Business Improvement Area (BIA) formation in Ottawa
The Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA) is a member-driven, non-profit organization that serves as an advocate, resource, and partner in the development, promotion, and support of Business Improvement Areas (BIA) in Ottawa.
As part of OCOBIA’s mandate, we work with business groups throughout Ottawa that are interested in learning more about the BIA formation process. This includes providing resources, liaising grant-writing, supporting the drafting of support letters, and speaking on behalf of the Ottawa’s BIA in support of the Made-in-Ontario economic development tool.
Business and commercial property owners in areas interested undertaking the formation process should start by reviewing information provided under the City of Ottawa Economic Development Services webpage. The BIA formation process requires a municipal by-law (Section 204 – Ontario Municipal Act) If the by-law is passed, the BIA is created via the formation of a municipal board of management of the City of Ottawa that is guided by the Province of Ontario’s Municipal Act.
There are a number of key elements to consider when developing a BIA formation project.
They include:
- Formation of a steering committee which could take the form of an existing business association;
- Development of a strategic plan with the mission, vision, and goals for the BIA;
- Establishment of a proposed boundary for the BIA; and,
- Evaluation of a proposed annual budget to begin the process of assessment of the commercial property levy rates across the boundary.
OCOBIA and the City of Ottawa provide BIA formation support. Interested groups can reach out to OCOBIA for steering committee, and strategic planning support, while the City of Ottawa provides boundary and levy assessment services.
In addition, the City of Ottawa offers steering committees formation research grants each fall.
If you would like to discuss the BIA formation process with OCOBIA, please contact its Executive Director, Brad Fougere, at executivedirector@ocobia.org