Richard H. Bradley, founding Executive Director of the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), was honored with the International Downtown Association’s (IDA) Dan E. Sweat, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award on September 8, 2016, in recognition to his contributions to the BID, IDA and cities throughout the world.
During Richard H. Bradley’s nearly 20 year tenure as the founding Executive Director of the BID he championed many important initiatives and causes which today continue to benefit Downtown. Bradley staffed the Downtown Interactive Task Force which in 1996 recommended the District create business improvement districts. He later formed the DC BID Council to support the belief that business improvement districts could act as catalysts to disburse economic development throughout the city.
Under Bradley’s leadership, the BID helped create DC Surface Transit Inc to advise the city about public transportation including the DC Circulator and DC Streetcar, developed and facilitated a developer roundtable to support economic development in Downtown, significantly supported the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which today is a premier global event, advocated for late night Metrorail hours, supported FRESHFARM Farmers Markets in Downtown and championed support for homeless individuals and homeless services through numerous city agencies and partnerships.
The BID joins IDA in appreciation of Richard’s lifetime of service toward the cause of greater Downtowns everywhere.