The Walkerton Business Improvement Area (BIA) has been dissolved.
A release from the Municipality of Brockton says, “Council made the difficult decision to dissolve the group after months of working with its volunteer board of management to help it get on a solid footing after a series of staff resignations.”
The municipality says the BIA had been without a full-time manager since last fall, despite best efforts to recruit new personnel. Over the past few months, all but one of the BIA’s directors have resigned from the board.
After thoughtful consideration, Brockton Council voted last month to support the dissolution of the BIA to allow
businesses to have direct control over their own promotions.
Brockton staff were lending support to the BIA to assist with recruitment efforts, promotions, communications and
legislative requirements.
Staff will continue to support all Brockton businesses through various means, and $6,000 has been set aside in the Brockton budget to cover the Hometown Christmas Market and related promotions this year. Staff will manage the event in
collaboration with business owners.
Mayor Chris Peabody says in a statement, “We worked very hard to keep the BIA going and find solutions,” adding, “staff worked closely with the board and assisted in many ways, by adopting the Walkerton Dollars program, for example, helping with staff recruitment, meetings and legislative issues, and promotions such as last year’s spring and Christmas events in
downtown Walkerton.”
The municipality notes, “There are about 300 BIAs in Ontario, made up of commercial and industrial property owners and their non-residential tenants, who join together under a volunteer board of management to carry out improvements and promote economic development within their designated area. They are accountable to their respective municipal councils, who levy a fee from each business within a designated area to cover costs. (Chambers of Commerce are independently run, and charge
membership fees).
Brockton says, because of the BIA dissolution, it will not be issuing invoices to business owners for payment of the 2022 levy.
The Municipality says it has also transitioned the successful shop-local Walkerton Dollars program into Brockton Dollars,
administered by staff. Brockton
Brockton says it will continue to provide support to its business community through the Brockton Economic
Development Committee and the Community Development Coordinator, who oversees the municipality’s business
recognition program, façade grants, Brockton Dollars, visitor services and tourism promotion, and communications
about business-related matters and economic development.
Meanwhile, businesses are being encouraged to sign up for the Brockton Business e-Newsletter. Tourism-related businesses in Brockton, such as restaurants, accommodators and attractions, are promoted free of charge on the visitwalkerton.com
website, and at the seasonal Visitor Information Centre at Lobies Park.
