The Iowa City Downtown Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) has been successfully renewed for 10 years, following the City Council’s unanimous approval Tuesday.
The SSMID’s new tenure begins July 1 and expires June 30, 2036. As part of the reestablishment, its borders are expanding to include other parts of Iowa City. The north expansion area encompasses the downtown University of Iowa Health Care campus on Market Street, while the south expansion extends from Court Street east to Gilbert Street, including the businesses along the railroad tracks.
“(It’s) exciting that we (are) making it bigger,” said council member Mazahir Salih, during the council discussion.
The Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD), which manages the SSMID, filed a petition for renewal in September 2025.
“The ICDD’s mission is to champion a thriving downtown economy, fostering a vibrant community and welcoming experiences for all,” council documents stated. “In pursuit of that mission, the ICDD advocates for the District mission and serves as a mechanism to more efficiently implement District-wide marketing, programs, events, and projects that support vitality for the benefit of all the businesses within it, the University of Iowa, community members, and the region at large.”
Per Iowa code, a SSMID renewal petition requires signatures from at least 25% of the property owners within the SSMID borders and represent approximately 25% of the assessed value of the proposed district.
When ICDD submitted the renewal petition Sept. 15, there were approximately 90 signatures representing multiple downtown properties included.
Property owners will be assessed up to $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value during the first seven years of the new term, increasing to a maximum of $2.75 per $1,000 for the final three years.
According to council documents, the SSMID’s current revenue accounts for approximately 45% of all ICDD revenue.
“This SSMID renewal represents a shared commitment to downtown Iowa City’s future. With this approval, we can build on what’s working—clean and safe services, place management, and business support—while investing in new strategies that strengthen economic vitality and enhance the downtown experience for everyone,” ICDD Executive Director Betsy Potter emailed the CBJ. “This renewal and expansion starts July 2026 and the team and board at ICDD are ready to get to work.”
