About Colfax Ave
The Colfax Ave Business Improvement District (BID) works to build a dynamic and inclusive community along the Colfax corridor. Through increased marketing and visibility, cleaner and safer streets, streetscape improvements, and partnerships with various City agencies and community groups, the BID works to maintain Colfax’s unique character while attending to the evolving needs of the commercial district.
The Colfax Ave BID is funded by a tax on commercial property located within the district's boundaries (approximately Grant to Josephine, between 14th and 16th). Founded in 1989, the organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors representing a diverse mix of area businesses and property owners and who are appointed by the Mayor.
What we do
The Colfax Ave BID works to “fill the gaps” in the public realm that are difficult or impossible for individual business or property owners to address on their own. So what do we do, exactly?
- A Cleaner Colfax by keeping the public right-of-way free of litter and graffiti. Our innovative Colfax Works program provides employment working on our clean team crews for people experiencing or emerging from homelessness and incarceration.
- A Safer Colfax by working closely with District 6 Police, business owners, property owners, and residents to implement safety initiatives such as our Safety Designs Program.
- Placemaking efforts in the public realm help create a spirit and vibrancy to Colfax to attract people to come and spend time at our businesses. Our Streetscape Plan provides enhanced safety, respects the historic nature of the street, and improves the pedestrian experience, all while keeping our independent and original street thriving.
- Public Art Installations along the corridor, including working with local artists to transform our 17 power boxes into vessels for storytelling and art, and fostering the creation of additional murals throughout the district.
- Events & Programs that celebrate the diversity and resilience of the Colfax community, including our annual Independents Day and Holiday Party along with programs like Bag of Colfax and Wear Your Heart On Your Street.
- Marketing & Promotion of our local businesses through social media, our website, e-newsletters, and local media outlets. Sign up for our newsletter here.
- Making Community Connections with the surrounding organizations in the neighborhood and city to share information and collaborate on issues.
- Coordinated Advocacy with the Denver City agencies in an effort to bring millions of dollars invested in Colfax and needed infrastructure through the General Obligation Bond (GO Bond), Capital Improvement Project funding, and financial resources for individual businesses from Denver Economic Development & Opportunity.