What is a business improvement association (BIA)?

A business improvement area is a self-help mechanism designed to assist local business people and property owners in upgrading and promoting their business and shopping district to further trade and commerce in their area.

A BIA can develop and undertake programs to improve and beautify the improvement area. Tree planting, street furniture, improved parking, flower boxes, and baskets and street banners are typical examples of commercial area public improvements which can be implemented by a BIA. In addition, BIA's can promote their areas as business and/or shopping areas, not just as a group of individual shops, restaurants and offices. Promotional activities may include special may includes special events and ongoing advertising programs which aim to keep the BIA area foremost in the public's mind as an attractive, pleasant place to shop, to be entertained, to work and to live.

The formal designation as a BIA provides a forum for business member participationthrough the board of directors and its committees. It also allows for a planned program to be developed with an annual budget contributed to by all its members. The cumulative effect of BIA activities will attract and maintain customers, clients and shoppers to the commercial area as well as attracting new businesses to the market.

The benefits of a BIA are as individual and diverse as the communities themselves. From spectacular banners and seasonal programs to mystery shopper programs and retail energizer meetings, many downtown and commercial area programs are initiated and employed by BIA's to bring life and vitality to these communities through BIA's.

BIA funds may be used for the implementation of a strategic plan for marketing an area for economic growth. For example, the funds can be used to improve the physical environment, to start a public awareness campaign, to help coordinate and execute an advertising campaign for retail business, or to initiate any number of other projects that are designated as priorities in the commerical area. Efforts such as these improve public awareness, establish a positive image for the area, increase customer traffic and attract new businesses.

The BIA legislation provides for a special charge to be levied on each commercial and/or industrial property within the designated area. There are several ways BIA's can assess property and designate the contribution. The most commonly used methods are assessment (mil rate percentage) or frontage (fixed sum per linear front footage).

For example, in assessment, each property owner's share of the annual BIA budget is proportionate to their property's share of the total taxable commercial value of all the properties within the BIA's boundaries. In other words, if an owner owns 1% of the total taxable assessed property value, the share will be 1% of the budget. Most landlords pass all of part of this cost to their business tenant(s) pursuant to lease agreements.

More information about business improvement areas is available at www.bia.bc.ca.

We are now accepting applications for the 2009 Billy Barker Days Gold Dust Mall.

Downtown Quesnel will welcome the 2010 Olympic Torch on January 29, 2010

The Quesnel Downtown Association participates in the annual Relay for Life in Lebourdais Park. Join the relay on May 23 or we invite you to contribute to our team.





Congratulations to Safeway on their renovation in Downtown Quesnel!