Business Improvement District No. 2 provides strategic direction and financing for special projects.

Business Improvement District No. 2 (BID #2) is a state statute-enabled entity created in 1987 and is the oldest operating BID in the city of Milwaukee. Each year, BID #2 is responsible for submitting an operating plan to the Common Council as part of the city’s budget declarations, which includes the budget and goals for the year, as well as the proposed formula for assessing the commercial property inside the district. BIDs are classified as quasi-governmental bodies and, as extensions of municipal government, are subject to Wisconsin’s Open Meetings law. BID #2 has a nine-member board that is appointed by the mayor and is subject to common council approval.

BID #2 is unique because it is one of, if not the only, BID with operating businesses. BID #2 employs more than 60 team members; owns and operates two parking structures and the Milwaukee Public Market; maintains the streetscapes and Riverwalk in the neighborhood; and leases space to more than 20 tenants. In 2023, the total property value in BID #2’s district was around $892 million with 3.5 million square feet of commercial space. Business improvement districts have the power to levy assessments on commercial property in the district to accomplish ongoing objectives. Assessments on these commercial properties provide about 15 percent of the total $3.3 million operating budget. The remainder of the budget is funded by BID #2’s operating businesses.

In the early 1990s, one of the first projects of BID #2 was to fund streetscapes improvements, including our distinctive streetlights, Water Street and St. Paul Avenue arches, the Catalano Square fountain and other public improvements.