By: Kerry Hammon
Executive Director
Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation
Downtown Idaho Falls came alive this Easter season
From families searching for the Easter Bunny to friends hopping between local establishments, the energy downtown was undeniable. We heard laughter, watched storefronts fill, and—perhaps most meaningfully—saw many first-time visitors discovering downtown in new ways.
One moment stood out in particular. A teenager stopped, looked around, and said to me, “It’s like an outside mall! I had no idea there was so much downtown!”
Mission accomplished.
At the same time, we want to pause and acknowledge something equally important: your feedback.
Many of you took the time—thoughtfully and candidly—to share your experiences, frustrations, concerns, and excitement following the Find the Easter Bunny event and the LK Realty Adult Easter Egg Hunt and Bar Hop.
- Some merchants reported their highest sales days of the year.
- Others experienced more chaos than commerce, particularly in small spaces with limited staffing.
- Several of you raised concerns about participant behavior and the impact on your paying customers.
All of this feedback is valid. All of it matters. And all of it helps us do better.
Balancing Activation with Daily Business
The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation exists to bring people downtown—to create commerce, visibility, culture, diversity, and foot traffic—while also supporting the businesses and property owners who make downtown thrive year-round.
That balance is not one-size-fits-all.
Downtown is wonderfully diverse. What works beautifully for a retail shop or restaurant may not serve a professional office, a service-based business, or a space with limited staff capacity.
Some businesses benefit greatly from high-energy events. Others benefit far more from marketing reach, advocacy, beautification, or long-term policy and advocacy work.
Events are just one tool in IFDDC’s much larger toolbox.
- New entrepreneurs without marketing budgets may benefit most from IFDDC’s events, as well as our local and regional reach.
- Established firms may benefit more from IFDDC’s role as an advocate at the city and state level.
- Every business and property owner benefit from a welcoming, clean, safe, and beautiful downtown that invites people to linger longer.
- Every business and property owner benefit from a passionate, knowledgeable, forward-thinking, and transparent IFDDC—guided by a responsible staff and Board of Directors and strengthened by a broad, influential web of trusted partnerships across our state and beyond.
And finally, we believe our community benefits from a strong and skilled downtown organization that strives to equally support more than 250 properties and many, many more businesses while doing so with character, data-driven decision-making, and strong collaboration with all of our community partners.
No single marketing technique works for every storefront—and that’s okay.
Respect for Businesses Always Comes First
One point came through clearly: paying customers, staff, and daily operations must always come first.
While community behavior is not something any organization can fully control, we hear you—and we take seriously the responsibility to communicate expectations clearly and to continually refine how events are structured. We will continue to emphasize respect for all downtown merchants, staff, and patrons in our event messaging and planning.
Events should add value, not create stress.
A Small but Mighty Team
We also want to share—openly and transparently—the reality behind the scenes.
Your IFDDC is currently operated by a very small team. While three positions are funded, the reality is that three highly skilled humans are carrying much of the day-to-day work, supported by an engaged Board of Directors, volunteers, civic partners, and our merchant community.
We are doing our absolute best to keep up with the growing needs, priorities, and demands of a vibrant downtown. If it ever appears that IFDDC is not as responsive as you deserve, please know that it is never due to lack of care or commitment. Responsiveness matters deeply to us—and sometimes, capacity is simply stretched thin.
If a prompt reply is needed, we encourage direct communication. Calling us helps—sometimes faster than email or word-of-mouth—and we truly welcome those conversations: (208) 535-0399.
Many Hands Make Light Work
One of the most powerful lessons of the Easter events is this: when downtown works together, momentum builds quickly.
We are immensely grateful to the many merchants, property owners, volunteers, partners, and community members who stepped up to support IFDDC’s work—and each other’s success. Your creativity, patience, solutions, and willingness to collaborate make a difference.
The events that work best are the ones that merchants lean into—offering a small incentive, a creative experience, or something that makes people want to stay just a little longer. That said, leaning in looks different for everyone. Participation will never be mandatory, and not every event will be right for every business.
Where events aren’t your speed, perhaps IFDDC’s marketing reach, advocacy work, or downtown beautification efforts better align with your goals.
Looking Ahead—Together
We are committed to continuing a variety of events that reach different audiences, along with strong marketing, thoughtful advocacy, and a downtown environment people want to return to again and again.
The Reality—and the Choice—Before Us
To do this work well—and to do it sustainably—we must also acknowledge another important truth: your IFDDC is underfunded for the level of work being asked of it.
Downtown Idaho Falls is growing. Expectations are growing. The visibility, vitality, and economic role of downtown are growing. Yet the primary funding mechanism for IFDDC—the Business Improvement District—has not kept pace with inflation, as it is still based on 2007 property values.
This year, IFDDC’s total operating budget from BID revenue is $103,000—not enough to get the work done and do it well in the ways our community demands and deserves.
Per contract with the City of Idaho Falls, downtown parking revenue must be invested back into the parking system, and rightfully so. It cannot be used for anything else, such as downtown events, beautification, clean-up efforts, security, art, culture, music, plaza improvements, marketing, advertising, interactive play areas for children, etc.
That gap matters.
Without additional investment, downtown does not simply pause where it is—it risks losing momentum. Beautification slows. Marketing reach shrinks. Advocacy weakens. Activation becomes harder to execute well. And over time, stagnation gives way to regression.
That is not an option your IFDDC is willing to risk.
We are actively pursuing supplemental revenue avenues—such as sponsorships for events and programs including beautification, murals, art, culture, interactive art for children, and infrastructure needs—beyond the Business Improvement District to help bridge this gap. However, sponsorships should never be used to pay for basic operations—operations that equally benefit those we serve.
But the reality remains: far more can be accomplished—and done well—with the right resources in place. Your IFDDC cannot run basic operations—rent, beautification, electricity, internet, and salaries for the advanced skillset required to successfully operate downtown Idaho Falls—for another 10 years when the District renews again in 2037.
Per contract with the City of Idaho Falls, the BID must be renewed every 10 years to allow for necessary adjustments to keep up with the economy. The next renewal—and when we can make the most significant adjustments that could result in significant improvements and keep downtown alive—is next year, 2027.
A property owner vote to strengthen BID funding (50 percent, plus one) is not about expansion for expansion’s sake. It is about protecting the progress already made and ensuring that downtown Idaho Falls continues to be competitive, welcoming, and economically resilient.
The choice before us is simple, even if it is not easy:
- Maintain the status quo and risk sliding backward, or
- Invest together and allow downtown Idaho Falls to not only keep pace—but thrive.
Your IFDDC leadership believes in the second path.
We believe in this downtown.
And we believe that, together, we can build a future that honors both today’s realities and tomorrow’s opportunities.
More than anything, we ask for partnership.
Let’s forgive past frustrations, live in the moment, and look forward with a shared sense of purpose. Downtown Idaho Falls is our city’s living room—and it works best when we unite around its success.
Will you join us in advancing it?
Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your patience.
Thank you for believing in downtown—and in the power of working together.
~Your IFDDC Team