About

Downtown 7

ABOUT US

The Champaign Center Partnership is a membership-based business organization providing marketing and promotion opportunities for our members as well as opportunities for collaboration, education, and networking. We now offer a residential membership component, where residents can become members to receive priority access to events, exclusive deals from member businesses, and information about our districts. See our members here. Our organization includes the districts of Downtown, Campustown, and the central commercial area along University Avenue and First Street known as Midtown. These districts are collectively known as Champaign Center.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Champaign Center Partnership is to foster a vibrant, inviting, and active core Downtown, Midtown, and Campustown by strengthening business and building community.

Our vision is to create healthy and vibrant micro-urban areas for our residents and visitors through marketing, advocacy, and special events.

We encourage and educate the public to shop locally throughout the year. When you spend $100 at a locally-owned business, $68 stays in your community.

Membership

Downtown 9

OUR HISTORY

We are a 501(c)6 organization founded in 2010 through a merger of the Champaign Downtown Association and the Campustown Business Group. The partnership between the two historic commercial centers of the community opened a new chapter in joint marketing and cooperation between the areas.

How to Join

Our Membership

To learn more about membership benefits and how to become a member, click here. To see what our members are saying about us, click here. Read the highlights report from our FY2022 Annual Meeting Celebration here.

headshot of Johnette Mitchell

MEET OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Johnette Mitchell

Johnette brings more than 25 years of experience in economic development, business district revitalization, and community empowerment to Champaign Center Partnership.

Throughout her career she has worked across corporate, nonprofit, and public-private settings to strengthen business corridors, expand opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs, and build the kind of cross-sector partnerships that create lasting change. She believes that a connected community is the foundation of a thriving city, and that belief shows up in everything she does.

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Executive Board

  • Kevin Hildebrand (Chair)
  • Amanda Royse (Vice Chair)
  • Derrick Braun (Treasurer)
  • Alisa Hart (Secretary)
  • Lauren Gramly (Past Chair)

Board

  • Kathy Shannon (Champaign City Council)
  • Marc Alexander
  • Jenny Shima
  • Diane Ducey
  • Scott McIntosh
  • Meghan Mcgaw-Boysaw
  • Jacob Pinholster
  • Michael Lovejoy
  • Morgan Walter

Contact

Champaign Center Partnership
301 N. Neil St. Suite 400
Champaign, IL 61820
217-352-2400
info@champaigncenter.com

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