By Spencer Sterritt

Downtown Nanaimo BIA dissolves for now

Mar 11, 2017 | 8:15 AM

NANAIMO — After having the funding rug pulled out from underneath them, the Nanaimo Downtown Business Improvement Association has called it a day.

According to association president John Cooper, a resolution was put forward to dissolve the association with 22 months left of their strategic plan.

He said many businesses in the association had initially agreed to join and pay higher taxes because of the city’s matching $250,000 grant, which was discontinued at the end of January.

“No one on our board feels like it makes much sense for us to continue to take the levy from our property owners without the City holding up their end of the deal,” Cooper said.

According to a list of events provided by association executive director Corry Hostetter, all events and initiatives such as the Multicultural Festival 2017 and graffiti removal, have been cancelled.

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The idea of staying together for another 22 months was proposed, according to Cooper, but wasn’t seriously considered.

“We all looked at trying to limp along for the next 22 months as something that’s really delaying the inevitable and we might as well have that conversation now.”

At the end of their strategic plan, the association would have essentially re-started after a community vote. Cooper said they’ll spend the next nearly two years recouping and recovering and the association may return in 22 months.

“That’ll be up to the City of Nanaimo and the community,” he said.

Though the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Assocation has been shuttered, funding is still available for downtown events.

Through the Downtown Event and Revitalization Fund, $117,000 is available for community organizations or groups looking for help to put on their event.

Applications can be found online.

Spencer.sterrit@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit