Ellensburg Downtown Association

What Ellensburg Downtown Association does

The Ellensburg Downtown Association (EDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered at 109 E 3rd Ave. Suite 1 in Ellensburg, Washington. It operates as a Washington State designated and nationally accredited Main Street program, executing the National Main Street Center's 4-Point Approach encompassing Design, Promotion, Economic Vitality, and Outreach. Its functional mandate is to revitalize downtown Ellensburg by recruiting businesses into vacant storefronts, supporting existing merchants through grants and programming, and driving foot traffic via community events such as Hoedown in the Downtown, Wildcat Night Out, Downtown Trick or Treat, the Blank Canvas Party, and the Moments to Remember Tree Lighting.

The organization's core programmatic products are the Business Revitalization Fund Program (grants to qualifying downtown businesses for façade, signage, and improvement projects, administered through the Economic Vitality Committee), the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program (which leverages a Washington State 75% B&O tax credit to channel business donations into revitalization), and the Ellensburg Mural Society (public art stewardship). Revenue is generated through a hybrid of individual donations (one-time, monthly, annual at $50–$1,000 tiers), corporate tax-credit-eligible contributions, event sponsorships sold via the SeeMyLegacy platform, and pass-through grant administration. The organization runs with a lean staff of three (Executive Director Teresa Chanes, Partnerships and Marketing lead Hayley Harrell, Events and Volunteerism lead Christina Kalos-Venardatos) supported by an 11-member board drawn from local businesses, Central Washington University, and the City of Ellensburg, plus four volunteer-led standing committees. There is no proprietary technology product; the organization's tooling is limited to a Wix website, Constant Contact newsletters, Instagram/Facebook channels, and the SeeMyLegacy volunteer/sponsorship platform.

EDA serves four overlapping constituencies: downtown SMB owners (the primary programmatic beneficiaries, exemplified by 2025 grant recipients such as Buddy's Barkery, Pearl Street Books, and Ellensburg Floral), local residents and volunteers (500+ participating in the Downtown Fall Clean Up), Central Washington University students (engaged via Wildcat Night Out), and visitors drawn through partnerships with MyEllensburg and Central Washington Outdoor. Strategic alliances include Columbia Bank as 2026 Business Revitalization Fund presenting sponsor, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation as PLACES Conference co-presenters, and the City of Ellensburg Landmarks & Design Committee for mural restoration funding.

Name

Ellensburg Downtown Association

Legal name

Ellensburg Downtown Association

Website

https://ellensburgdowntown.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ellensburg Downtown Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Main Street program founded in 2004 that revitalizes downtown Ellensburg, Washington through business grants, the Main Street Tax Credit Program, public art initiatives, and community events serving local SMBs, residents, and CWU students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development & Downtown Revitalization Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses (THAHAJAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Downtown revitalization
• Main street program
• Community development
• Business grants
• Public art initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Ellensburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and business donations support the EDA's efforts including events, public art, and business support programs. Donations can be made as one-time, monthly, or yearly contributions.
2. Main Street Tax Credit Program: The Washington State Main Street B&O Tax Credit Incentive Program allows businesses to earn a 75% state B&O tax credit on donations to the EDA. This creates a revenue stream while providing tax benefits to participating businesses.
3. Event Sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor events at various levels, providing financial support for community programming while gaining visibility and community presence.
4. Business Revitalization Fund Grants: The program provides funding for downtown business improvement projects including facade improvements, beautification, signage, and remodels. Administered through the Economic Vitality Committee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ellensburg Downtown Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that revitalizes downtown Ellensburg through the National Main Street Center's 4-Point Approach. It administers the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program (75% Washington State B&O tax credit for business donations), the Business Revitalization Fund Program (grants for facade and improvement projects), the Ellensburg Mural Society public art initiative, event sponsorship opportunities, and an annual calendar of community events including Hoedown in the Downtown, Wildcat Night Out, and the PLACES Conference.

Product overview

The Ellensburg Downtown Association (EDA) operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization offering community programs rather than a traditional technology product. Its core offerings include the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program (providing 75% B&O tax credits for donations), the Business Revitalization Fund Program (grants for downtown improvement projects), Event Sponsorship opportunities, the Ellensburg Mural Society (public art initiative), and annual events programming. The EDA follows the National Main Street Center's 4-Point Approach encompassing design, promotion, economic vitality, and outreach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised $40,000 at 2026 Blank Canvas Party for mural projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington Main Street ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level program providing guidance and resources for the EDA's Main Street accreditation and 4-Point Approach implementation.
• Washington Trust for Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the annual PLACES Conference focusing on historic preservation, placemaking, and economic vitality.
• Department of Archaeology & Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency co-presenting the PLACES Conference for preservationists and downtown development professionals.
• City of Ellensburg Landmarks & Design CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity committee providing funding and support for mural restoration projects including the Ross the Hub mural.
• Central Washington UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity providing sponsorship support and student engagement through events like Wildcat Night Out and board representation.
• MyEllensburgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism partner helping share stories of events and inviting visitors to experience downtown Ellensburg.
• Central Washington OutdoorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism partner promoting Ellensburg recreation and lodging accommodations alongside EDA events.
• Gallery One Visual Arts CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Blank Canvas Party and public art events in Phoenix Alley.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Walla Walla Downtown Association: A fellow Washington State Main Street program focused on downtown revitalization of a similarly sized Washington city. Closest analog as a peer Main Street nonprofit executing the same 4-Point Approach, running events, and operating a Business Improvement Area model.
• Washington Trust for Historic Preservation: A Washington-state preservation nonprofit that co-hosts the PLACES Conference with EDA. Directly comparable as a peer preservation/place-based nonprofit operating in the same geography and partnership network.
• Wenatchee Downtown Association: A Washington-based downtown association running events, business recruitment, and beautification for a small-city downtown. Comparable in mission, governance model, and reliance on local business partnerships.
• Bellingham Downtown Partnership: A Washington state downtown revitalization nonprofit managing events, public art, and BID-funded programs in a college-influenced downtown. Comparable as a peer operating under similar Main Street principles with a larger student-driven demand base.
• Olympia Downtown Alliance: A Washington state capital-city Main Street-adjacent nonprofit running events, beautification, and business-support programming. Peer in scale, mission, and dependence on volunteer committees and small-town Main Street methodology.
• Downtown Yakima Improvement District: Another Washington state downtown revitalization organization combining BID funding with events and business support. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and reliance on local business assessments and sponsorships.

Others

• City of Ellensburg Parks & Recreation: The municipal entity that co-funds mural restoration and supports downtown programming through the Landmarks & Design Committee. Tangentially comparable as a civic partner in delivering place-based community programming within the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Main Street America: The national umbrella organization for the Main Street movement, of which the Ellensburg Downtown Association is an accredited local program. Directly comparable as the parent-tier entity governing the 4-Point Approach and accreditation standards EDA follows.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The national nonprofit that co-presents the PLACES Conference alongside EDA. Peer at the parent organization tier with broader historic-preservation mission intersecting EDA's preservation-themed programming and Mural Society.
• Washington Main Street Program (Department of Commerce): The state-level Main Street coordinator that designates and supports Washington Main Street programs including EDA. Direct peer at the state-tier level, providing accreditation, technical assistance, and policy framework that EDA operates under.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EllensburgDowntown
• Instagraminstagram.com/ellensburgdowntown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ellensburg-downtown-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ellensburg Downtown Association