Feb. 12 Downtown News

The Downtowners wouldn’t exist today without the work and leadership of many Bismarckers, and June and Jim Thompson are two of those leaders.  We’ll be honoring one of our members at our newly revived Downtowners Annual Social & Awards February 23 with the June & Jim Thompson Downtown Leadership Award.  The Thompsons owned Sioux Sporting Goods on the corner of 5th and Broadway Ave and were some of the founding members of what is currently the Downtowners Association.  They saw a need for the Downtown businesses to organize and promote themselves after the malls had recruited some of the main anchor retailers from the Downtown Business District.  June served three terms as Downtowners president including 1977 and 1984.  She was Board Secretary for 15 years and a long standing committee member.  June was the first woman director of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as first woman president of the Downtowners. Their son Ryan Thompson was Downtowners Board President in 1988.  June was one of three charter members of the Downtown Business Women (DBW) in 1976 and served as president for the first four years.  She was an integral part of the Street Fair and Folkfest events, among many other Downtown gatherings.  June was a positive force in the Bismarck community as one of the founders of Bismarck Police Department Crime Stoppers Group, Chairwoman of the Bismarck Forestry Advisory Board, and the first woman elected to a bank board in Bismarck.  To read more about June’s involvement in Bismarck, read the nomination and subsequent Small Business Administration award here: http://downtownbismarck.com/event/downtowners-annual-awards-social-2015

You’re Invited to our Annual Social…

In addition to our Downtown Leadership Award, we’ll be honoring one of our members with Downtown Volunteer of the Year Award at our revived annual social.  Join us for food, drinks, and music by the Flea Bitten Tramps!  We’ll have a table of vintage Downtown memories and hope you’ll join us for some fun and Downtown Fellowship.  The event is at Bismarck Art & Galleries Association from 5-7:30pm Monday Feb 23.  Anyone is welcome to attend this community event, discounted tickets for members of the Downtowners Association are also available.
Tickets can be purchased online here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtowners-annual-social-awards-2015-tickets-15459479720?ref=ebtnebtckt 

Association News

Welcome to our newest member of the Downtowners!

Choice Financial
324 N 3rd St
www.choicefinancialgroup.com
Choice Financial has all the products and services offered by any financial services provider, but they’re delivered locally by people who care, who have common sense expertise and a passion for success. Formed in November 2001, Choice Financial has 15 North Dakota locations, one Minnesota location, over 200 team members and assets of $916+ million.

Valentine’s Day is this Saturday and there are plenty of great gifts, meals, services, and events happening.  To see a list of Valentine’s Day Specials Downtown, click here: http://downtownbismarck.com/news/valentines-day-specials-downtown-2015

Downtown News

The Downtowners of Bismarck, along with representatives from the City of Mandan, City of Fargo, and Fargo Downtown Community Partnership, spoke in favor of Senate Bill 2329 last week in front of the Senate Political Subdivisions Committee.  If passed, the bill would expand the maximum number of blocks allowed in the State’s Renaissance Zone Program to 49.  Smaller communities would have increased maximums based on population as well.  Bismarck’s Renaissance Zone Program has provided a large return on investment, since inception there have been 107 approved projects that will show a property value increase of over $47,000,000.

Please send all member news and events toKate@downtownbismarck.com
You can find all our members information at www.downtownbismarck.com.
Downtowners Association of Bismarck