park, Wabash Station, and the Sharp End. Grants and transportation funding will complement ongoing community donations to pay for additional Gateways project components.
The Gateway Plaza was installed in 2021 at the corner of Broadway and Providence next to the Ice House to welcome all downtown. The project is in celebration of Columbia’s bicentennial and represents Columbia’s history as well as what makes the city unique.
The Gateways Project is a celebration of what makes downtown Columbia the cultural heart of the community.
4AChange
The District works with 4AChange to provide resources to our homeless population. Their services range from getting identification papers for people to connect them with jobs and housing, to finding transportation to reconnect people with their families, to connecting homeless individuals with detoxification services. Each case is unique just as every person is. 4AChange is also great at de-escalating nonemergency situations. If you see someone in need in the District, call 573-256-0174.
Public CLeanliness
The District is committed to making downtown CoMo the best place to be. We have a Block by Block team that is dedicated to keeping the District clean. They sweep and power-wash the sidewalks, remove graffiti, recycle cigarette butts. The team also tracks broken curbs and burnt out lights to report to the city. During COVID-19, Block by Block sanitized major touch-points daily to keep visitors safe.
African American Heritage Trail
The African American Heritage Trail is marked with 23 plaques, mostly downtown, to cover 30 different locations of historic significance to the Black community in Columbia. The majority of these markers are concentrated in the Sharp End. Historically, the Sharp End was a thriving Black business district before it was destroyed for urbanization and commercial development. It used to be the home of the majority of the Black-owned businesses in Columbia as well as a cultural hub.
Street Light Improvements
The CID has designated funds to help the city improve lighting downtown. A pilot for the new lights can be found on Broadway just east of Hitt Street. The six test light poles have a wide gradient range of light intensity to improve safety and visibility downtown at night, particularly after bar-close. Once the crowd dissipates, the lights can decrease in intensity to suite sleeping residents.
Public Art
The District loves public art and supporting local artists. We have partnered with the Office of Cultural affairs to bring art to our traffic boxes. Our Economic Development Committee is bringing art to unused doors in our alleys to create alleyway galleries. Interested artists, please fill out this form or email info@discoverthedistrict.com. The District is also home to many murals and a thriving arts district!
