New Orleans hosted the first business improvement district in the United States, established in 1974.
The city’s Downtown Development District became the first U.S. BID, creating a framework in which property owners in a defined area contributed to services beyond those normally provided by local government. These services can include cleaning, security, marketing, landscaping, and improvements to public spaces.
Business improvement districts are intended to strengthen commercial areas by coordinating property owners and businesses around shared needs. Funding commonly comes through a special assessment on properties within the district.
New York City is often associated with the growth of BIDs because it later developed a large and prominent network. However, its prominence does not change the historical fact that New Orleans established the first U.S. district of this type.