Groups looking to boost events and business initiatives for Downtown Westminster will get a $300,000 influx of new funding after this week’s decision by the Westminster Economic Development Authority Board.
The authority board – which is the Westminster City Council – agreed to a year-long pilot program and a partnership with the Westminster Chamber of Commerce.
Both bodies hope the collaboration will bring increased foot traffic and community engagement, enhanced “sense of place” and identity for downtown, according to a city staff report. The partnership – with help from the $300,000 – will also strengthen the local economy, supporters said Monday at a meeting of the development authority.
“I think there is the possibility of getting more tax revenue (through more events,)” Councilor Amber Hott said. “The better our businesses do downtown the better our city does.”
Westminster has been working to redevelop and re-energize the area, which covers most of the former Westminster Mall, since 2011. The boundaries of the downtown area are bounded by 92nd Avenue to the north, 88th Ave. to the south, Harlan St. to the west, and Sheridan Boulevard to the east, according to the city.
The source of the $300,000 comes from taxes generated by downtown businesses and residents, the city states.
The planned “activation” of downtown incorporates approaches that have proven successful elsewhere, including Orchard Town Center in the city’s North I-25 Focus Area, the city staff report states. The partnership provides “a targeted, cost-effective alternative that does not result in adding to the city’s full-time employment account,” the report states.
The development authority, the Chamber and Westminster Downtown Business Association, went in together in November 2024 for a holiday lighting ceremony in Central Square in the downtown area. More than 150 guests were estimated at the ceremony, “and the event was a great example of how the city can partner with these business networks to effectively utilize resources and empower businesses to take initiatives in the growth of their local economy,” the staff report states.
Mayor Pro Tem Sarah Nurmela said the two groups joining forces will multiply the energy already in downtown Westminster. “I’m just excited to see this move,” Nurmela said.
The staff report says that the key terms of the agreement with the Chamber include:
- A twelve-month term effective May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026;
- A minimum of six signature Community Events;
- A minimum of 10 Business and Retail Activation Initiatives; and
- A minimum of 12 Interactive and Community-Driven Programming.
The chamber also agreed to to submit progress reports to the authority monthly.
The partnership and funding were approved by a 6-1 vote by the downtown authority board. Councilor Kristine Ireland cast the dissenting vote, saying she wanted to know how many people would attend a downtown event to make the venture successful.
“There are a lot of events downtown and they have low attendance,” she said.