Downtown might receive special designation

Downtown might receive special designation

News

By: Sandra Bolan

A business improvement area might be what is needed to give Bradford’s downtown businesses the boost they need to draw more customers.

The idea of forming a business improvement area came about through Bradford West Gwillimbury’s massive revitalization strategy, which is still ongoing.

“The end game is we want to have a community improvement plan for the downtown core,” Michael Disano, manager of economic development for Bradford West Gwillimbury, said.

Mr. Disano’s department is spearheading Bradford’s downtown revitalization project.

Once a plan has been created for the downtown, it needs to be implemented, which is where the business improvement area comes in.

“When we get to that point of implementation, we (will have) a group ready to hit the ground running,” Mr. Disano said.

A business improvement area is a private-public partnership in which businesses located within a defined area pay a fee, which is used to fund improvements within the area.

Businesses within the area, as a group, advocate, market and promote their district — in this case, downtown Bradford.

“There’s no question in my mind they’re feeling the impact of that new format of retailing” known as big box shopping, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association vice-president John Kiru said.

Although there is a Board of Trade in Bradford West Gwillimbury that helps businesses market and promote themselves, a business improvement area would not compete with the Board of Trade when it comes to marketing, advocating and promoting.

“I wouldn’t suggest this will pit one against the other. It will strengthen the interest of the business community,” Mr. Kiru said.

“If it’s something we could help with, we would do that,” Martha Marton, president of the Bradford Board of Trade, said.

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