BIA! That would be my preferred plan of action.

Why has the Town of Wasaga Beach never set up a Business Improvement Area (BIA)? When you look at the success these organizations have celebrated in other municipalities, it appears to be a viable solution to the decline of “downtown” in Wasaga Beach.

Personally, I suspect it is partly because those who operate businesses in the designated “downtown” zone are content having the general taxpayers pick up the tab for enhancements to support their business.

With a BIA, businesses within the designated zone are assessed a levy that is added directly to their taxes. The funds from that pool of money are what help to fund the activities they organize to support improvements and success within that zone.

Basically, all who benefit should bear their share of the costs for obtaining their benefits.

So… why hasn’t Councilor Timms, who has a great deal of experience in BIA’s put forward a plan to build such a thing? Councils chosen developer of municipal properties in our DownTown, our CAO and Ellen Timms have been part of events in Port Credit organized by the BIA there. Just google a little and you will find that in 2018 it was being discussed here in Wasaga Beach as well. To me, it would make a lot more sense than simply using hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars of taxpayers money to promote an area where select businesses will benefit the most.

My guess is that the key businesses in the defined area would initially be opposed because quite simply… they would have to pay to play. Right now, they get to allow the general taxpayers to take the risk, foot the bill and then they enjoy the profits of the events organized. I wonder what businesses like Stonebridge Town Centre would think if they had to pay a levy to get their concerts and other events?

BIA’s can do so much more than just organize events. They can influence development, contribute to enhanced images and even create employment.

So ask your self…. Do we need to fund a half million dollar entertainment corporation with taxpayer dollars? Instead, should this be a BIA funded initiative?

Take ten minutes, google some BIA startup pages. Then ask yourself, “Why start a BIA”?

More importantly, ask your Council members and our Mayor… “WHY NOT?”

One Comment

alanclegg May 11, 2024 at 1:29 pm

The issue here is what business?
Since a BIA levies basically a tax on all the business in its designated area, if we are looking at say a “downtown” BIA, what businesses? With the exception of Stonebridge who are themselves hollowed out, what is left? Mr. Smith’s threats for the last ten years to bulldoze the area effectively halted business investment in Main St.
There are so few businesses left a BIA would effectively be emasculated from the beginning. In addition what businesses would a BIA save? Again, it’s too late.
The same can be said about the beachfront. Smith’s purchase of most of the buildings and poor management of the resort has left a skeleton of business hanging by its fingernails. Would an additional cost levied on seasonal businesses or the additional burden of a BIA help or hinder the area?
It’s my belief that that portion of town is beyond the marketing efforts of a BIA when the combined marketing and funds of the town itself have failed so miserably. Creating a BIA at this point is calling the fire fighters after the barn has burned to the ground.
Unfortunately the only solution now is to go through with a clean slate and bulldoze. The problem there of course is again Smith blocking development. He tore apart last councils contract with developers that would have seen us well into the new build. He has replaced it with his own brand of doing nothing. You know, the expensive version where you spend tax dollars and get no results.
A BIA May have worked ten years ago, but now I would just suspect it of being another opaque layer to hide Smiths “business dealings”.