Membership
How to become a member of Albany Downtown Association
Who we are
The Albany Downtown Association (ADA) is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to Albany’s downtown revitalization. Our purpose is to Promote downtown Albany as the heart of our community Strengthen the economic viability by encouraging business diversity and Enhance the unique physical characteristics of historic downtown Albany.
The Albany Downtown Association is coordinated by a full time executive director, a board of directors, staff, volunteer committees, business owners, property owners, residents, and community leaders to achieve our objectives.
The ADA also administers ParkWise, a parking management program for downtown.
What we’ve accomplished
Since 1982, the Albany Downtown Association has had an impressive
track record in downtown revitalization. Downtown’s recent accomplishments include:
•More than 20 building rehabilitation’s since 1999, representing
over 5 million dollars of public and private reinvestment.
•Encouraged upper floor development.
•Economic Improvement District, insures base funding for the ADA.
•Increased community visibility through summer flower baskets and holiday snowflakes and advocated for an upcoming streetscape project.
We’ve done a variety of projects
Through a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization,
the ADA has served the downtown community.
•Promotion -Yearly events include a Quilt Festival, Side Walk Sales, Movies by Moonlight, Antiques in the Streets, Halloween Downtown Trick-or-Treat, Community Tree Lighting, Winter Walk, Free Holiday Movie and the Downtown Twice Around Holiday Parade.
Promotional activities also include co-op advertising, shopping maps, downtown business directory, and this promotional webpage.
•Strengthening Downtown – With projects to help business owners with a wide variety of technical assistance and information. Monthly merchant meetings “What’s Up Downtown?” to give businesses a voice, a monthly newsletter for members, workshops featuring retail experts, co-sponsoring a facade grant program with the city of Albany, advocating for downtown through the city council and CARA and actively recruiting new businesses.
•Enhancement – The ADA has taken the lead in beautifying downtown Albany. We operate the holiday Snowflake project and the Summer Flower Basket program. Other projects include way finding signs, on street trash receptacles, public art, special cleanup days and parking lot landscape.
ADA Board of Directors
The ADA Board of Directors works hard to make sure the program keeps true to its purpose while it continues to meet a variety of downtown needs. The board takes an active role in program planning and implementation, hosts Town Hall meetings, conducts membership drives and secures funding.
What’s my role in all of this?
The Albany Downtown Association requires program funding and volunteer support to continue to implement downtown revitalization. ADA is funded primarily through two revenue sources: an economic improvement district, where property owners agree to an assessment based on the square footage of their property in the downtown area, and memberships. Both types of revenue are critical to the success of the program, and ultimately to the overall success of downtown. Volunteer support is also necessary to adequately carry out ADA’s mission.
To put it simply, we need your help.
Active, livable downtown’s don’t just happen. It takes a comprehensive approach coupled with professional leadership and dedicated volunteers to insure success. Make an investment in downtown Albany’s future and help make it a downtown we can all be proud of…now and for generations to come.
To join, please complete and return the membership form. If you have questions
about the ADA, we will be glad to answer them. Phone 928-2469, or stop
by the office at 240 Second Ave SW #120 in the Historic Post Office Building in downtown Albany.
What we’re working on
In addition to continuing our “tried and true” activities, ADA is working to be more in-tune to the wants and needs of the downtown community. In the works:
• A Streetscape Plan for Both Private & Public Spaces
• Business Recruitment
• Progressive Business Assistance
• Downtown Albany facebook pages
• Retail Shopping Guide
• Downtown Dining Guide
• Downtown Historic District Tours
• Business and Customer Surveys
How to become a member of Albany Downtown Association
To become a member of Albany Downtown Association, please fill out, print and return the Membership Application.
Benefits of ADA membership include
• Monthly informational newsletter
•“Evening Out” get together for members
•Downtown Networking opportunities
•Free newsletter insert
•Invitation to special ADA activities
•Free set of mailing address labels from our mailing list
•Invitation to ADA’s annual membership meeting
•Voting privilege in ADA board elections
•Reduced fees for ADA workshops & guest speakers
•Participation in fraud prevention network
•Making a positive difference in the health, vitality, and livability of historic downtown Albany.
If you would like to know more about the organization…
We’re here to provide assistance and answer any of your questions. Just come by the office, at 240 Second Ave SW #120 in the Historic Post Office Building in downtown Albany. or give us a call at: 928-2469. Or email us at debi@albanydowntown.com