Downtown State College Improvement District poised to be renewed. Here’s why that’s important
A State College nonprofit charged with organizing downtown events, employing downtown cleaning crews and promoting local businesses discovered Monday that it’ll be able to continue its work for at least another five years.
The Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID), the name of both a geographical area and an organization, was essentially green-lighted Monday by property owners through 2026, pending next week’s expected council approval. Without the DSCID, which is primarily funded by those property owners, it was unknown what might happen to various downtown events — such as “First Friday” and “Light Up Downtown” — and what impact the DSCID’s absence might have on the area, since it also helps businesses with grants and initiatives.
“My only comment on that,” borough council President Jesse Barlow said Monday, alluding to the DSCID’s continuation, “is that it’s good news.”
As part of Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood Improvement District Act in 2000, which allowed for such organizations, property owners within the district — who pay a property assessment to help support the 501(c)(3) nonprofit— must vote every few years on whether to terminate it. If 40% of property owners formally choose to end it, then borough council is obligated to follow their wishes and dissolve the DSCID.
But, based on a preliminary count of the final votes this time around, only 29.6% wanted to end the DSCID, meaning it can now continue with a new five-year plan. The DSCID will then come up for a similar vote, where only property owners within the district can weigh in, again in 2026.
The DSCID’s reauthorization is expected to be formalized this coming Monday by borough council, which has made no secret of its support for the organization.
“I don’t think you’ll find anybody who’ll argue against the (DSCID) here on council,” Councilwoman Katherine Yeaple said during an October meeting. “We all see the benefits of it.”
Lee Anne Jeffries, executive director of the DSCID, declined to comment Tuesday morning, saying she preferred to wait until the reauthorization was official, once council voted.
According to DSCID officials, the nonprofit helped 92 downtown businesses collect about $1.8 million from the Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic. The organization also distributed about $30,000 worth of personal-protective equipment and has helped out with mask-messaging in the downtown. It has also organized events like the Downtown Pumpkin Pursuit and the summer concert series, helped set up free holiday parking and the gift card program, and consistently markets and promotes the downtown.
Next year’s $622,000 budget is funded primarily by property assessments within the district ($452,000) — which detractors say operate like an additional tax — in addition to the borough ($75,000), Penn State ($30,000) and other miscellaneous income ($65,000).
The borough established the DSCID in 2002.
