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United Voice. Collective Strength.

Supporting 18 Business Improvement Areas across Ottawa through advocacy, collaboration, and shared resources.

OCOBIA

Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas

OCOBIA is the unified voice of Ottawa’s 18 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), representing over 6,400 businesses and 128,000 employees.

We advocate for smart policy, support BIA leadership, and champion initiatives that strengthen Ottawa’s commercial communities. Whether you’re a business owner, BIA staff member, or municipal partner, this is your hub for collaboration, resources, and collective impact.

Our Advocacy Priorities

OCOBIA’s work is grounded in advocacy, collaboration, and strategic partnership. Our priorities are shaped by the real needs of our members and the evolving municipal, provincial, and economic landscape.

We focus our efforts in three key areas:

Advocate

We represent Ottawa’s BIAs at every level of government, shaping conversations that impact small business and commercial neighbourhoods.

Resource

We provide tools, connections, and insights that help BIAs grow and lead with confidence.

    Partner

    We collaborate with organizations that share our vision of vibrant, people-centred commercial communities.

      Neighbourhoods in Action

      Across Ottawa, BIAs are leading local change — activating public spaces, hosting events, and supporting businesses in creative, meaningful ways. This section showcases recent successes and collaborative efforts that are shaping the future of our mainstreets.

      BIA Collaboration

      Shop Local Campaign

      OBIAA Awards

      Provincial Recognition

      Downtown BIA

      Expansion + Rebrand

      BIA Collaboration – Rallying Together for Local Business

      In response to ongoing economic uncertainty and the impact of U.S. tariffs, Ottawa’s BIAs have united around a powerful, coordinated message: shop local, support local, and invest in our communities.

      Led by the Centretown BIA, a new pilot project is bringing together neighbourhoods including Glebe, Downtown, Chinatown, ByWard Market, Somerset Village, and others to deliver a creative and community-focused Shop Local campaign. Using a brand ambassador to engage residents on the street, the initiative rewards shoppers who name their favourite local businesses with...

      Across Ottawa, BIAs are leading the way — and being recognized for it.

      At the 2025 Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA) Awards, three Ottawa BIAs were honoured for their outstanding contributions to placemaking, marketing, and community impact. These projects show what’s possible when BIAs collaborate, create, and lead with purpose.

      Vanier BIA – Awards of Merit for their Akoustik Music Series and Rebrand Project

      Glebe BIA – Award of Merit for Glebe Spree

      Downtown Rideau BIA – Award of Excellence for their Comprehensive Marketing Rebrand

      Downtown BIA – Expanded Catchment, Renewed Mission

      The former Sparks Street BIA has officially rebranded as the Downtown BIA, expanding its boundaries beyond Sparks Street to include a significant portion of Ottawa’s downtown core. The change marks a strategic shift — one focused on better supporting small businesses beyond a single pedestrian mall and unifying mainstreet efforts across the city’s centre.

      The expansion brings new businesses into the fold, offering them access to BIA services, advocacy, marketing, and streetscape support. It also reflects the growing importance of cohesive, city-facing mainstreet strategies in post-pandemic economic recovery.

      The Downtown BIA aims to revitalize Ottawa’s core as a vibrant, multi-use destination, supporting everything from office and retail to nightlife and cultural space

      Ottawa BIAs by the Numbers (2024)

      Our coalition represents real economic power — and real opportunity for Ottawa’s future.

      OUR MEMBERS

      Explore the BIAs shaping Ottawa’s neighbourhoods — each with a unique identity, voice, and impact.

      Mainstreets:
      Where Shopping Local Began.

      OCOBIA’s Tariff Resource Hub and Shop Our Mainstreets campaigns help BIAs and businesses access essential data, navigate municipal fees, and promote vibrant neighbourhood economies. This section is built to support your operations — and amplify your impact.