CBID Elects Four New Members to Board of Directors

Date: 06/25/2009

In its annual meeting, the Central Business Improvement District membership voted to elect four new board members, and board members reviewed and approved the 2009-2010 budget for downtown Knoxville.

The approved budget of $443,145 is mostly funded by assessments from downtown property owners, which are projected to be $408,000 for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2009. Other income is from contributions and sales of parking tokens.

Notable budget expenditures include $50,000 in development incentives grants, $60,000 for downtown event sponsorships, and $125,000 for marketing special projects.

Included in the marketing special projects budget is a $100,000 sponsorship for the 2009-2010 Tennessee Shines series. The Americana music event will consist of 12 monthly shows live from the Bijou Theatre to begin in August 2009, as well as a weekly syndicated radio program on 25 stations across the United States with a total estimated listenership of more than 500,000.

During the board meeting, the membership also voted in four new members to the board of directors, including:

• Robyn Askew, attorney with Bosch Law Firm 
• Melissa Everett, downtown property owner and resident 
• Kevin Grimac, downtown property owner and developer
• Jeffrey Nash, owner of the Crown & Goose gastropub and downtown developer

These new board members will replace outgoing board members which include Jeff Johnson, Bill Threlkeld, Gregg White and Steve Wise.

Board officer positions were also elected as follows:

• Patrick Hunt, Tvinga - Chair
• John Sanders, Sanders|Pace Architects - Vice-Chair
• Jennifer Holder, First Tennessee - Secretary
• Matt Synowiez, BB&T - Treasurer

Outgoing CBID Board Chairman Steve Wise also shared some of the highlights of the past year, which include:

A rise in CBID assessments due to increased development and property values over the past several years. 

2004-05: $266,000

2005-06: $310,400

2006-07: $342,900

2007-08: $407,300

2008-09: $426,200 (estimated)

Working with the City of Knoxville on the new downtown wayfinding program, development of the new dog park, and security lighting and free parking in the Old City

Complete redesign of the web site at http://www.downtownknoxville.org

Working with the 100 Block of Gay Street during their closure with cooperative advertising and signage

Advertising and communication regarding SmartFIX 40 and the rerouting of I-40

Continuing efforts to locate businesses in Downtown Knoxville, as well as expand current businesses

 

 

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