What is a BIA?
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of commercial property owners and tenants within a defined area who work in partnership with the City to create thriving, competitive, and safe business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses. By working collectively as a BIA, local business have the organizational and funding capacity to be catalysts for civic improvement, enhancing the quality of life in their local neighbourhood and the City as a whole.
Toronto now celebrates a total of 72 BIAs across this City, representing over 27,000 businesses — the largest number of BIAs in North America. Together, they generate over $23 million in funding towards street and sidewalk beautification, marketing and promotional campaigns, street festivals, clean street / graffiti-removal campaigns, and crime prevention strategies. BIAs also acts as a unified voice to address issues on behalf of their membership.
The success of Toronto's BIA program has been marked by continued growth, expanding from 42 BIAs in 2001 to 71 BIAs in 2010.
What are the benefits of a BIA?
In order to help local commercial areas create thriving, competitive and safe business areas, the City of Toronto, through the Economic Development & Culture Division, offers a number of assistance programs to BIAS.
One of the more successful programs offered by our BIA Office is the Capital Cost-share Program, which provides matching funding to our BIA partners for streetscape beautification projects. These projects help create a more attractive and marketable image for the area and improve the atmosphere in our neighbourhoods.
Financial assistance is also provided to BIAs to implement mural projects and commercial façade improvements.
Toronto BIAs are also members of an umbrella organization called the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA). TABIA encourages and facilitates the exchange of information, experiences, and ideas among BIAs; advocates on behalf of BIAs to influence government policy; helps obtain funding for programs and services for BIAs; and offers discount and savings programs for its members, such as preferred Merchant Visa and MasterCard rates.
How does a BIA work?
A BIA is run by a volunteer Board of Management elected from its members. The Board is nominated at an Annual General Meeting and, once approved by City Council, serves a four-year term concurrent with the term of Council. The Board works on behalf of its BIA and meets regularly to develop budgets, set priorities, implement capital improvements, plan festivals, and promote its business area.
How is a BIA funded?
Once the budget is approved by the BIA members and ratified by City Council, funds are raised through a levy on all commercial and industrial properties within the BIA's boundary. Calculation of this levy is based on the proportionate value of each property's commercial and/or industrial assessment. Once the levy is collected by the City, the funds are returned to the BIA to manage.
