The Downtown Waukesha Business Improvement District (BID) has been the driving force behind the revitalization of Waukesha’s downtown business district for the last twenty years.  Implemented in 1986, the Waukesha Business Improvement District continues to promote the downtown business district as a unique, friendly and safe place to live, work, shop, eat and play.

Our mission is to continue to be the driving force for the vitality of downtown Waukesha. Downtown Waukesha is an area that offers a variety of retail, commercial and professional businesses in an environment that includes housing, churches, government offices, and educational and health care facilities, supported by a variety of recreational venues and cultural activities.

The Waukesha Business Improvement District is a special assessment district that currently encompasses a twenty-one-block area in downtown Waukesha. Commercial property owners in the district pay $2.95 per $1,000.00 of property assessment to the BID. This tax assessment funds the BID budget and allows us to provide services to the district. A 13-person Board of Directors, appointed by the mayor, made up of property owners, residents and business owners, governs the Waukesha BID. The Board members serve staggered two-year terms, taking office in December of each year.

Meetings of the Board are public meetings and non-members of the Board may have the opportunity to be heard at the discretion of the President.

Welcome to Downtown Waukesha! Exciting new developments contributing to the vision of our downtown are in the planning stages and much buzz has been generated about the possibilities here. We are excited about the new developments as well as the historical appeal of our downtown.

- Karen Richards, Executive Director
Waukesha Business
Improvement District