Meaford is looking into possibly re-establishing its Business Improvement Area.
Council approved a motion from Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney to have staff provide a report detailing the levy impacts for businesses in the former BIA, and to also engage with businesses and property owners to potentially expand the BIA during its meeting on Monday.
Meaford’s BIA was dissolved in 2022 and replaced with a Main Street organization, Main Street Meaford. Its goal was to advance local culture, while preserving the history of the community and pursue economic opportunities for downtown Meaford.
But the Deputy Mayor says the new organization has been unsuccessful in generating the community revitalization and improvement of the downtown area as anticipated.
She adds the former BIA was an organization which supported downtown businesses and events and drew businesses to work together for the betterment of the downtown core.
During the meeting, Keaveney shared a community survey in which several responses indicate they would consider joining a BIA.
Coun. Tony Bell says, “I’m glad to see that there was a survey taken and that people want to put their names forward.”
Bell adds as the past council liaison to the BIA, he would like to resume this role should the BIA be reestablished.
Coun. Harley Greenfield says he would also like to see the return of the BIA and its possible expansion.
“I know that has been suggested and discussed to a degree in the past, but I don’t think anything ever happened,” says Greenfield. “I think the time is right now and I wouldn’t have any idea where the new boundaries might fall in, but it is certainly worth looking into.”
CAO Shawn Everitt says there is a lot of work needed to reestablish the BIA, and would likely be a 2026 project.
He adds staff would be able to bring back more information in about three months.
