Finance Committee directs 2027 RFP for downtown programming after months-long debate; BID funded for 2026
Summary
After weeks of discussion and public testimony from Black On State, MadLit and the Madison Central BID, the Finance Committee directed staff to develop a competitive RFP for downtown programming to be implemented in 2027 and provided interim funding for the BID in 2026.
The Madison Finance Committee voted Oct. 27 to direct the Economic Development Division to develop a competitive request-for-proposals (RFP) process for the city's downtown programming funds to be implemented in 2027. The committee adopted a compromise to fund the Business Improvement District (BID) for 2026 and to add a modest $6,000 to its 2026 appropriation to avoid disruption to scheduled events.
Alder Madison proposed that the city require a competitive RFP process for $50,000 in downtown programming funds, saying the change would open opportunity to organizations led by people of color and make city funding more equitable. The committee heard public testimony from event organizers who said the city's traditional practice of routing downtown programming dollars to the BID had kept other organizers from gaining access to funding and limited diversity in downtown programming.
Speakers and organizations - Ashley Moseberry, founder of Black On State (event organizer): testified that Black On State drew roughly 13,000 people in 2024 and more than 21,000 in 2025 and asked that the city open a competitive process to allow community-led events to receive city funding. - Karen Reese, executive director of Urban Community Arts Network (MadLit sponsor): supported a competitive process and said MadLit originated in community efforts after the George Floyd protests and had previously relied on BID in-kind support and short-term city assistance. - Matt Trammell, executive director of the Madison Central BID: described the BID's administrative, marketing and event-production work downtown and said the BID has staff and recurring responsibilities that support many downtown events.
Debate and compromise Committee members expressed competing concerns: supporters of an immediate RFP cited equity and access for smaller or community-led events; opponents raised practical concerns about staff time, procurement rules, and the timing of a competitive process late in the year that could imperil summer programming. The BID's quasi-governmental structure (board members appointed under state statute; required operating-plan review by the Common Council) also figured in the discussion.
President Vittiver offered an amendment to phase in the change: the BID would receive funding in 2026 to avoid immediate disruption and EDD would prepare the RFP process during 2026, with awards to be implemented in 2027. The motion carried. Separately, the committee added $6,000 to the BID's 2026 contribution to partially restore prior funding levels.
What this means - 2026: BID retains funding and receives an additional $6,000 to support the current event calendar. - 2026 (remainder of year): EDD will develop RFP criteria, selection process and timeline; staff warned that a new, city-wide RFP launched in January might not yield contract awards early enough to fully support large summer events without advance notice. - 2027: Competitive RFP is expected to be open to community organizations and the BID; council members said they expect EDD to prioritize transparency and equity in the selection criteria.
Why it matters The compromise preserves existing 2026 programming while moving city practice toward a competitive, public procurement process in 2027. That change is designed to broaden access to public funds for downtown programs, but it also requires staff time and a lead time that may affect how quickly organizations can plan large festivals or multiweek series.
