Ogden Downtown Alliance reports surge in visitors, seeks funds for permanent public restrooms

Reid Thompson, executive director of the Ogden Downtown Alliance, presented the nonprofit’s 2024 annual report at a March 4 joint work session of the Ogden City Council and the Ogden Redevelopment Agency.

Thompson said the alliance’s mission is to “increase economic vitality and community vibrancy throughout Ogden’s central business district” and outlined the group’s six strategic pillars: business support, marketing, arts programming, placemaking, events programming and coordination with Ogden City’s Community and Economic Development Department.

The alliance reported producing 27 free community events last year with an aggregate attendance of about 264,000 and an estimated $11,300,000 in economic impact. Thompson said Farmers Market Ogden drew about 212,000 visits in 2024 (an 8% increase from 2023), the Harvest Moon celebration drew about 30,000 visitors, and the Historic 25th Street car show had roughly 22,000 attendees. He also reported 386 artists and entertainers were paid to participate and that the alliance distributed roughly $70,000 in SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks incentives to support 709 families.

Thompson told the council the ODA staff has been rebuilding after turnover and is now “up to 5 full time staff members and 2 part time,” supported by volunteers. He said the alliance recently added the Ogden Arts Festival to its event portfolio and will stage the festival at Union Station in July 2025 after acquiring it from Nurture the Creative Mind.

Thompson summarized results from a business-owner survey the alliance conducted: 65% of responding business owners said they were satisfied with ODA communication; 38.5% said there were not enough collaborative opportunities between businesses and ODA. Top priorities business owners requested for downtown investment were public restrooms, greenery/landscaping, cleanliness, street lighting and public art. Thompson said the survey had 103 responses and he cautioned the sample size is limited.

Council members asked whether business owners saw public restrooms as a city responsibility or as an opportunity for private partnership. Thompson said business owners reported fatigue from customers using private-business bathrooms when no public facilities are available and noted the alliance spends “over about 30,000 or more dollars a year just to bring in porta potties.” He added that permanent restroom infrastructure could reduce that expense and serve both everyday needs and larger events.

Thompson described outreach and business-support tactics the alliance plans for 2025, including returning a monthly newsletter, more district-specific programming, town-hall recaps, and small sponsorship opportunities for businesses. He also asked the council for help identifying funding and sponsorship connections to sustain programming and staffing.

Thompson closed by thanking the alliance’s board, sponsors and partners and offering to provide additional information to council members.

Ending: The Ogden Downtown Alliance will continue collecting feedback from business owners this year; the alliance and city staff said they will explore funding and partnership options for permanent public restrooms, expanded communications and district-level programming.