Message From The Chair

Season’s greetings
From the BIA

As many of you have observed, the BIAA has never been so busy and as 2009 comes to a close, I want to ensure our final dispatch of the year is reflective of the positive outcomes with which the BIA has become known.

The BIA is here to support private enterprise and the hard work of entrepreneurs and small business. Our staff team, led by our Executive Director and supported by our Project Coordinator, have fielded hundreds of calls and gone beyond the call of duty time and again to ensure our members’ needs are addressed through education, community planning, and collaboration with our municipal and community partners including PELA CFDC, Harvestin’, Taste The County, The Prince Edward County Arts Council, The Tourism Destination Alliance, and the Chamber.

Our newsletters, including our electronic eblasts, our blog, and our Facebook presence have kept members abreast of coming events, hot topics, and trends that have the potential to impact the economic prosperity of downtown Picton.
Committee work has resulted in direct advocacy with our municipal partners in such areas as beautifying the streetscape, installing benches, fixing light posts, the retail business holiday act, and the Picton parking study, to name but a few.
Events, including: Maple, the Jazz Festival, and Music Festival generates increased economic activity and brings visitors to the many shops, cafes, and restaurants that make Picton unique.

The BIA had a banner year in 2009 and finished the year with a modest surplus enabled in large part by a three year revitalization grant which has been carefully budgeted and monitored in 2009. As a result, our 2010 business plan ~ which will be presented at our AGM on January 28, 2010 ~ will reflect a
0% levy increase, something I suspect is important to all of us.

On behalf of the Board of Management, I wish you the warmest of holiday seasons and economic prosperity in the coming year.

Judy Edwards
Chairperson

Members on The Move

BIA members are on the move again. While a number of new businesses have opened their doors this fall, still others have shuttered their properties to go south for the winter. If you are on the move, please let us know so that we can update our on-line directory and data base.

Olympic Torch Relay: Don't forget to line Main Street as the Olympic Torch travels through Town on Tuesday December 15, 2009. Watch for our very own BIA member, Doug Seeley (Jimodi Jeans) as he proudly represents our community as an Olympic Torch Bearer during the Torch Relay. THe BIA has a limited number of hand flags for distribution on the day of the event.

By now, I'm sure you've seen the Christmas Newsletter and have already put some important dates into your calendar for 2010. Before then, however, we welcome you to the Annual BIA Open House - Wednesday December 16, 2009, but let us know if you are able to join us, if only for a few minutes so that we know how much Prince Edward County Cheer to have on hand. Call us at 613.476.7901, ext. 212 before Monday.