Welcome to the City of Boulder Business Bulletin
Supporting businesses with timely updates, resources and opportunities

Welcome to the fourth edition of the City of Boulder’s business community newsletter. Each issue brings you updates on economic initiatives, funding opportunities, policy changes, and local projects that may affect your business, along with timely alerts when action is needed.

We’re here to support your success and strengthen Boulder’s business community. If you know other business owners who might benefit, please share this newsletter and invite them to join.

As mentioned in previous newsletter, the City of Boulder manages three key commercial districts - CAGID, UHGID and BJAD - where district revenues directly support maintenance, infrastructure upgrades and community enhancements.

Our teams work year-round to keep these districts safe, functional and welcoming. The before-and-after photos below highlight recent improvements that enhance the visitor experience and reflect our commitment to maintaining Boulder’s vibrant business areas.

A little attention goes a long way! The St Julien Garage staircase received a fresh coat of paint and a cleanup, turning one of downtown’s first-seen corners into a cleaner, more inviting space. 

Our crews noticed some bricks coming loose in Boulder Junction and took action. Thanks to their work, pedestrians and cyclists can safely enjoy exploring this district. 

The City of Boulder is planning a major improvement project at the 1100 Spruce Parking Garage, starting February 2026 and running through late summer/early fall. The work will include structural repairs, storefront replacements, concrete and traffic coating updates, elevator and stairwell improvements, upgraded lighting, and fresh paint. These updates are designed to preserve the garage, enhance safety and improve the overall parking and access experience.

Construction may be noisy and disruptive at times, but completing more maintenance at once will help us finish faster and provide a safer, more reliable facility for everyone. We’ll share regular updates through newsletters, emails and the city website.

Mark your calendars: a town hall will be held Oct. 15 from 12 to 1 p.m., at 1500 Pearl, Suite 302 to share details and answer questions. Thank you for your patience as we invest in this essential community asset.

The City of Boulder is exploring the creation of a DDA as a tool to strengthen the vitality of our central business district, particularly Downtown, University Hill, and the Civic Area. Here’s a quick overview of what this means for our community: 

What is a DDA? 
A DDA is a quasi-public entity designed to steward the economic health and vibrancy of a city’s core. It is governed by a board of local stakeholders, including business owners, property owners, and residents, who guide investments that directly benefit the district. 

What does a DDA do? 
DDAs invest in projects and programs that improve the business environment and community experience. This can include: 

How is a DDA funded? 
Downtown Development Authority projects are typically funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and/or an operations tax of up to 5 mills within the district, both of which must be voted on by owners and tenants in the district as well as City Council. TIF is not a new tax. Rather, it allows a DDA to leverage a portion of future increases in sales and property taxes within the district to help finance public improvement projects. In a DDA, a TIF lasts for an initial period of 30 years, followed by the option to extend in 20-year increments. Downtown Development Authorities have no taxing power beyond the optional 5 mills and no power of eminent domain. 

What makes a DDA different than the current General Improvement District (GID) structure?
A DDA provides more flexibility and stability than our current structure. A DDA has broader authority to fund redevelopment, economic development, and capital projects, whereas our GIDs are limited mostly to parking infrastructure and maintenance. DDAs can also leverage TIF, which allows reinvestment of new tax revenues into a wider range of projects.

Why now? 
Recent analysis shows that while Boulder has strong community assets, economic indicators in Downtown and The Hill have stagnated since 2020. Property values are not keeping pace with inflation, sales tax recovery is slow, and small businesses face mounting pressures. A DDA could provide the dedicated investment and coordinated governance needed to restore vibrancy, attract visitors, and support our local business community. 

What’s next? 
We are currently in the early feasibility and engagement phase. Over the next year, we’ll be connecting with stakeholders, refining boundaries for a potential DDA, and building a Plan of Development which would guide improvements, projects and strategies. If there is broad community support, the creation of a DDA would ultimately go to a vote of residents, property owners and business tenants within the proposed district. 

Boulder would be joining a long list of Colorado communities - including Fort Collins, Denver, and Longmont - that have successfully used DDAs to support thriving downtowns. 

Stay tuned for opportunities to learn more and share your input as we explore whether a DDA is the right path for Boulder. For specific questions, you can reach out to Reegan Brown at BrownR@bouldercolorado.gov.  

Follow the City of Boulder on social media!