About Downtown Novato Business Association 

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Who We Are

The Downtown Novato Business Association (DNBA) is a volunteer-driven nonprofit working to make Downtown Novato more beautiful, vibrant, and economically thriving—while delivering real value to our members.

In addition to our role as a membership organization, the DNBA Board also serves as the Business Improvement District (BID) Advisory Board to the City of Novato. The BID is a proven revitalization tool that brings businesses and the city together in partnership. Through this public/private model, BIDs provide enhanced services—beautification, marketing, events, and advocacy—that strengthen the image of the city while boosting the success of individual businesses.

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Our Vision 

We invite everyone — residents, visitors, and businesses alike — to experience Downtown Novato’s unique blend of culture, convenience, and charm. We believe a thriving downtown is the heartbeat of our city: it fuels Novato’s economy, strengthens community connections, and elevates the quality of life for all who live, work, and play here. By nurturing this vitality, we ensure Downtown Novato continues to be the cultural, economic, and social center of the City.

What We Do

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    Invite & Inspire

    We create a welcoming, vibrant downtown through beautification efforts, signature events, free parking, walkable streets, bike share program and SMART Train station. The result is an inclusive lively district filled with independent shops, diverse dining, essential services, and community gatherings — all accessible, safe, and free to enjoy.

  • A barber giving a haircut to a young man in a salon in Downtown Novato California. The barber is smiling and holding a pair of scissors, while the young man is seated with a blue cape around him.

    Support Small Business

    We help locally owned businesses thrive by providing marketing & advertising support, shopping & community special events, sponsorship opportunities and business improvement initiatives. These efforts drive foot traffic, increase local and regional visibility and build long-lasting retail, restaurant, and services success.

  • A group of six young adults smiling and posing together outdoors during a festival or fair, with booths and crowd in the background, in Downtown Novato California.

    Build Community

    We foster connection and pride for Novato through volunteer opportunities, networking with other business owners, and family-friendly festivals. By bringing people together, we create a downtown that feels like home for residents and visitors alike. Together, we strengthen the heart of our city and entire community.

Together, these efforts ensure Downtown Novato continues to thrive as the heartbeat of our city — a place where commerce, culture, and community flourish side by side.

Our Board

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Join us.

Whether you call Novato home, run a local business, or are just discovering our downtown, your support fuels the energy that keeps Downtown Novato vibrant, welcoming, and thriving

Come Visit Us