With the search for a new chair just beginning and membership not at maximum levels for the St. Marys Business Improvement Area (BIA), the organization that administers a special core-area business tax levy on behalf of the Town is hoping an upcoming meeting will drum up potential members.
But it’s also hoping, simply, to drum up interest among downtown business owners in the organization which receives a good portion of the funding administered by the BIA: the Downtown Merchants Association (DMA).
The idea for the meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18 at the Black Angus Restaurant, “kind of came out of our last DMA meeting, when we got talking about how our numbers are going down,” explained BIA/DMA treasurer, Sue Hyatt, owner of Village Craft and Candle.
Discussion around that table, she said, revolved around a perception that some core-area business owners aren’t aware of what the BIA and DMA do.
“For example, people kept hearing how the (downtown) planters were such a great idea, and how it was great that the Town had put them up,” Hyatt recalled. “We had to keep telling people it was actually the BIA that put up the planters.”
As another example, the Queen Street businessperson cited recent speculation about starting a Chamber of Commerce in St. Marys. She wonders whether some of that speculation arises from a lack of awareness about what can be accomplished by being an active member of the DMA or BIA.
The area of jurisdiction for the BIA stretches from the Parkview Creamery to the Canadian Tire/Foodland/New Orleans Pizza plaza, and from Tim Hortons to the GOCO office just west of the Victoria Bridge. Business owners from within that area are automatically welcome to attend DMA meetings; and they can also be nominated to serve on the BIA.
“There are a bunch of new businesses in town who don’t necessarily know about these organizations. And, beyond that, I think there’s a general disconnect about the amount of volunteer time people put in towards certain things,” Hyatt commented.
For the past year, Bill Chmura of the Investor’s Group has chaired the BIA, but he recently stepped down. Charlie Hammond remains as vice chair, and Hyatt stays on as Treasurer. The search for a new chair has begun.
But the Jan. 18 meeting will go ahead as planned, hosted by the BIA but also featuring informal presentations by DMA president Julie Docker-Johnson and Town of St. Marys tourism manager Kelly Lyn Baird.
“And then we’ll just open the floor to anybody who has questions,” said Hyatt.
She promotes the meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. and feature refreshments, as a chance to “meet your neighbours.” Possible topics of discussion, she adds, include bike racks, snow removal, garbage and recycling, signage, the Heritage Festival, planters, Canadian flags, advertising events, and the BIA budget.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to email Hyatt at info@vccandle.com.