It's been a year of uncertainty but the Business Loop is still going strong and we're still moving projects forward.
After much back-and-forth and a slew of calls and letters from supporters, it appears that the $2.13 million Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods planning grant, a partnership between the City of Columbia, MoDOT, and The Loop, has finally been green-lighted. An engineering firm has been selected and they are excited and ready to get to work. Next year will be dedicated to this planning process and we want you involved so watch for updates.
On another positive note, our Loop businesses are healthy and our kitchen is bustling with new food start-ups. The city's Safe Streets for All grant is still moving forward so we'll be working with their team to identify ways to make the street safer for all travelers. And speaking of travelers, we're working closely with MODOT, the city, the Chamber, the CVB, and other community leaders to manage the expansion of I-70 and beautify the exits off the interstate into Columbia, including those onto the Business Loop.
We’re proud of our efforts to revitalize The Loop and we’re proud of all the successful businesses and institutions who continue to invest in our street. And with your help, we’ll have a gateway into the city that all of Columbia can be proud of.
For a full list of Loop CID projects, visit TheLoopCoMo.com, scroll to the bottom and click “Initiatives.” And for a list of all our food start-ups, visit CoMoCooks.com and click on “Food Vendors.”
We could not have accomplished these projects without help from business owners, property owners, residents, and of course, the support of City staff and government. With your help, we’re truly improving one of the key commercial corridors in Columbia.
The Business Loop Community Improvement District (CID) is an organization turning a neglected former highway into a street that is vibrant, safe, and welcoming—a gateway into the city that Columbians can be proud of.
We advocate for infrastructure improvements, encourage economic activity, support businesses and local makers, host events, and beautify the street with landscaping, art, and pop-up spaces.
Overall, we focus on two big areas: Environment and Economy.
>Create an attractive and authentic multimodal corridor.
>Design a street that is safe, vibrant, healthy, and welcoming to all.
>Attract and retain diverse and innovative businesses, employees, makers, and investors.
>Communicate the importance of the area to Columbia.
Within The Loop CID, sales revenue exceeded 4.5M on a monthly basis, with peak revenue reaching 6.1M in September 2024. (All numbers shown are a cumulation of reported activity excluding automotive sales.)
While commercial valuations are up, overall valuations are down 2% over the previous year due to changes in utility assessments implemented by the State Tax Commission.
In FY2026 we'll be focusing on increasing marketing for existing Loop businesses, promoting the three shared spaces on The Loop, hosting events at our Pop-Up Park, continuing to support small food businesses at CoMo Cooks, and importantly, working with the City of Columbia on Business Loop corridor planning. And, since 2026 is the 100 year anniversary of Highway 40, we’ll be celebrating the history of our road by taking a journey from the origins of the highway to the future of the Business Loop. Finally, we’ll be adding to our fund balance so we're ready to go for our next big project.
For the full FY2025 Budget and supporting documents, visit our Minutes + Financials page.
Michele Batye Dave Griggs' Flooring America
James Bayless Fresh Start Property Management
Karen Geotz Dive Bar
Mary Grupe Hickman High School
Ryan Euliss Boone Electric Cooperative
Suzi McGarvey MACC/MACCLab Makerspace
Jay Rader Bus Loop 70 Properties
Carrie Gartner Executive Director
Rae Adams Event Coordinator
Trish Sieckmann Kitchen Manager
Our entire 2025 Annual Report is available for download. Please note, by clicking this link you will be leaving the Loop CID website and be directed to Google Drive. We also have hard copies available so if you'd like some for your business or organization, or if you need additional assistance accessing these documents, please contact us at [email protected].
