January's BonnerBIZ Article - Sandpoint B.I.D.

By Kim Queen, Manager at Sandpoint Business Improvement District

“I cannot sing, dance or act; what else would I be but a talk show host.” 

-David Letterman

Things are moving quickly for all of us now that 2014 is underway, and in the BID, we are working on several new projects to keep that momentum progressing in the right direction.

In December, the Sandpoint Business Improvement District team launched a new monthly local radio program entitled the Downtown Dialogue. The show airs on 1400AM/KSPT, as well as 1450AM/KBFI, and is hosted by the B.I.D. manager (me) and Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce Communications Manager, Mack Deibel.  The show airs at Noon every third Monday, with our next airing slated for Monday, February 17^th.  

Our goal with this program is to create a forum for open discussion on events, issues and general topics-of-interest pertaining to downtown Sandpoint.  We will be working with our constituents in all areas identified and represented in the BID: Restaurants, Education, Real Estate, Professional/Banking/Law, Health Care, Retail, Arts/Entertainment, Lodging, and At Large/Miscellaneous businesses and organizations. We will also host future conversations with our partners at the City of Sandpoint, Bonner County Economic Development Corporation, and many others.

This is where YOU come in! 

We are seeking 2 professionals to interview every month on the Downtown Dialogue. If you are a BID member in good standing, and would like the opportunity to present yourself as an expert of your industry and promote your business and/or services to the audience, then please contact me directly at kim@sandpointchamber.com.  

For future programming, we would also like to have input from our listeners: what business, organization or individual in the BID would you like more information on? Is there an event or project you want to know more about, or get more directly involved with? Again, please contact me at kim@sandpointchamber.com.  

For the February program, we will mostly be focusing on the highly-anticipated 40^th Annual Winter Carnival, taking place this year from Feb. 14 – Feb. 23^rd, with numerous events being hosted around greater Sandpoint and up on Schweitzer.  The BID has been asked to bring back an old favorite, the Parade of Lights, and we just couldn’t say no! The Parade will be held on Friday night, February 21 in the downtown core, and will end its route at Jeff Jones Square. There, we will be announcing the Parade’s award winning floats, and then enjoying a jaw dropping performance by Cirque de Sandpoint.  For an entire list of Winter Carnival events, and to download a registration form for the parade, please visit sandpointwintercarnival.com. 

Did I mention things are moving quickly in the BID? 

Impactful Leadership

by Kate McAlister, President and CEO of Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce

Over the last several months our communities have lost some amazing human beings and it has caused me to reflect.  After the last celebration of life I attended, as one of a certain age commonly does, I took a long look at my life. Every celebration ceremony showed an individual who had made a tremendous impact on those around them, no matter their age.  I was impressed by each individual’s inspiring leadership, yes, leadership, and I hope to carry on those qualities I admired most.

Beautiful Kayle Porter was a tremendous role model to young people in our community.  She gave herself large goals and worked very hard at achieving each one.  From working three or four jobs, to going on a mission to serve those less fortunate, she was always moving forward.  At her celebration there were many stories from friends and loved ones who described Kayle as always supportive and encouraging others to reach their goals. Kayle’s leadership will help me be a more encouraging leader.

The Wake for John Conlan gave yet another pause for thought when from 2p to 11p downtown at the Hive, on a play-off afternoon, a continuous revolving crowd of 300 plus paid homage to a great friend.  From his time in the Marines to his time spent as a business owner in Sandpoint, he lived a full life.  The stories were about a man who gladly fought for his country and fully enjoyed his life. Making people happy was always in the forefront of his mind. He was always quick with a joke or a story to make a person smile. His leadership example was to always find the humor even in difficult situations, and continue on.

Mayor Marsha Ogilvie was certainly the most well-known leader and I am honored to have known her. She started making a difference as soon as she moved to Sandpoint. Being a foster child spurred her idea for Kinderhaven, a safe-haven for children in crisis. She was also a successful businesswoman and experienced first-hand what it was like to do business in Sandpoint. Marsha’s leadership example for me was two-fold; it’s about the people and don’t be afraid to change things up because change is not only good, but often necessary to move forward.  

