Missoula Downtown Association
What Is the Missoula Downtown Association (MDA)?
The Missoula Downtown Association (MDA) is a private, non-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to promoting, supporting, and enhancing the vitality of Downtown Missoula.
Its mission is to retain and promote Downtown Missoula as Western Montana’s center of business, culture, and entertainment; provide a forum for collaborative solutions to downtown challenges; encourage preservation and enhancement of the area’s physical beauty; and raise public awareness of Downtown’s historic and cultural significance.
The MDA currently has over 500 members located across Downtown, Midtown, and the greater Missoula area. The organization is guided by a 19-member Board of Directors made up of local business owners, corporate professionals, and city employees.
What does the Missoula Downtown Association specifically do?
The MDA is primarily responsible for Downtown advocacy, implementation of the Downtown Master Plan, service and support of membership, Downtown marketing and events, and beautification of Missoula’s city center.
Here is a snapshot of the initiatives and events tied to the MDA:
- Membership
- Downtown Gift Card Program
- Caras Park Venue Bookings
- Garden City BrewFest
- Winter BrewFest
- River City Roots Festival
- Holidays on Higgins
- Out to Lunch
- Downtown ToNight
- Teddy Bear Tea Parties
- Downtown Flower Baskets & Holiday Décor
- Downtown Boulevard Banners
- Downtown Holiday Party (Members Only)
- Annual Downtown Awards Banquet (Members Only)
- MDA BBQ (Members Only)
- Downtown on Tap
- Downtown Dialogues
With a strong member base, the MDA serves as a unifying force among local businesses and the broader Missoula community.
What Is Missoula Downtown Association Membership?
MDA Membership is available to local businesses, organizations, and individuals for an annual fee. Members receive a variety of benefits designed to elevate their presence and engagement in the downtown community.
Benefits include:
- A dedicated webpage on the highly visited missouladowntown.com website.
- Promotional opportunities on MDA’s social media platforms
- Inclusion in weekly e-newsletters about downtown happenings
- Access to the MDA member list via direct mail labels
- Representation in the Downtown Missoula Guide
- Option to accept Downtown Gift Cards
- $100 discount on Caras Park venue bookings
- Invitations to members-only events
- Opportunities to serve on events, planning, and advocacy committees
Membership also makes it easier to connect with other members and stay in the loop on key initiatives and projects shaping Downtown Missoula. Fees help fund core efforts of the MDA and Downtown Missoula Partnership, such as executing the Downtown Master Plan, the 2025 Caras Park Canopy Campaign, and hosting events that bring people downtown, keep them downtown, and stimulate the local economy.
When was the Missoula Downtown Association Formed?
The Missoula Downtown Association was established in 1975 and is currently celebrating its golden 50 years of operation! The Missoula Downtown Association (MDA) was originally a retail committee of the Missoula Chamber of Commerce. In 1975, the downtown retailers separated from the Chamber and formed the Downtown Merchants Association. In response to changes in the Missoula community and the decline of downtown, the organization restructured in 1980 and broadened its membership and mission, becoming the Missoula Downtown Association.
MDA vs. DMP: What’s the Difference?
The Missoula Downtown Association operates under the umbrella of the Downtown Missoula Partnership (DMP).
In 2023, the MDA joined forces with the Missoula Business Improvement District (BID) and the Missoula Downtown Foundation to create a unified organizational structure. This formal partnership helps retain talented staff, share resources, and align skillsets to advance shared goals. Together, they form the Downtown Missoula Partnership, which collectively supports a thriving downtown.
