ABIA reflects back on a successful 2012, looks forward to 2013

Posted January 11, 2013

Press Release - The board of the ABIA wishes to share with you the highlights of this past year and is looking forward to continuing the strengthening of the ABIA Business Area.

Our monies and energies were focused solely on delivering upon our Strategic Plan and the cornerstones of Physical Enhancement, Marketing, Economic Development and Organization/Development. The Strategic Plan for the ABIA can be viewed on our website at www.allistonabia.com.

In early 2012 the ABIA launched a new marketing initiative CULTIVATE YOUR LIFE, which is illustrated throughout the ABIA in all promotional materials. CULTIVATE YOUR LIFE creates the impression the association is trying to achieve as they believe it is the experience and fond memories that keep people coming back again and again.

Event frames were created and mounted throughout Alliston to promote the ABIA event schedule, locations: New Tecumseth Recreation Center, The Monument Building, Details, Memorial Arena, and Rotary Pool.

ABIA pamphlets were distributed throughout Simcoe County tourism sites on 2 separate occasions.

Ongoing is Facebook Page development, The ABIA promote and monitor their Website that is upgraded to ensure an impactful reach to New Tecumseth as well as the broader catchment area. The ABIA has a fantastic relationship with the press achieving the front page of the New Tecumseth Times and the Herald at least 5 times in the past year as well as regular mention when we request assistance for promotion of events, additionally the ABIA receives regular promotion on Rogers news cast, have been guests on Daytime Simcoe, promotion of events on CTV news as well as local radio stations rock 95.7, and B101.

The Mayor's Breakfast, The ABIA co- sponsored and executed a very successful Mayors breakfast in March of 2012 Chair Mike Jerry communicated to a full house at the Gibson centre about the exciting projects happening within the ABIA including the launch of the ABIA new marketing initiative "CULTIVATE YOUR LIFE" and guest speaker Marcus Westbury spoke eloquently about renew castle a project that inspired Mayor MacEachern to create RenewTecumseth.

It is with great pleasure that the ABIA provide a member of our board of directors to sit on Re New Tecumseth, Treasurer Ken Brisco. Renew New Tecumseth is an innovative initiative modeled by Mayor Mike MacEachern to renew the downtown cores of Alliston Tottenham, Beeton while building entrepreneurial talent. At its essence, it is a community based economic development project connecting vacant spaces with short-term tenants to revitalize our towns. The artists, fine crafter and other self-employed entrepreneurs using these spaces will attract new customers to our downtown to revive our local economy.

The purpose of this project is multi-faceted. The first goal is to create an environment to facilitate business opportunities for self-employed artists and/or entrepreneurs. The second goal is urban renewal, to bring the downtown core of our communities back to life by: filling vacant storefronts; improving the appearance of our Main Streets; encouraging investment within New Tecumseth.

During the 2012 budget deliberations the ABIA was successful in illustrating the need for council to provide an additional by-law officer and the purchase of a new sidewalk sweeper along with additional staff compliment to help ensure our downtown sidewalks are always kept clean.

ABIA hired a graffiti abatement company in 2012 to achieve expedient removal of all graffiti, the program has been extremely well received enjoying great success and will be ongoing throughout 2013, please contact Christine 705-435-1787 if you have any graffiti removal needs or have any question about the program. It is ALL of our responsibilities to ensure the areas facing the public are inviting.

ABIA is working with Town Officials concerning the Structural Integrity of Properties currently vacated within the downtown core.

In May of 2012 A motion to approve a grant in concurrence with the Town of new Tecumseth CIP (community Improvement plan) was approved by the ABIA for ABIA merchants and service providers to a maximum of 10 percent of the total CIP application grant. The ABIA will provide funds upon approval of the CIP application by the Town of New Tecumseth.

A recent trend in urban communities has been to allow parking spaces to be utilized as patios as a means of augmenting the public realm, animating the urban environment and allowing for economic opportunity and flexibility within a tight urban fabric. The ABIA requested council to allow ABIA restaurants to create such spaces as a pilot project and were granted this opportunity for the 2012-2013-patio season. For more information on this pilot project please contact Christine at 705-435-1787.

