BIA Support Model

Business Improvement Areas

Supporting Strong, Resilient Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)

Major Partner’s Team– Role and Services (High Level)

The Business Improvement Office serves as the primary liaison and partner to Calgary’s Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), providing leadership, coordination, and targeted support to help each BIA operate effectively and deliver value to its members.

1. Lead legislative requirements

Facilitate and coordinate requirements under the Municipal Government Act and Business Improvement Area Regulation including:

  • Report to Council on an annual basis to appoint BIA board members and approve the BIA budgets and tax rates.
  • Report to Council on a request basis for BIA establishments, change in boundaries requests, and disestablishments.
  • Facilitate the review and submission of audited financial statements to Council.
  • Ensure compliance with the BIA Regulation.

2. One-Window Support for BIAs - Operational Support

Provide one-window support for BIA operation needs to support effective problem solving and improve internal coordination by:

  • Being a single point of contact to triage and coordinate responses and solutions to BIA operational issues,
  • Leading a coordinated response to key issues facing BIAs including Clean and Safe,
  • Providing consultation and support to BIAs to deliver programs, services and resolve issues,
  • Liaising internally with other City of Calgary Business Units and collaborators on strategic planning, problem solving, delivery of municipal services, and operational issues,
  • Supporting BIA engagement in City initiatives and programs,
  • Incorporating BIA perspectives in City future state plans and policies.

3. One-window support for BIAs - strategic governance & capacity building

Provide access to information and resources to support BIAs to meet legislative requirements, implement strong governance practices, and effectively plan to meet their members’ needs by:

  • Supporting BIAs in developing strategic plans and actions, 
  • Providing resources and training for staff and board members to promote governance best practices,
  • Supporting BIA Boards in governance questions and inquiries,
  • Attending BIA Board meetings as requested,
  • Incorporating the BIA perspective(s) into the City’s future-state planning.
    • Examples include Tomorrow’s Chinatown, The Business-Friendly construction policy, and Downtown Strategy.

4. Enhance access to City programs and funding

Facilitate and support funding opportunities and agreements while promoting/advocating for continuous improvement of funding programs by:

  • Advising and coordinating internally to support BIA access to grants for activations and other activities,
  • Managing the Parking Revenue and Reinvestment Fund to support BIA-led investments in their areas that benefit the broader community. 
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