The Fashion Center is a Business Improvement District, a formal not-for-profit organization made up of property owners and commercial tenants who are dedicated to promoting business development and improving an area’s quality of life. BIDs deliver supplemental services such as sanitation and maintenance, public safety and visitor services, marketing and promotional programs, capital improvements, and beautification for the area – all funded by a special assessment paid by property owners within the district.
New York’s BID movement began in the 1960s and 1970s in response to limited public resources and deteriorating commercial districts. Today, New York City is home to the nation’s largest, most comprehensive network of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in the country. The City’s BIDs annually contribute over $80 million worth of services to more than 70,000 businesses in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. Since its inception over twenty years ago, the City’s BID program has contributed over $830 million in supplemental services to invigorate our neighborhoods.
The New York City BID Association is a formal network of over 60 BIDs in the City. You can learn more about the mission that these BIDs share and the diverse tasks they undertake in their respective districts. The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is the lead agency responsible for BID creation and oversight. To learn more about SBS and the BID creation process, visit nyc.gov/districtdevelopment.