PROVO — A dozen years ago, Ted Schofield thought about pulling up the roots of Heindselman's, the oldest knitting and embroidery store in the United States and moving out of historic downtown Provo.

"About 60 to 70 percent of my block was vacant," Schofield said. "That old saying applied, 'The last one out, turn out the lights.' We were thinking of moving because it just didn't seem like downtown Provo was going anywhere. The emphasis seemed to be on the malls, the shopping centers, everywhere else, and there was nothing being done to help downtown."

Other Americans cities are hurting today because their downtowns died — but business is better now on Schofield's block, and he is convinced much of the credit for the resuscitation should go to the Downtown Business Alliance.

The future of the alliance depends on a host of meetings, one of them at 7 tonight, when the Provo Municipal Council is expected to give notice of its intent to reinstate a tax on downtown businesses that would fund the alliance for another three years.

Merchant organizations have come and gone in downtown Provo, but Schofield said the Downtown Business Alliance has been successful and deserves another three years to continue ongoing programs and institute new ones that are planned, such as an effort to create pocket parks and a media campaign to inform people where they can park downtown.

The business alliance pays for sidewalk powerwashes and maintenance of flower beds in the area and hanging flower pots on streetlight poles in the district. It also funds storefront improvement grants and has paid for new newspaper racks, wall murals, distinctive Historic Downtown Provo street signs, banners that announce coming events, art displays in empty storefronts and signs that direct visitors to parking areas.

The alliance also sponsors Halloween and Easter events, a "Movies in the Park" series and a Christmas parade. With the Provo Arts Council, the alliance has installed sculptures throughout the downtown district and sponsors art gallery strolls to draw potential customers downtown.

Those and other initiatives, combined with a good economy that has brought new jobs and businesses into the area, including the seven-story Wells Fargo Center at 100 N. University, have boosted the downtown district.

The bulk of the district stretches from 600 West to 300 East and from 100 South to 200 North. It also extends north to 400 North between 300 West and 100 East.

"When we started the alliance, I think the attitude of the businesses was that if something was going to be done, we're going to have to do it, and I think it's our obligation to do it," Schofield said.