We’ve got “All the Ingredients”

Our Mission: The mission of the Downtown San Mateo Association is to promote downtown businesses and enhance our position as the premier downtown of San Mateo County.

Our Vision: Our vision is to be known as the preferred downtown destination for shopping, dining, working, living, and meeting on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Membership: The Downtown San Mateo Association (DSMA), established in 1956, is a coalition of downtown San Mateo businesses and property owners working together to promote and improve business and civic activity downtown. If your business is located within the DSMA’s physical boundaries you are automatically a member as you pay a business assessment each year when you renew your business license. Associate members, community marketing partners, and event sponsors also derive benefits from associating with the DSMA and “join” the organization in a variety of ways. To learn more about collaborating with us, just ask!

Activities: The DSMA produces or sponsors marketing and special events, business mixers, open houses, and fundraisers. We provide promotional and marketing assistance to our member businesses as well as business development support and advocacy on behalf of business and property owners in the neighborhood. We also engage in economic development by recruiting entrepreneurs from technology, law, creative, design, retail and medical industries as they search for locations to conduct business in the region. The DSMA works with both city staff and elected officials to ensure our neighborhood is healthy and vibrant.

Operational Model: The DSMA follows the National Trust of Historic Preservation’s “Main Street Approach” to commercial district revitalization. The Main Street model is the most well-known and refined method of operating a downtown revitalization non-profit organization. There are approximately 2,000 programs of its kind in North America. We are the only city in San Mateo County that utilizes this model and the National Trust as a resource. The DSMA is a member of the California Main Street Alliance (CAMSA) as well as the California Downtown Association (CDA).

Funding: The DSMA is a 501(c)6 non-profit corporation funded by assessments the City of San Mateo collects from business owners each year when they renew their city business licenses. The City of San Mateo’s Redevelopment Agency also contributes between $45,000 and $70,000 each year.