The Aldergrove Business Association’s Board of Directors has decided to extend its timeline in attempting to establish a business improvement area (BIA) zone in Aldergrove.
In our 2016 survey of business owners (conducted in partnership with the Township of Langley), the ABA Board heard from business owners on their concerns about Aldergrove’s business environment and determined that a BIA could offer a much stronger support structure.
A BIA would aim to stimulate business and promote Aldergrove’s commercial / retail area through a strategic business plan. If supported, funding would be collected by the Township on Class 5 and Class 6 properties within a defined zone along Fraser Highway.
Connecting with both business owners and property owners is critical in the initial establishment of a BIA. While we’re encouraged by the conversations that we’ve had – the majority of the business owners we’ve talked to have been very supportive of the idea of establishing a BIA here in Aldergrove – it has proved to be very challenging to connect with property owners. Despite our best efforts at trying to make those connections over the last nine months or so, the ABA simply ran out of time to establish a BIA for 2018.
The ABA’s current membership sits at about 100 members, with annual dues of $45 providing a budget of $4,500 a year. While the ABA has always had incredible support from member businesses like Aldergrove Credit Union (ACU), Otter Co-Op, and others when it comes to sponsorship and in-kind donations for our events, our small budget makes it difficult to provide the kind of real support we feel the Aldergrove business community needs. A larger, stable budget under a BIA would also allow for the hiring of an individual to coordinate and lead the support, activities and operations that would bring real value to the businesses in our town.
The ABA is committed to moving forward in a way that is sustainable long-term. The Board has also discussed reforming our membership structure, with tiered fees that would provide the organization with a larger budget and defined goals that would be voted on by members.
There are several options we’ll be discussing with the business community over the next few months. We thank the many businesses who have provided input during the process to date, and we look forward to continuing the dialogue with our members and other businesses in our town.