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Our
Mission

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Hartford Has It
Campaign

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Programs
& Initiatives

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& News

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Our Mission

Established in 2006, the Hartford Business Improvement District (HBID) is a 60-block non-profit 501(c)(3) special services district located in the commercial core of Hartford, Connecticut.

Projects and programs of the HBID concentrate on cleanliness and safety, community engagement, marketing, placemaking, beautification, outreach, and advocacy.

Working collectively with more than 100 property owners, the City of Hartford, and other organizations within the District, the HBID is dedicated to creating positive and lasting change by enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life for employees, visitors and residents within our District.

Marketing & Communications

Marketing plays a pivotal role in shaping the perception of a city. The Hartford BID marketing programs concentrate on city destinations, events, and attractions through social media, Hartford.com, and advertising throughout the entire city of Hartford. Through these programs, the Hartford BID is dedicated to showcasing Hartford’s unique features, cultural offerings, and to foster a positive image to enhance economic vitality.

Programs & Initiatives

Hartford.com
Hospitality Cart

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Hospitality Cart

Our Hartford.com Hospitality Cart is a free promotional tool that is fully stocked with brochures, menus, schedules, and Hartford Has It merchandise free to all. We work with event venues and organizers throughout the city to schedule appearances of our Hospitality Cart to spread awareness of our wonderful city and all that it has to offer.

Gettin' Diggy
With It

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Gettin' Diggy With It

The Hartford Business Improvement District (Hartford BID) recognized that the traditional construction signage provided by a contractor was going unnoticed, and needed to be redesigned in order to engage a disinterested and frustrated public. The Hartford BID successfully utilized popular song lyrics and popular quotes in order to create signage that, instead of being ignored, was talked about, laughed about, openly praised, and shared on social media.

This project received the Pinnacle Award from the International Downtown Association in 2018 and has been recreated in several cities both nationally and internationally. 

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Hartford
Info Hub

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Hartford Info Hub

In partnership with the City of Hartford and the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, The Hartford Business Improvement District (Hartford BID) worked to create a welcome kiosk located on the corner of Main Street and Asylum Street.

This kiosk promotes Hartord’s assets utilizing 28 carefully-crafted signs which showcase restaurants, shopping, attractions, events, and a large-scale map connecting visitors and residents to assets with walking directions utilizing over 50 QR codes.

Union Station
Info Hub

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Union Station Info Hub

Following the success of the Info Hub on Main & Asylum Street, The Hartford Business Improvement District (Hartford BID) partnered with the Greater Hartford Transit District to apply a similar tactic to Union Station.

This project successfully activated underutilized space to showcase Hartford’s restaurants, shopping, attractions, and events to visitors and residents.