This comprehensive book covers the theory and practice of Business Improvement Districts or BIDs - partnerships between local communities and governments established to revitalize neighborhoods and catalyze economic development in a region. In this book, author Seth Grossman demonstrates the ways in which BIDs work, pull stakeholders together, and acquire funds to manage the difficult process of community revitalization especially in urbanized, threatened town centers. BIDs also blur traditional lines between public and private organizations, and their governance raises critical new questions about democratic representation, accountability, transparency, and responsiveness.

Seth A. Grossman is Executive Director of the Ironbound Business Improvement District (IBID) in Newark, NJ (USA), and President of Cooperative Professional Services, a consultancy which provides research, planning, management services to Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). He designed and administered the Business Improvement District Program for the State of New Jersey (USA). He designed and directs the Rutgers University-Newark, NJ, National Center of Public Performance's Institute of Business District Management.

Part 1

1. Foundations of the Profession of Business District Management: Public-Private Partnerships & Public Management

2. Foundations of the Profession of Business District Management: Entrepreneurship, Social Capital & Multi-Sectoral Partnerships

3. Business Improvement Districts: Public-Private Cooperation

In Community Revitalization

Part 2

4. Retail/Commercial Cooperative Management & Asset-Based Community Development

5. Survey Research, Performance Measurement, Budgeting and Evaluation for Managed Business Districts