Captain David Lyon (Lissy) was the ultimate example of leadership; selflessness. Stories of his young life included always reaching out to help others and being someone you could always count on.  Out of the four mentioned individuals, Captain Lyon was the only one I didn’t know personally.  However, I have always had a deep respect for those who serve in the armed forces.  I was in high school during the Vietnam War and it was a very emotional time.  The thought of someone who doesn’t even know me, who is willing to die for me, was, and still is, an overwhelming concept.  Thank you for the example of selflessness Captain Lyon.

A wonderful thing about our community, among many, is how we are full of inspiring leaders.  Look around you at those who are offering solutions and positively affecting change.  As a leader do you offer solutions, or add to the problems?  We have over 150 non-profits in our surrounding communities. That is amazing.  I want to thank all of you who are working hard for our community.  I know it’s not always easy to keep going, but think about these amazing people and all the others who have gone before.  Strive to be encouraging; see humor even in the darkest times; it IS about the people; don’t be afraid to make changes and always, always think about the bigger picture, the good of the whole. Together, let’s continue to be inspiring leaders.


See you around town.

Looking Back at 2013

by Kate McAlister, President and CEO

The lights are up and the snow is on the ground; must be Holidays in Sandpoint.  As we bring our year to a close it is always fun to look back at what happened throughout the year.  I don’t know about you but I run so fast sometimes I forget to look back and remember. 

Let’s start with all the press we received last year.  We once again had a number of accolades in the national press, “Top 10 Emerging Ski Towns” – Nat Geo; “Snow Trax: My Own Private Idaho” – The New Mexican; “Top 5 Places in the World to Get Married” [Schweitzer Resort] – Birmingham Press U.K.; “10 Picture-Perfect Mountain Towns” – USA Today; “Idaho’s Hippest Mountain Town” – Men’s Journal; “Is This The Prettiest Town in America?” – Steve Winston for World Property Channels (seen in 120 countries).

In January we watched it snow as we continued to move into our new ‘old’ location out here on the highway.  We LOVE it here.  One day we promise we’ll have an open house but we have not stopped running since we moved.

February delivered one of the most successful Winter Carnival’s in a few years.  Town was alive with visitors and locals as well. With events and happenings going on in Jeff Jones square, the Granary District, and of course up at our favorite ski resort, Schweitzer, a good time was had by all.

Besides St. Patrick’s Day, March brought the Idaho Tourism Council (ITC) to town for their quarterly meeting.  Schweitzer hosted the three day event for this panel of governor appointed tourism specialists to showcase our wonderful area and all we have to offer.  This is the group who manages the Idaho Department of Commerce tourism grants of which we received $111,000 in 2012 to market our town outside of the area.  They were very impressed with us, as they should be.

Keeping with the tourism theme in April, Sandpoint hosted the North Idaho Tourism summit at the Sandpoint Events Centers and it was one of the best attended in a number of years.  Quite a few of our local restaurants and recreational businesses participated such as, Trinity, Pend Oreille Pasta, MickDuffs, Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, Scotchman’s Peak and others.

In May, we welcomed our favorite event “Lost in the 50’s” and all the prosperity it brings to our little town in the midst of the ‘shoulder’ season.  Thank you Carolyn Gleason for all your hard work and dedication for our community over all these years.

June kicked off the summer with the Chamber’s Summer Sampler, our ‘local’ kick-off to summer event.  We enjoyed wonderful food from restaurants and caterers, from Sagle to Ponderay, as well as another rousing Chef Cook-Off sponsored by one of our local favorites, Litehouse.  Reese Warren from Eichardt’s took the title home for the second year.  Next year, hopefully in April, we are going to put him up against a chef from our Sister City, Nelson B.C., when we sponsor the first International Chef Cook-off.  I’m betting on Reese.

If you love a parade, then of course our annual Lions Club, 4^th of July parade is for you.  The community came out in droves and lined the downtown streets for the parade.  We also hosted another very successful Wooden Boat Show and I was honored to participate in the Friday night boat parade.  It was spectacular with all those beautiful boats out on the water with their noses up and carving through the water. Can’t wait until next year!