ABIA Potato Festival was a wonderful success again this year. We continue to promote the ABIA Membership to Promote their businesses on the Saturday where the exposure to potential customers is outstanding. In the efforts to further sustain this wonderful weekend, new events were scheduled in addition to the classics to attract more visitors to our area with the Highlights being the Bed Races, Mashed Potato Contest, Potato Salad Contest, and the West End Movie Night.

The development of the ABIA's "CRACK and BACK" program, was implemented to remind all Business and Property Owners that the sidewalk from the first "CRACK" back to your premises is our responsibility to keep clean. That said, we should all be responsible to ensure the ABIA area is litter free.
ABIA were co-sponsors for Summer Solstice Run to promote the Retail Area.

The ABIA co- sponsored the RCMP Musical ride June 16, 17 in an effort to increase the increment foot traffic within the BIA. This marquee event attracted over 2800 people per day and Alliston was included on Tourist information throughout Canada as one of the stops. Alliston was actually the first stop for the ride on their return from performing for the Queen in London on her Diamond Jubilee.

The ABIA promoted and supported through staff the small business week events at the Gibson center where sessions on human resources, technology and communication were all well received.

ABIA coordinated with the BeetonTottenham BIA to present the town wide Frightfully Fun Halloween event on October 27th and although it was a wet day more than 200 children came out for the festivities.

A new pilot program was launched where five businesses were provided with large flower pots for the exterior of their storefronts to create a better curb appeal, the businesses are responsible for the quality, content, and care of the pots to a high standard throughout all of the seasons or they lose the use of the pots. The program was so successful it will be expanded in the spring of 2013. Contact Christine 705- 435-1787 for further information.

Flower pots were refurbished by the new public works staff dedicated to New Tecumseth BIA's.

The ABIA further strengthen its relationship with various town departments through a number of meetings including Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Bylaw.

The ABIA, Chamber of Commerce have been working to further our relationship with the Command at Base Borden.

The benches at the post office were removed and replaced with new benches.

The ABIA supported the second year of the farmers market on Mill street every Saturday from May through to October. In 2013 the ABIA is looking to further expand the market. Anyone interested in selling their wares, please contact Christine.

The Town of New Tecumseth established an Economic Development Advisory Committee in 2005 with a mandate to develop recommendations and strategies respecting economic development matters that may impact on the Town of New Tecumseth and to provide comments to staff and Council on matters related to the attraction and retention of businesses and other economic development matters.

The Committee is comprised of nine members - two industrial/commercial representatives, three members of the public, one member from the agricultural community and three members of Council. The ABIA is pleased to have their coordinator attend and participate in discussion at EDAC.

ABIA coordinated with the Town of New Tecumseth Economic Development Department Business Retention and Expansion study. The final report should be available early in 2013.

ABIA undertook a street count study with results to follow in 2013.

The ABIA have a continued working relationship with CLASS. CLASS was engaged to spend an additional day per week helping us keep our ABIA clean and beautiful creating a sense of pride for all involved another great partnership.

The Hometown Christmas on November 27th hosted by the ABIA included reindeer, cookie decorating with the Chamber of Commerce, greetings from the brave men and women soldiers of CFB Borden, decorating of the town tree, and of course Santa.

We wish to invite all business and property owners to reach out to your board members, share your views, attend the board meetings and most certainly attend the upcoming General Meeting.

Alliston Business Improvement Association
Board of Directors
Chair Mike Jerry, Barbs Clothes Closet.
Vice Chair Sherry Ellison, Details.
Secretary Rory MacKinnon, McDonald's.
Treasurer Ken Brisco, Brisco Furniture.
Director Rose Taylor, Taylors Jewellers.
Director Sylvia Munro, The Pet Shop.
Director Roham Davoodian, R+P Farms.
Director Heidi Mackenzie, Paper Moon Lloyd's Gallery.
Ward 1 Council Bob Marrs.
Mayor Mike MacEachern.
Coordinator Christine Brayford.

Click here to send a Letter to the Editor.