Overview
The Business Improvement District (BID) was formed in 2004 as a self-taxing entity whose assessment funds help Manitou improve the cleanliness, safety, and marketability of the Downtown Historic District. The BID's Clean Streets program inspires many visitors to remark that Manitou Springs has the cleanest streets and sidewalks in all of Colorado. Much of the thanks goes to Robert "Hawk" Taylor, our quintessential Manitoid, whose job it is to keep our downtown sidewalks clean and, in the winter months, cleared of snow and ice.
The BID also sponsors many events, initiatives, and promotions that have brought added revenue and national visibility to our historic little city. From holiday decorations to the Carnivale parade, from the school art-banner program to a downtown map (PDF) listing every business in the downtown, the BID helps make Manitou Springs a great place to shop, eat, and play.