The Downtown Bozeman Partnership (DBP) is one organization consisting of three branches, the Urban Renewal District (URD), the Business Improvement District (BID), and the Downtown Bozeman Association (DBA).
While the URD and BID focus on exciting projects like pocket parks and flower baskets, the DBA is the arm that brings you beloved events such as Music on Main and Christmas Stroll, as well as offers a membership program aimed at connecting and uplifting local businesses and organizations throughout Bozeman’s downtown core and beyond.
Started in 1980, this Non-Profit section of the Partnership is guided by a governing Board consisting of downtown stakeholders such as business owners and managers. The Board meets monthly at the DBP office to come together and discuss the best way to bring Bozeman free community events and the most effective route to continue to benefit our members, as well as quarterly committee meetings homing in on topics such as Events, Members, and Financials.
You may even recognize some downtown names! Currently on the DBA Board is:
Babs Noelle, Board Chairperson, Alara Jewelry
Coco Douma, Board Treasurer, First Security Bank
Sarah Brewster, Board Member, Mountain Trails Gallery
Mollie Bryan, Board Member, Element Bozeman
Haley Connolly, Board Member, Meridian
Mary Pat Harris, Board Member, Bozeman Spirits Distillery
Sam Rickenbaugh, Board Member, The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company
Natalie Van Dusen, Board Member, Treeline Coffee Roasters
This year we are celebrating as our Board Chairperson, Babs Noelle owner of Alara Jewelry, has been serving for 20 years!
Alara opened its doors July of 2004 in Downtown Bozeman to bring our town stunning, curated pieces from around the world. Their welcoming staff, in-house and designer made jewelry, and strive to bring unique and sustainable wearable art to our community continues to exude love and care for their clientele and neighbors alike, and is truly a “gem” to downtown. That same year, in the Fall of 2004 she joined the DBA Board and began her journey to help steer the way for a vibrant downtown.
We got the chance to sit down with her and snag an exclusive interview…
- How would you explain the Downtown Bozeman Association to a regular community member?
“Our historic downtown merchant association”, the DBA includes services, retail, nonprofits, bars and restaurants that bring our dollars to promote downtown together! Created in response to the mall’s opening in the 1980’s and downtown being less utilized.
- Looking back across two decades on the Downtown Bozeman Association Board, what impact are you most proud of having contributed to the vibrancy of downtown?
Serving on Financial Committee and always having a really great mix of individuals with different prospective that help shape decisions and are a guiding force for new businesses.
- What challenges has downtown Bozeman faced during your tenure—economic hardship, evolving retail trends—and how did the board adapt?
Gradually, the years have brought more and more tourists, which has brought in a new source of economic stimulation and more customers, but we don’t want to be JUST a tourist playground. We still are here to serve locals! The demographic, local to tourists, has ebbed and flowed over the years but old buildings and legacy businesses continue Downtown Bozeman’s uniqueness and efforts to stray from the feeling of being a strip mall with big brand stores.
- DBA events like Art Walks, Ladies’ Night, Christmas Stroll, and Cruisin’ on Main have become community staples—do you have a favorite, and how did it evolve over the years?
Events have evolved greatly over the years! Such as Art Walks, which weren’t originally hosted by the DBA, but rather the art galleries. As the event began to slow, the DBA was approached by gallery owners to absorb it and expand the concept, leading to opening the event to all downtown businesses. "Cruisin' on Main" Car Show was inherited by DBA after a few years of the event not gaining traction through car clubs and the implementation of the Cancer Support Community partnership helped to elevate it. A previous event, Bridal Walk was created and later let go and replaced by Restaurant Week in 2021.
Favorite event: Ladies' Night! I’m a lucky raffle girl and in turn love giving stuff away! I love the anticipation; very ‘of the moment’; and making their holiday season.”
- You’ve been with the DBA for 20 years—what’s the funniest memory or inside joke that still makes you smile when downtown Bozeman comes up?
Christmas Stroll 2004 or 2005, Alara featured dancing human elves draped in jewelry where you were able to take a photo for a donation to what is now Haven! If you know Alara’s Chantell, she was an “OG” elf!
- Alara’s slogan, ‘No McJewelry Here,’ speaks volumes about your aesthetic values. How do you see that philosophy mirrored in the brands and businesses you support downtown?
Curating and providing Montana-made and local-made/handmade pieces and taking pride in the lack of cookie cutter. For tourists, many businesses downtown create and curate inventory that they won’t find at home. Stores downtown are interesting and independent with a personal-touch and leaning into Non-Profits or other businesses for collaboration.
- You’ve fostered 'kinder, gentler capitalism' at Alara—how does that approach translate to how the DBA supports downtown businesses?
Bigger players tend to take everything off the top and leave little for the workers below. Alara tries to offer as many employee benefits as those large companies but also do things they can’t do – like save up for trips to Mexico for the staff. Happy and valued employees are important! How much can the DBA assist? Well, that depends on the individual moral compass of each owner… lead by inspiration and example! I will always stand up for my staff.
- From your early days in Houston catering to high-profile clients to designing jewelry for everyday people in Bozeman—what lessons about community, connection, or creativity have stayed with you over time?
Something different with high-profile clients can be having a hard time connecting the craft to the person on a human level. Even though I was making amazing pieces with a limitless budget, I wanted that human connection to create a story around the piece.
- If Downtown Bozeman had a signature jewelry piece, what would it look like?
It would have some rustic elements… texture or shape, but it would have clean and sparkly parts. Sparkly would be Montana Sapphires. Like an ombre of colors. Think about the changing season colors within downtown, winter vs. summer. It is also a living breathing place with motion and movement so it would have a small kinetic element (swinging motion). Probably a necklace!
We are incredibly grateful to Babs for her 20 years of dedicated service and unwavering support for downtown. Her passion, leadership, and love for this community have left a lasting impact. Next time you’re downtown, be sure to give her a warm hello and thank her for two decades of making a difference!