Locke Street BIA

A business improvement area is a non-profit organization that represents a geographically designated area. There is no fee to join a BIA if your business is located within this geographical area (property owners pay a levy on top of their annual taxes which goes towards funding the BIA’s activities).

What is a BIA?

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a “made-in-Ontario” innovation that allows local business people, commercial property owners and tenants to join together and, with the support of the municipality, to organize, finance, and carry out physical improvements and promote economic development in their district. There is no fee to join a BIA if your business is located within this geographical area (property owners pay a levy on top of their annual taxes which goes towards funding the BIA’s activities).

Benefits to Members

The two primary activities of the BIA involve promoting the area as THE place to walk, shop,  dine and access vital services in Hamilton and advocating on behalf of its member businesses. 

We promote the area through annual events, beautification (banners, planters, holiday decorations, public art, and more) and by sponsoring important downtown events & initiatives.

 

We’re also here to help you navigate the downtown community as a business owner. Whether you are looking for information on grants, to get in touch with the proper city department or contact for an issue, or simply reaching out with any concerns you might have we do our best to use our avenues to help solve problems and advocate for BIA members. We share opportunities and programs that can be of support for our members as well as events and news of businesses through our bi-monthly e-newsletter and our social media.

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

Businesses within the BIA’s boundaries automatically become members and pay a BIA levy along with their property taxes to the municipality. This levy supports the activities approved by the membership of the BIA. This structure reflects the principle that all who benefit should be required to bear their fair share of the cost of the program. In addition, the arrangement provides a secure source of funding for BIA activities.

A BIA promotes economic development in their district, carries out physical and beautification improvements, and advocates on behalf of the members. BIA’s also engage in and implement special events – such as festivals and farmer’s markets – and work to identify community partnerships and other programming.

A Board of Management that oversees the activities of the BIA is elected by the members of the BIA and is approved by City Council. The Ward Councillor of the area is also appointed to the Board of Management.

Interested in Doing Business on Locke Street?

If you would like to learn more or enquire about available properties for commercial space, contact us at hello@lockestreetshops.com

Subscribe to receive Updates

Locke Talk is the e-newsletter sent by the Locke Street Business Improvement Area to keep both members of the BIA and interested supporters of Downtown up-to-date with activities and issues in the core of our community.