Efforts are underway to rebuild the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, to help businesses thrive. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

Renewed effort

New Business Improvement Association taking shape to boost downtown Nanaimo

Aug 19, 2020 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — A new non-profit society hopes to bring more people and commerce into downtown Nanaimo.

The Downtown Nanaimo Business Association was officially registered with the province earlier in 2020. It’s guided by 12 directors, all downtown business owners except for Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce CEO Kim Smythe.

Smythe told NanaimoNewsNOW they aim at continuing rejuvenation efforts downtown and provide assistance to the many businesses in the area.

“Downtown perhaps has gotten a bad rap from the community and the Business Improvement Association is the answer to getting those problems resolved and a better future for downtown,” he said.

The Association would offer help with advertising, promotions and events while also working to boost security in the area and use funds gathered from members to beautify the area.

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Downtown Nanaimo has been without such an organization since early 2017, when the last BIA was shuttered after a dispute with the past City Council.

Half of their funding came from the City in the form of grants equalling $250,000.

Smythe confirmed funding of the new Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association will solely come from members.

“It keeps things unmessy and unmuddy, so the organization can define its own future and isn’t beholden to another organization.”

Downtown Nanaimo has faced significant challenges in recent years, even with the City of Nanaimo trying to rejuvenate the area with event grants, a substantial amount of condo development and tax exemptions.

A major event downtown was the Chamber’s Night Market, which drew thousands to Commercial St. every Thursday during the summer for the last two years.

Smythe said they viewed the Night Market as a key building block to establishing a “new future” for downtown.

“We were trying to overpower the feeling downtown that all was lost. Bringing 5,000 people down to Commercial St. every Thursday night we put a whole new look on peoples faces, a whole new perception of what downtown could be.”

Much work is still left to be done before the new association can start collecting funds to rejuvenate the area.

Directors are working with the City to define the boundaries of the business improvement area. Once clear boundaries are established, a petition will go to all business owners within the area asking them to vote for the creation of an official Business Improvement Association.

If successful, the City would then create a bylaw allowing money to be collected from member businesses in the summer of 2021.

Smythe said until then, promotions guiding traffic to downtown Nanaimo will begin in the fall and run until Christmas.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt