Ottawa is home to 19 BIAs found in downtown, suburban and rural settings. Together, they represent more than 6,400 property owners and businesses who employ 120,000 people and generate a quarter of a billion dollars in municipal tax revenue each year. Ottawa BIA’s invest an additional $7.4 million each year into their neighbourhoods. On-street beautification initiatives, marketing and promotional campaigns, street festivals, clean-street campaigns and public safety initiatives are but a few examples of their important work. They advocate for the interests of their business members and the greater community on a host of issues and serve as catalysts for positive change.

OCOBIA is a unified voice of the 19 Business Improvement Areas within urban, suburban and rural Ottawa who, when combined, represent more than 6,400 businesses and their 100,000 employees to:

• Advocate and influence policies that affect BIAs and their surrounding communities
• Protect the interests of BIAs and communicate the importance of their impact on local economies and tourism
• Promote strong, successful and effective BIAs in the City of Ottawa
• Implement joint initiatives that benefit groups within OCOBIA on issues and projects, including studies and research in marketing.
• Facilitate and share the exchange of information, experiences and ideas among BIAs through a centralized resource