The Downtown Bellingham Partnership is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the vibrancy and growth of our downtown. Everything we do is rooted in the idea that our community — Downtown Bellingham — is a place unlike anywhere else. We work to enhance, promote, and advocate for a vibrant city center through development, promotion, support, and celebration.
From The Director
Dear Downtown Bellingham Community, Supporters, and Friends,
As I reflect on 2024, my heart is filled with gratitude and excitement for the future of Downtown Bellingham. After 16 years with the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, stepping into the role of Executive Director is a true honor. I am inspired daily by the dedication of our community to build a vibrant, welcoming, and prosperous Downtown-and I am eager to lead us forward into a bold future.
This year, we've inspired more visitors to return Downtown through our award-winning events and a multimedia marketing campaign reaching 3.2M eyes and ears with compelling reasons to rediscover Downtown and build a bold future together. This campaign was vital in encouraging locals to return, bringing energy and support back to our small businesses. Here are just a few highlights that demonstrate our commitment to improving Downtown:
Downtown Sounds 20th Anniversary broke records with 26,000 attendees experiencing free music and community spirit, showcasing the power of shared experiences.
Flowers Bring Joy from April to November; our Landscaping Team adorned Downtown with 40+ baskets of begonias, petunias, and vines, adding beauty and vibrancy to our streets.
Graffiti & Visual Litter Abatement program removed over 2,000 pieces of graffiti, keeping our streets clean through cooperation with partners at the City and Police Department.
Micro Grants Make Macro Impact by bringing new energy to Downtown in exciting ways:
Community Activation Zone Grants supported over a dozen summer events like silent discos and makers markets, breathing life into Commercial Street and the retail core.
Storefront Improvement Grants helped six businesses reduce expenses for facelifts to their signage and entryways, enhancing the shopping and dining district's curb appeal.
Holiday Window Display Grants injected small but mighty funding to allow 30 businesses to invest in festive decor and collectively allow Downtown to shine bright all season long.
Busking Grants supported local musicians performing during First Fridays, enriching the downtown experience and expanding our monthly event's economic impact.
As we celebrate these milestones, we're also looking ahead. In 2025, we will embark on an ambitious three-year strategic planning process to envision a future that's bold, inclusive, and transformative. Thank you for being part of our journey and believing in Downtown Bellingham's future.
Lindsey Payne Johnstone
Executive Director Downtown Bellingham Partnership
Get To Know DBP
Our Mission
We champion the health and vitality of Downtown Bellingham through the promotion of commerce, culture, and celebration.
Our Core Services
We champion the health and vitality of Downtown Bellingham through the promotion of commerce, culture, and celebration.
Our work is focused on four core tenants:
Board of Directors
Ken Mann, President
Rose Lathrop, Vice President
Linett Nardone, Secretary
Dan Murphy, Treasurer
Aaron Haynes | Craig Jewell | Chris Roselli
Staff
Lindsey Payne Johnstone, Executive Director | David Sadowsky, Finance & Operations Director | Jenny Hagemann, Development and Communications Director | Nathalie Wagler, Community Engagement Manager |Christa Robertston, Administrative Assistant | Kenny Austin, Landscaping and Cleaning Supervisor
2024’s Highlight Reel
Clean & Kept
Flowers Bring Joy from April through October with over 40 baskets of begonias, petunias, and trailing vines installed, watered, and fertilized by our Landscaping Team.
Volunteers Add People Power making light of heavy lifting to move soil, transplant, and relocate planters to add curb appeal.
4K Graffiti Tags and Visual Litter Removed through our continued abatement program in partnership with BPD, COB, and over a dozen property owners.
Commercial Vitality
Rediscover Downtown Campaign impressed 3.2M eyes and ears to bring locals back after pandemic and public safety concerns challenged local businesses. The message was clear: Downtown is back!
$12.5K in Microgrants Reduce Expenses for 40+ businesses needing storefront facelifts & holiday window merchandising.
SEO Boost Training Series empowered 55 businesses with necessary skills to gain ranks with search engines and reach new customers.
Cultural Vibrancy
Community Activation Zone Grants fund over a dozen summer events on the 1300 block of Commercial Street. Discos, artist markets, & more!
Gallery Alley Art Auction allowed the public to purchase paintings on reclaimed doors hand-painted by eight local artists and displayed between the Wild Buffalo and Mindport Exhibits all summer long.
First Fridays = FREE Entry to the Whatcom Museum courtesy of grant funds they sought with intent to leverage our legacy event series.
Celebration of Community
20 Years of Downtown Sounds brought 26K+ music lovers, families, and tourists to the corner of Bay, Prospect, and Holly Streets. For five Wednesdays, we hosted the largest stage in Downtown Sounds history by expanding the ever-popular Beer Garden and Family Alley with two additional blocks to make room for 30% more attendees than 2023's previous record-setting series. Downtown Sounds increased foot traffic by 358% in the same five block area compared to the prior 12 week's Wednesdays in 2024.
Supporters
We receive funding from various sources, but one of the most significant is the support we receive through our membership with Main Street America and the Washington State Main Street Program. Businesses who pledge to the WA Main Street Tax Incentive Program receive 75% credit on their state B&O taxes and the entire donation is tax deductible. Those tax dollars are then reinvested in the Downtown Bellingham neighborhood - a true win-win for everyone!
2024 Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Donors
Financial & Legal Institutions
Construction & Building Services
Realty & Property Management
Retailers, Distributors & Consumer Product Manufacturers
Video & Media Production
Education & Personal Health and Well Being Providers
Food, Beverage, & Entertainment Venues
Public Utility & Government Partners
2024 Sponsors
Bellingham Frameworks
Boeing Employee Credit Union
Boundary Bay Brewery
Edward Jones, Kelsey Klevenberg
Evergreen Supported Living
First Baptist Church Bellingham
Greehouse Home + LIfe
Juilan & Company Real Estate
NEKO Cat Cafe
People's Bank
Port of Bellingham
Puget Sound Energy
Redlight Kitchen + Bar
ReStore
Ruckus Room
Rumors Cabaret
Unity Care Northwest
Voxel Gallery
Whatcom Educational Credit Union
Whatcom Transit Authority
Wink Wink Boutique
Yew Street Insurance
YWCA
Our City of Bellingham Champions
Our work is funded by private and public donors, including service contracts with the City of Bellingham. Thanks to these valuable public funds, the Downtown Bellingham Partnership can provide landscaping and cleaning, graffiti removal, and operational support for staff. In 2024, the City of Bellingham funded over $390K to DBP's service contracts. We are grateful for this decades-long partnership.
By The Numbers
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Our Office
114 W Magnolia Street, Suite 501
Bellingham
United States