By Melissa Nobles
Whether it’s a quick stop for shopping on a Monday, happy hour specials on a Wednesday, or an entire Saturday spent with visiting family – Coconut Grove is a destination.
Amid economic challenges for many local businesses, one organization has vowed to keep this concept true. With a primary mission of putting feet on the street, the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (BID) has done exactly that – promote the commercial core and bring people to the Grove.
The Coconut Grove BID is the only selfgoverned board of its kind within the City of Miami, and one of only two in South Florida – Coral Gables also has a BID of their own. The board is made up of business- based stakeholders that include local property owners, merchants and non-forprofits, and is chaired by City of Miami Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff.
With an office staff located in the center Grove, the Coconut Grove BID is committed to enhancing parking, lighting, sanitation, marketing and safety, as well as supporting special events.
“People that live or work in Coconut Grove usually have one thing in common,” said David Collins, Coconut Grove BID executive director. “We live and breathe the Grove. We are very dedicated and vocal about making sure that not only are we happy with our Village community, but also that the Grove’s long-term character is something to continuously improve and share with the world.”
Celebrating its one-year anniversary, the Coconut Grove BID has successfully reached, and in some cases surpassed, many of the goals it identified back in 2009. From detailed landscaping and road renovation to executing strategic events, the BID looks back at its accomplishments since its inception in April 2009, in this very special section.
