‘Success breeds success’
Washington Business District Authority marks 25 years of invigorating city’s downtown
For 25 years, the Washington Business District Authority has been dedicated to creating a thriving downtown.
Those involved are committed to ensuring its mission continues for the next 25 years and beyond.
“We have brought in over 30 new businesses and counting into the downtown business district,” said Main Street Manager Shana Brown, who has served in the role since 2021. “That’s obviously a humongous priority for the organization and for me as a director to be able to get these new businesses and help them get started and find out ways to help make them sustainable and give them the connections and resources they need to survive and contribute to the economy in downtown Washington. Success breeds success, and that’s kind of what we’re seeing.”
The district covers a 14-block radius, and is framed by Walnut Street to the north, the train tracks to the south, the centerline of Franklin Street to the west and the centerline of College Street to the east. It is funded by a special service tax paid by property owners in the downtown business district.
The WBDA was established in 2000 to provide economic development and revitalization services within the central business district.
City Councilman and WBDA board member Ken Westcott was serving on council at the time and recalled being opposed to its creation because of the cost, but said he knew the city had a need for such an agency.
“We needed a program in place if we wanted to develop our downtown, so it was essential to bring in the business district authority and to bring in a Main Street Manager to create opportunities in downtown Washington,” he said. “It was vital. We needed to develop a downtown.”
WBDA President Evan Chambers, whose family has operated Chambers Insurance Agency in the city for more than seven decades, explained the organization’s role.
“We oversee the landscaping in the downtown district, make sure all business owners are having their opinions and oftentimes complaints heard. I think we’re the organization that makes sure the downtown is moving in the direction that any business would want to be in.
“I’m a young business owner in the business district. You can’t just sit back and say that you want to see change happen; you have to get involved with organizations like the BDA to create the change that you want to see.”
He credited Brown, who is leaving the position in July to take a job at Washington & Jefferson College, for much of the organization’s success.
“Especially since Shana has come on board, we’ve had a revitalization, some energy in the downtown district,” Chambers said. “You need someone like Shana who’s paying attention to vacancies, speaking to real estate people to make sure we’re attracting the type of businesses we want downtown.”
The business district authority offers programs to help secure new business while assisting existing ones in the downtown. Facade Improvement Grants have helped a number of businesses to make the downtown more aesthetically appealing. Businesses can apply for funding for exterior improvements, such as roof repairs, gutter and downspout replacements or repairs and power washing.
WBDA also has implemented “town-gown” initiatives such as the President’s Pathway program, which helps connect Washington & Jefferson College to the downtown community.
“We want to rotate out food trucks as an attraction on North Main Street and give the students a place that’s an ultimate destination,” Brown said.
Downtown events, including Washington Goes Irish, Local Love Cocoa Tour and Running of the Wools, to name a few, are driving increased traffic to the city’s downtown. Last year, Small Business Saturday, light-up night, the holiday market and the annual Christmas parade were combined and held on the same day.
Mayor JoJo Burgess said the WBDA is a valuable organization.
“That’s where a lot of our downtown revenue is generated from,” Burgess said. “It’s created opportunities for us to get funding and grants to help bring people to our downtown. As it turns 25, it’s a vital tool that we have for businesses and people who have businesses to come into Washington to be able to do things that probably wouldn’t be done in other places.”