Cooksville BIA on CBC News: What’s happening with the Hurontario LRT?
Cooksville BIA was featured on CBC discussing the ongoing impacts of the Hurontario LRT construction on our local businesses and community. We continue to advocate for transparency, support, and solutions that keep Cooksville thriving during this transition.
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 Municipality to create thriving and safe business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses. By working collectively as a BIA, local businesses have the resource capacity (funds and people) to actively enhance the quality of life in their local neighbourhood and the Municipality as a whole.
Ontario BIAs fall under provincial legislation and are regulated under the Municipal Act, therefore they are a “Corporation of the Municipality”. BIAs are NOT “not-for-profit” corporations under the Ontario Corporations Act and should not be confused with one. A BIA has unique and specific connections with the municipality as a private-public partnership, one that supports community and economic development with funds raised solely for that work outside of the general taxpayers.
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A local municipality may designate an area as an improvement area and may establish a board of management, to oversee the improvement, beautification and maintenance of municipally-owned land, buildings and structures in the area beyond that provided at the expense of the municipality generally; and to promote the area as a business or shopping area.
