San Francisco, CA – Today the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) released an Impact Analysis of Community Benefit Districts (CBDs), also known as Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). The analysis was conducted to measure the impacts and progress of CBD/BIDs, demonstrate the program’s value and contribution, identify opportunities to strengthen public and private partnerships, and educate members of the public and government on the program. The report highlights the partnership with CBDs and their contributions including over $32 million in assessment revenues annually of which 70% support cleaning, safety and economic development services.
Community Benefit Districts are public-private partnerships in which property and/or business owners elect to make a collective contribution to the maintenance, development, and promotion of their mixed-use neighborhood through a special assessment to the property or business. CBD/BIDs are uniquely positioned to address hyper-local, neighborhood-specific needs.
“Community Benefit Districts are a great example of what can be accomplished when we work collaboratively with community partners to address our most pressing challenges, and to identity priorities at the neighborhood level to improve the wellbeing of our residents and help our economy,” said Mayor Breed. “CBDs are important partners, not only to ensure our neighborhoods are clean and safe, but to help us identify how we can continue to provide culturally sensitive programming and connect people to the social services and resources they need to thrive.”
“It’s been heartening to see Community Benefit Districts evolve since I first authored Article 15 to enable their formation here in San Francisco,” said Board President Aaron Peskin, whose supervisorial district hosts the most CBDs in the City. “When done right, they can provide critical support for supplemental services that San Franciscans care deeply about: safer, cleaner and more activated streets and public spaces.”
The 2023 Impact Analysis focused on 15 locally managed property and business districts that are based on specific geographic areas within San Francisco in operation in 2022. The information and data gathered from the report is through 2020-2021.These 15 CBDs/BIDs cover approximately 8 percent of San Francisco’s land area, and approximately 20% when only accounting for commercially zoned land. CBD/BIDs in San Francisco directly sustain over 320 jobs and invest over $32 million for a range of services including public safety, cleaning, beautification, wayfinding, outreach and connecting unhoused to resources, marketing, and etc. to improve and strengthen their mixed-use neighborhood commercial areas, annually.
The Impact Analysis found that:
- Based off FY 19-20 data available at the time of authorship, CBDs removed over 2,000,000 pounds of litter and garbage from their service areas.
- Over 30 public art installations produced by CBD/BIDs since 2017, at the time of authorship.
- CBD/BIDs continue to increase the number of placemaking projects and initiatives they lead.
- Over 70% of CBD assessment revenues were focused on clean and safe services.
- Nearly 50% of operating CBD/BIDs were established in the last 10 years.
- CBD-led analysis of their clean and safe programs enables more effective and impactful services.
- The city can and should strengthen partnerships with CBD/BIDs to leverage the localized expertise of these organizations, which will lead to greater effective service delivery results for both.
- The city can leverage CBD/BIDs in their outreach and connecting people to social services programing. This is a relatively new performance area for CBDs, but nearly all CBD executive directors believe their direct services or partnerships with CBOs should continue.
- CBDs adapted immediately to small business needs at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and continue to serve as hyper-local resource hubs for businesses and area stakeholders.
- The city should look to CBD/BIDs for hyper-local economic development needs and insights.
"The CBD program has been vital to Japantown's growth and economic vitality,” said Grace Horikiri, the executive director of the Japantown CBD. “It has helped to identify Japantown as an important voice in our City's economy through culturally vibrant visitor attraction initiatives and new partnerships locally as well as internationally.”
“Since 2005, the Tenderloin Community Benefit District has been a steadfast champion of community-based leadership, fostering collaboration among stakeholders to advocate for increased resources and successfully pilot new programs that have become integral to our neighborhood,” said Kate Robinson, the executive director of the North of Market/Tenderloin CBD. “The services offered by our CBD go beyond the city's baseline provisions, ensuring a more equitable and vibrant community for all. These services have proven invaluable, particularly during our collective response to the pandemic crisis, enabling us to address challenges and sustainably activate our shared public spaces. The success of this extraordinary and diverse neighborhood is synonymous with the success of San Francisco as a whole, and we are immensely grateful to have found a vehicle like the CBD to advocate for the prosperity of the Tenderloin.”
“Residents, businesses, and other stakeholders constantly tell me about the difference we are making in the community,” said Christian Martin, the executive director of the SoMa West CBD. “People constantly see our highly visible cleaning team, which picked up over a million pounds of trash last year, but we also work on streetscapes and public realm activation, implementing public art, organizing community events, and provide outreach service to those in need to connect them to social services. This impact analysis goes a long way to showcasing the collective impact of the CBD program’s work across San Francisco.”
“The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District’s efforts play a vital role in the neighborhood,” said Randall Scott, executive director of the Fisherman’s Wharf CBD. “As advocates for the community, the CBD has been a catalyst for economic development and retail strategy initiatives. The CBD has worked diligently with local business owners and staff, property owners, Bay Area locals, and the millions of visitors that visit San Francisco’s waterfront annually to ensure shared spaces are clean, safe, and activated”
Community Benefit Districts emerged in San Francisco in 1999 and grew rapidly following the passage of Article 15 of the Business and Tax Regulations Code and the creation of OEWD’s technical assistance program, which was designed to incubate this innovative economic development strategy. Today there are 15 San Francisco-based CBD/BID districts that represent the diversity of the City’s vibrant neighborhood commercial corridors, including Union Square, North Market/Tenderloin, Fisherman’s Wharf, Noe Valley, Castro, Mid-Market, Yerba Buena, Ocean Avenue, Civic Center, Western SoMa, Lower Polk, Middle Polk, Japantown, East Cut, and the broader Financial District. For more information on Community Benefit Districts and the Impact Analysis, please visit: sf.gov/information/community-benefit-districts
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About Office of Economic and Workforce
The Office of Economic and Workforce Development advances equitable and shared prosperity for San Franciscans by growing sustainable jobs, supporting businesses of all sizes, creating great places to live and work, and helping everyone achieve economic self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit www.oewd.org.