History of the Business Improvement Area in downtown Goderich
In 1977, the businesses of Downtown Goderich believed that to maintain a healthy downtown, the efforts of the community had to be pooled and the Goderich Business Improvement Area was formed.
Over the last 33 years, The Goderich BIA has worked diligently to pomote and beautify its unique downtown, from the centre Courthouse Square to the eight streets that radiate from the core to form the downtown.
The parametres of the Goderich BIA are in the form of a large square, which includes all commercial properties within the following streets
- West side of Victoria Street
- North side of Elgin Avenue
- East side of Waterloo Street
- South side of Nelson Street
While a BIA organization has much in common with other kinds of business asociations, a number of features make it unique.
It covers a specific geographic area and can only be established through a by-law passed by the municipal council at the request of the local business community.
A BIA's primary role is to improve the area.
The Business Improvement Area (B.I.A.) logo represents the octogonal shape of the downtown core area in Goderich, commonly known as The Square. BIA Logo
The B.I.A. Bandstand pictured in the centre of the logo is in Courthouse Park located at the centre of the downtown core.
Goderich B.I.A is a legislated, municipal organization, established in 1977, through a by-law passed by municipal council.
The Corporation of the Town of Goderich By-Law No. 30 of 1977, designates the area in the Town of Goderich as the Improvement Area.
The BIA has a Board of Management. The role of the BIA Board of Management is to oversee the improvement, beautification and maintainance of municipally owned lands, buildings and structures, beyond that which is provided by the municipally generally.The Board meets the third Thursday of each month to provide business promotion and improvement functions, strategic planning and economic development initiatives for the BIA.
The Goderich BIA employs one full-time manager and part-time summer staff dependent on grant monies available.
The BIA allows local business people and property owners to join together and with the support of the municipality, and town of Goderich, organize finance
and carry out physical improvements as well as promote economic development in the district.
The main purpose of the BIA is to revitalize and maintain a dynamic local neighbourhood and to promote the area as a business and shopping designation.
B.I.A. Board of Management 2011/2012
Current term runs until November 30, 2012
- Michael Strickland - Chair
- Cheryl Dunn - Past Chair
- Larraine Baechler
- Tom Fincher
- Peter Lane
- Dan Stringer
- Elizabeth Vanden Broeck
- Judy Crawford
- Kevin Morrison
