Our mandate is to Promote, Maintain, and Beautify the Downtown area.
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BIA stands for the "Business Improvement Area". The Downtown Woodstock Business Improvement Area (BIA) was established in 1976 through a municipal by-law. The Downtown Woodstock BIA is a not-for-profit organization, under the direction of a volunteer board of management (please see below).
Our mandate is to Promote, Maintain, and Beautify the Downtown area. The Downtown Woodstock BIA enables a large group of independent businesses and property owners to work together for a positive future. Currently, we have approximately 300 member businesses within the boundaries of Bay/Beale Street in the East to Mill Street in the West and from Hunter Street (North) to Main Street (South). As established within our constitution, every business within the BIA area is automatically included in the BIA membership and contributors to the BIA budget through a special levy (tax). The cost of a membership (tax levy) is based on the properties commercial assessment. The BIA promotes Downtown Woodstock. All downtown BIA’s have the same goal – to encourage more traffic and ultimately increase traffic and sales in their business district. We strive to create a vibrant community and a prosperous local economic environment. The BIA acts as a unifying body for our membership – working to make Downtown Woodstock a “Destination” not only for the retailers and restaurants, but for our professional and cultural assets as well. Our efforts are dedicated to ensuring a healthy economic environment for our community and making Downtown Woodstock a Destination – a place in which to shop, dine, work, play, live or invest! Minutes are available by request or by contacting the City of Woodstock clerk's department and/or by visiting the City of Woodstock website. |
Downtown Woodstock BIA District Map |
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Friendly, one-of-a-kind shops, to professional and government services.
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The Downtown Woodstock BIA offers a wide range of ongoing and special marketing initiatives. The BIA engages in a number of extensive advertising and marketing opportunities over the course of the year in cooperation with the local media.
"Destination Downtown" shop, dine, work and play - It's all here in Downtown Woodstock, and we market (and promote) the fact that Downtown Woodstock offers everything for everybody! Downtown Woodstock has it all ... from friendly, one-of-a-kind shops, to professional and government services to the fact that over 3000 people work downtown. Not to mention the delicious array of restaurants from cafes to fine dining. Downtown Woodstock offers arts, entertainment, culture and more. We can also leverage great ad rates with media partners, and cooperative/subsidized rates with radio and print outlets. |
Social MediaThe BIA works to promote Downtown Woodstock through various social media channels. If you would like our help to spread the word about your business to our followers, please mention and follow us on Twitter @WoodstockBIA, Facebook @DowntownWoodstock or Instagram @downtownwoodstockbia.
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We Work with the City of Woodstock...
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The Downtown Woodstock Business Improvement Area continually works to improve the attractiveness and cleanliness of downtown. We work with the City of Woodstock and our Members to ensure that downtown continues to look great to the local citizens and visitors to our community. As a business owner and/or property owner, it is essential that you work with us to ensure that your storefront is attractive and clean and that your sidewalks are clear of snow, ice and debris. Together we can ensure that Downtown Woodstock remains attractive and clean!
The Downtown Woodstock BIA is responsible for Decorating Downtown with the beloved Santa House, light standards and festive greenery during the holiday season. The BIA also promotes the city's Community Improvement Plan, which offers a wide variety of facade improvement programs, and many construction loans and subsidies. |
Meet our Board Members |
All Downtown Woodstock BIA Board of Management meetings are open to the public. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail the BIA office for the invitation link.
The next Board of Management meeting will be taking place virtually on August 6th at 10:00am. All meetings are recorded and the minutes are available through the City of Woodstock website. Your current volunteer BIA Board of Management, Board of Directors (as of December 2020) are as follows: Steve McGregor (Chair): Your Neighbourhood Credit Union Melanie Burns (Vice Chair): Scout HR Solutions & At The Office Ron Fraser (Council Representative): City of Woodstock T.J. McNamara (Director): Crabby Joes Tap & Grill Philppe Lehner (Director): Habitual Chocolate Ryan Shelton (Director): Wilson and Markle Jewellers Mark Ellis (Director): Forshire Group Inc. & Ironworks Kitchen Fadel Zabian (Director): Zabians Menswear |
Call for Nominations for BIA Board of Management
2 Vacant Positions
You’re invited to help shape Downtown Woodstock for the future. Your expertise and passion for Downtown Woodstock combined with your desire to work in cooperation and positivity with your fellow members is what shapes our community for the future.
The Woodstock BIA is led by a Volunteer Working Board of Management comprised of elected BIA members and one member by City Council. On behalf of the BIA Board of Directors, we invite you to submit a nomination form for a Board of Director position on the BIA Board of Management. We currently have two vacancies on the BIA Board of Management for the remainder of the term ending December, 2022.
To ensure the BIA members have a Board that is well positioned to represent the key functions of the BIA we are looking for individuals with expertise in the following categories:
So what does a BIA Board do? A BIA Board is committed to:
If you are interested in nominating yourself or another business owner within the BIA district, please find attached a nomination form as well as Board of Management election information. These forms MUST be returned to the Downtown Woodstock BIA no later than September 25th, 2020 at 5:00pm. You can submit these forms either electronically or physically drop them off to the BIA office at the address below.
Only Downtown Woodstock BIA members (or business owners/managers located within the BIA district) can apply for a BIA Board of Management position.
Nomination forms can be found here and must be submitted to be considered:
We look forward to receiving your nominations!
The Woodstock BIA is led by a Volunteer Working Board of Management comprised of elected BIA members and one member by City Council. On behalf of the BIA Board of Directors, we invite you to submit a nomination form for a Board of Director position on the BIA Board of Management. We currently have two vacancies on the BIA Board of Management for the remainder of the term ending December, 2022.
To ensure the BIA members have a Board that is well positioned to represent the key functions of the BIA we are looking for individuals with expertise in the following categories:
- Marketing
- Beautification
- Economic Development
- Financial
- Legal
- Operations
- Staking holder Relations
So what does a BIA Board do? A BIA Board is committed to:
- Providing strategic direction to BIA initiatives that support the overall purpose of the BIA
- Representing the interests of the Woodstock BIA membership both as a whole and as a representative of your industry
- Attending all regulatory scheduled Board meetings (approximately 9 per year lasting up 1.5-2 hours)
- Supporting BIA Board approved initiatives via: aiding in dissemination of information to members and public; presenting positive and respectful representation of approved initiatives, participating as appropriate in approved initiatives, providing knowledge/expertise as it may pertain to BIA activities and initiatives
- Attending select BIA and/or City of Woodstock meetings required
If you are interested in nominating yourself or another business owner within the BIA district, please find attached a nomination form as well as Board of Management election information. These forms MUST be returned to the Downtown Woodstock BIA no later than September 25th, 2020 at 5:00pm. You can submit these forms either electronically or physically drop them off to the BIA office at the address below.
Only Downtown Woodstock BIA members (or business owners/managers located within the BIA district) can apply for a BIA Board of Management position.
Nomination forms can be found here and must be submitted to be considered:
We look forward to receiving your nominations!