In Uptown Butte, property owners are working hard to promote the neighborhood and local businesses. The organizers are canvassing door-to-door in an effort to attract more business to Uptown, fill empty retail spaces, and create a vibrant community space for events and live music.
One of the organizers, Shanna Adams, who is a co-owner of the Finlen Hotel, envisions a future where Uptown becomes an incredible downtown area with its historic buildings and interesting history. She believes that by establishing a Business Improvement District, Uptown could unlock its full potential and become a destination for visitors and locals alike.
The plan is to collect additional funds from property owners through local property taxes to enhance the area through beautification projects, street maintenance, and promotional marketing for businesses within the district. This model has been successful in other communities, and advocates in Butte see it as an opportunity to transform the neighborhood into a thriving business and cultural hub.
Despite being the largest town in Montana without an improvement district, organizers are determined to change that. With signed petitions from 60% of property owners within the proposed area, they hope to establish one soon. Celeste Johnston, owner of Jade Hair Salon, believes that Uptown Butte could benefit from the proposed improvements and hopes that the community will support this initiative.
Organizers aim to collect petitions by July’s end after which a county commission vote will be needed to finalize the establishment of the district. With community support behind them