Downtown Toledo Improvement District

What Downtown Toledo Improvement District does

Downtown Toledo Improvement District (DTID) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Special Improvement District that manages and revitalizes approximately 200 city blocks of downtown Toledo, Ohio. The organization delivers a coordinated suite of services through the Downtown Toledo Ambassador Program (hospitality, cleaning, safety escorts, graffiti and suspicious-activity reporting, mental wellness response), event management for signature gatherings such as Lunch at Levis (20+ years) and Party in the Park (55,000+ attendees, $1.5M economic impact in 2025), a Business Resources & Incentives Program aggregating local, state, and federal financing tools (PACE, Brownfield Assessment Grants, Commercial & Industrial Tax Abatement, Facade Improvement Grants, Port Authority financing), a Real Estate Property Database for the 43604 zip code, the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), and a five-year Service Plan (2021–2025) covering placemaking, supplemental security, communications, and member services.

ConnecToledo Downtown Development Corporation — which evolved from the 22nd Century Committee in 2017 and is the affiliated 501(c)(3) under contract to DTID — focuses on long-term planning, redevelopment, and investment attraction. DTID's revenue is generated primarily through special assessments levied on property owners within its defined district boundary, supplemented by grants and government funding from the City of Toledo, Lucas County, Metroparks Toledo, and federal sources including the USDOT. In June 2026 the two entities formally refined their leadership structure to separate operational responsibilities (DTID under Karen Poore) from strategic and development responsibilities (ConnecToledo under Christine Michaels, CEO since May 2025).

The organization serves property owners, downtown businesses, the 4,200 downtown residents (96% residential occupancy across 3,700 units), and 3 million annual visitors. The downtown hosts 80% of the region's Class A office space, a 27,000+ workforce (7% growth since 2015), 70+ restaurants, and has absorbed over $2 billion in cumulative investment, including $500M in public/private dollars since 2016. Toledo has appeared in Site Selection Magazine's Top 10 for economic development for nine consecutive years through 2025. DTID operates from 300 Madison Ave. #0110, Toledo, with a small leadership team and an ambassador field force.

Name

Downtown Toledo Improvement District

Legal name

ConnecToledo Downtown Development Corporation

Website

https://downtowntoledo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Downtown Toledo Improvement District is a 501(c)(3) Special Improvement District that funds and delivers ambassador services, signature events, business incentives, and a real estate database across 200 downtown Toledo city blocks, funded by property-owner assessments and public-sector grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Improvement District Management Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Association Compliance, Governance & Board Support Services (BPAJAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Special improvement district
• Downtown economic development
• Business improvement district
• Downtown ambassador services
• Urban revitalization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Toledo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Special Assessment Fees: Property owners within the DTID geographic area pay special assessments to collectively fund the district's operations and services.
2. Grants and Government Funding: DTID receives funding through partnerships with public entities including the City of Toledo, Lucas County, and federal grants for development projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DTID is a 501(c)3 Special Improvement District that delivers coordinated downtown management services across a defined 200-block area in Toledo, Ohio. Its core offerings include the Downtown Toledo Ambassador Program (hospitality, cleaning, safety escorts, and suspicious activity reporting), signature event management (Party in the Park, Lunch at Levis), a Business Resources & Incentives Program with grants and financing tools, a Real Estate Property Database for developers, the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), and a five-year Service Plan framework. Funding comes primarily from special assessments on district property owners, supplemented by grants from public partners.

Product overview

Downtown Toledo Improvement District (DTID) is a 501(c)3 Special Improvement District that operates as a community and economic development organization, not a traditional software product company. The organization delivers services through multiple interconnected programs: the Ambassador Program for hospitality, cleaning and safety; Event Management Services for signature downtown events like Lunch at Levis and Party in the Park; Business Resources & Incentives Program providing financing tools and grants; a Real Estate Property Database for developers; the five-year DTID Service Plan framework; and the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). These programs work together to improve, build and energize downtown Toledo as a viable business, cultural, residential and recreational community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Downtown Toledo Ambassador Program A field-deployed ambassador service that provides hospitality, cleaning, and safety support across downtown Toledo. Ambassadors are trained on local landmarks and businesses, basic health and safety, and deliver directions, safety escorts, trash and graffiti reporting, mental wellness response, and suspicious activity reporting.
• Event Management Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Party in the Park delivered 55,000+ attendees and $1.5M economic impact in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

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.

• ConnecToledo Downtown Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTID has a working relationship with ConnecToledo, which leads long-term planning, redevelopment, and investment attraction initiatives. ConnecToledo evolved from the 22nd Century Committee in 2017 and facilitates implementation of the Downtown Toledo Master Plan through marketing, event management, and economic development services.
• Metroparks ToledocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetroparks Toledo is developing the Glass City Riverwalk project, transforming downtown riverfront with $225M total investment. The project received $23M BUILD grant from USDOT for the downtown section estimated at $58M.
• City of ToledocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Toledo partners with DTID for economic development, events, and downtown improvement. Collaboration includes the Downtown Toledo Master Plan implementation, Vibrancy Initiative grants, and special event permitting.
• Lucas CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLucas County collaborates with DTID on downtown development initiatives, parking studies, and regional economic development efforts.
• The Arts CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTID partners with The Arts Commission on the Art Loop program, showcasing downtown arts and culture across participating venues and supporting mural programs.
• Toledo Mud Hens/WalleyeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports teams and entertainment venues collaborate on events and visitor attraction, with Fifth Third Field and Huntington Center anchoring downtown activity.
• Glass City CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlass City Center ($70M renovation) is a major downtown venue that benefits from and contributes to DTID marketing and event coordination efforts.
• Toledo-Lucas County Port AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort Authority partners on financing programs, brownfield redevelopment, and economic development initiatives supporting downtown growth.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Downtown Cleveland Alliance: Special Improvement District managing downtown Cleveland with a comparable mix of ambassador services, marketing, business advocacy, and event programming funded by property-owner assessments in an Ohio/Rust Belt downtown.
• Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. Indianapolis's downtown management organization providing ambassador services, beautification, and event programming through a special-assessment-funded model directly comparable to DTID.
• Downtown Detroit Partnership: Midwest urban-core revitalization nonprofit delivering ambassador programs, event production, and economic development services comparable to DTID's offerings in a similarly post-industrial downtown.
• 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation): Cincinnati's downtown redevelopment organization combining real estate development, placemaking, and event activation in a manner analogous to ConnecToledo/DTID's combined mandate in downtown Toledo.
• Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District: CID-funded downtown management organization providing ambassador services, security, and cleaning in a Missouri downtown, structurally analogous to DTID's special-assessment-funded model.
• Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership: Pittsburgh's downtown BID delivering ambassador services, marketing, and economic development coordination funded by property-owner assessments in a Rust Belt downtown context similar to Toledo.
• Buffalo Place, Inc. Downtown Buffalo's special-improvement-district management organization delivering ambassador services, marketing, and event programming comparable to DTID in a similar mid-size Rust Belt downtown.
• Milwaukee Downtown, Inc. BID serving downtown Milwaukee with ambassador services, safety, and events—closely comparable to DTID's service mix in a similar mid-size Midwest downtown.
• Capitol Square Management Corp. (Downtown Columbus): Ohio-based downtown management organization delivering safety, cleanliness, and marketing services via a special improvement district structure very similar to DTID's model.

Others

• International Downtown Association: Industry association that has recognized Downtown Toledo with its 'Established' tier designation; useful peer as an ecosystem/thought-leadership reference rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/downtowntoledo
• Xx.com/DowntownToledo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Downtown Toledo Improvement District