We Mean Business...

Setting up your business within the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District (B.I.D.) avails your business of a B.I.D membership that offers resources and benefits to help you grow your business. The B.I.D. Board of Directors and Executive Director work hard to advance the interests of our membership and actively promote a vibrant business climate within the Port Washington commercial district.

This approach was tested with the challenges presented by the pandemic over the past 2 years and the B.I.D responded proactively with a number of initiatives from launching a downloadable app for mobile phones called “Try Port First” that enables visitors and residents to search “On the Water” or “Play and Stay” to find everything from sailing lessons to guided historical tours; from waterfront dining to luxury accommodations; and so much more, to the most recent promotional campaign, called “Destination Port Washington,” to encourage out of town visitors to “Come for the Day - Stay for the Weekend.”

Holly Byrne, the B.I.D Executive Director, explained, “We produced and marketed a visual inspiration in the form of a 30-second video ad that illustrates the many options to build a Port Washington getaway.” The commercial will be marketed digitally to neighboring communities beyond Port Washington; locally on social media platforms and North Hempstead TV. This campaign could drive traffic to the Try Port First app which is easy to use for creating your own Port Washington getaway. “Destination Port Washington” and “Try Port First” are at the core of the mission of the Port Washington B.I.D.

The B.I.D association is governed by a Board of Directors representing commercial property owners, commercial tenants, the Town of North Hempstead and Villages, the current board of directors is dedicated to the vision to bring vibrancy and beauty to the commercial district. Dr. Bill Haagenson joined the B.I.D. board as one of the inaugural directors over 25 years ago and looks back at the inception of the Port Washington B.I.D. and says, “One of the first initiatives the B.I.D. provided to the community was installation of benches up and down Main Street, many of which you still see today. We also started the annual program to place hanging flower baskets on the lampposts.” Dr. Haagenson went on to explain, “I think the most impactful initiatives we offer today is the grant program for new and current businesses to incentivize upgrades to facades and signs.”

Dedication across generations continues with the most recently elected B.I.D. Director, Nadine Delmonte. Nadine shares her inspiration by saying, “I felt it was important to help and be part of our community and our business improvement district by following in the footsteps of my father, Guy LaMotta. He had a passion for helping the waterfront district and the businesses in Port Washington be prosperous. I know he wanted me to be on this board and be part of its success. Being part of this community for so many decades, both as a business owner and resident, I know what Port Washington can offer; it’s a majestic, historical and amazing community.”

See the Port Washington B.I.D. at Work Community Engagement Events

The B.I.D. hosts several community wide events each year to bring people to the streets and customers to the stores. Visitors and residents flock to Mother’s Day Cupcake Giveaway, Port Outdoors, Halloween on Main, Restaurant Week, Port Holiday Magic and more.

Marketing

Try Port First, the app that helps you discover all things Port Washington. The app connects potential customers to find what they need quickly and locally. Discover Long Island’s Downtown Deals Travel Pass program stretches our reach to neighboring boroughs, towns and off-Island, drawing in day trippers and visitors.

A new video campaign Destination Port Washington provides an enticing visual tour of why visitors should “come for the day or stay for the weekend”

A robust social media voice gets the word out by boosting member posts and stories. Like us @pwbid and see why #weheartpw.

Support for Business Owners

BID Forum – A monthly platform for BID members to learn, discover and share Ideas. Past topics include Leveraging your Google Footprint, Navigating PPP loans and more. Archived presentations available for viewing on website.

Education – Updates and announcements shared regularly by social media and email platforms. Business owners stay up-to-date on local and regional programs and events.

Keeping Port Clean and Beautiful

Welcome to Port banners and Holiday lights line the commercial corridor to bring a festive and welcoming atmosphere to the community. We contract crews for litter pick up and procure litter receptacles to keep the streets clean. We place seasonal hanging baskets and plant feature gardens to bring that something extra to the look and feel of Port Washington.

Grants

New Tenant Bonus

New businesses opening in vacant commercial space within the District are eligible in their first year of occupancy.

Façade and Sign Grants

Commercial tenants can receive up to 50% of cost to a maximum of $5,000 to make upgrades or repairs to the façade of their building or install or replace fixed signs. Applications are due PRIOR to commencing work.

Submitted by Holly Byrne, Executive Director, Port Washington B.I.D.

516-883-8890 gpwbid@optonline.net

All applications are subject to review by the Board of Directors. Grant application forms and details are available for download at https://portwashingtonbid.org/grants/