Gravenhurst BIA announces it's winding down
Gravenhurst Council was told the Town’s BIA will close, at the December 17, 2024, meeting.
Councillor, and BIA member, Erin Strength, advised, “It’s been a long difficult struggle to get to where we are today.”
She said that during the last board meeting on November 5th the remaining 5 members agreed to “go into dormancy.” “It was tough to get the that point but we made it, we did it, and we voted to go dormant.”
Strength suggested it is as a positive step, as the current board needs a break. “Everybody on the board currently is spent as far as time and effort and ideas.”
She said that a meeting will be held January 10th for “finalities” of dormancy. Once this formal vote is made it will remain as such for the remaining term of Council.
She added that she believes the BIA will make a come back, however, she’s not sure in what capacity, whether it will remain a BIA or another association reflective of the downtown core. “It’s just that everybody, for what we have right now, needs to take a break.”
Councillor, Randy Jorgensen, emphasized the importance of notifying all members and property owners given the money that’s been collected over the years, and inquired about where those reserves will go.
Strength advised that reserves were used to cover holiday lights downtown.
Director of Finance Services/Treasurer, Ross Jeffery, advised that over the next few years the reserves will “assist finance staff to meet the financial obligations made by the current BIA.”
He added that if the BIA doesn’t continue in the future the Municipal Act requires the reserves to go to the Town and will be used at the discretion of Council, with the likelihood of it being used for the downtown core, given that’s where the money came from, rather than being put in a “bigger pot.”
Councillor, Penny Varney, expressed sadness about the closure and mentioned being on the board of the original BIA. “That was an amazing BIA because we had a lot of support because we had a lot of businesses in the Town and there was lots of support for the BIA, and that’s the unfortunate thing right now is we have so few retailers on the BIA area.”
She added, “Hopefully more businesses come to Town that want a BIA business.”
Strength confirmed that the Town will notify those with memberships at the January meeting and they will have additional information then too, although the current lack of participation is an example one of the problems - “to get people together to be aware of decisions being made to downtown.”
CAO, Scott Lucas, advised that a report will be presented to Council in an upcoming meeting that will outline further details, including about the January meeting, where the reserves stand, and ongoing steps.
