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What's a BIA A BIA is an association of local business people and commercial property owners from within a defined area who join together, in partnership with their local municipality, to develop a stronger business community. Self-managed and self-funded, BIAs enable communities with the means to raise funding to support the promotion and beautification of neighbourhood businesses through improvements to streetscapes, staging festivals and special events, and economic revitalization programs. The BIA Board of Management is comprised of members from within the BIA who are elected to the board by the membership, and includes at least one municipal ward councillor. Ontario's first Business Improvement Area was established at Bloor West Village in 1970. Since that time the number of BIAs in the City of Toronto has grown to 43, and 230 across Ontario. Business Improvement Areas have become an important force in the revitalization of retail. The health of most residential neighbourhoods is very closely related to the health of their local business strip. BIAs help to create more competitive commercial districts within the City through increased private capital reinvestment into our neighbourhoods, higher pedestrian counts and less reliance on automobiles, more new business start-ups, stronger business community involvement and more attractive places to live, work, shop and play. All this translates into increased retail sales, lower vacancy rates, decreased crime and vandalism, increased entrepreneurship, higher property values and a vibrant neighbourhood with greater identity and cohesion. To learn more about Toronto BIAs go to www.toronto-bia.com.

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