August rode in with 350 bicycle riders in the Ride Idaho group.  Our area showed them a great time and they spent their free day enjoying our area and all we have to offer. 

We were honored in September to have the Idaho Community Review team here from the state of Idaho and for three days we listened to our community as we held focus groups and listening sessions all over the area.  This team of experts came here after the City of Sandpoint wrote and received a grant from the Idaho Rural Partnership to come and assess our area and add to our comp plan.  It was an enlightening three days.  The state team took all the information and have been analyzing and putting together a presentation with their recommendations and will be giving us the full report in early January.  This report will also include other grant opportunities for small towns like ours and other possible partnerships. 

The Scenic Half also took place in September with over 1,000 runners participating.  Only a little more than one-fourth of the runners were local.  Thirteen states and two countries were represented and again it was a stellar September day for the run and to showcase our beautiful area.

October was a big month for the Chamber, we officially took on the administrative management of the Sandpoint Business Improvement District and hired Kim Queen as the new manager.  It is a big undertaking and the Chamber staff will be working very hard to make this a success for all concerned. 

November and December brought holiday decorating all over town, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, Saturdays with Santa on Cedar Street Bridge, and so much more.

The Chamber, well Mack, held quite a few well-attended Social Media classes at the Holiday Inn Express in Ponderay and we will continue to do so in 2014.  If there are other classes you would like to see, let us know.

All in all it was a jam packed year of great success.  Starting in January the Chamber will start holding every other luncheon at the Ponderay Events Center and we encourage everyone to attend.

As we say good bye to 2013 we can say it was a good year, and we look forward to 2014 and all it will bring our way. I hope the new year will bring you and yours great opportunities, prosperity and fun.  Don’t forget the fun.  Take care, see you in 2014.  

Sandpoint BID’s new era begins

By CAMERON RASMUSSON, Staff writer

Article taken from the Bonner County Daily Bee (See article here)

SANDPOINT — This week marked a new era for the Sandpoint Business Improvement District.

With a BID manager selected in Kim Queen and an administrative council established to guide the fund forward, city and Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce officials hope to bring a new level of transparency and representation to the public funds.

“We’re going to make something brilliant happen, as well as continue the brilliant things that are already happening,” McAlister said.

Established with the dissolving of the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association into a council under the chamber’s wing, the newly-appointed members of the BID Council met for the first time Tuesday to go over their goals and ideas for future uses of the BID fund.

A monthly assessment paid by business owners within the district, the BID fund is used to promote mutually-beneficial events and marketing opportunities for the downtown core.

However, some downtown business owners have been perturbed at being asked to pay an assessment they felt didn’t benefit them, according to chamber president Kate McAlister. That’s why city and chamber authorities decided to restructure BID management under the chamber’s wing. The BID fund is managed separately from the chamber budget, with McAlister and other chamber staff providing office space, supplies and supervision for the council and BID manager.

One of the primary goals is to make all downtown business owners feel they get something out of the BID. That’s why the council is made up of representatives from several different downtown industries. Katie Stang of The Readery represents restaurants, Mark Browning of North Idaho College represents education, Ross Schoenig of Alliance Title represents real estate, Michelle Polhemus of Horizon Credit Union represents professional services, Kathy Hubbard of Bonner General Hospital represents health care, Kathy Friedman of Zero Point represents retail, Dyno Wahl of the Festival at Sandpoint represents arts and entertainment, Sheldon Packwood of the K2 Inn represents lodging and community volunteer Barney Ballard is the council member at large.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Grimm of the city of Sandpoint, Karl Dye of the Bonner County Economic Development Corporation, Eric Paull of the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency and Kim Diercks of Panhandle State Bank serve in an advisory, non-voting capacity.

“We want to bring people in to the idea that a vital downtown benefits everyone,” Wahl said. “I really believe that a rising tide floats all.”

Meanwhile, the chamber has hired Queen to serve as BID manager. Her role is to enact the decisions of the council through event planning and interfacing with downtown businesses.

An experienced nonprofit worker who has worked with the Pend Oreille Arts Council and more, Queen is eager to use her skills in a new responsibility.

“What were going to do (in the coming days) is break down what exactly the BID does and doesn’t do for you,” she said.