Newry traders say ‘Yes’ to Business Improvement District
Date published:
Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, has welcomed news that traders have voted to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in Newry City Centre.
A BID allows businesses within a defined area to come together on a number of important issues, including achieving reduced business costs through collective procurement of goods and services, investing in improvements, and agreeing a set of projects which will deliver on these improvements.
Speaking on the decision by Newry City Centre to establish a BID, Minister Storey said: “I very much welcome the 'yes' vote in Newry. This result will give local businesses the opportunity to have a say in which additional services or amenities their own area needs to attract more business. The BID project team and the local businesses deserve to be congratulated on this achievement.”
In a ballot which closed on Thursday 5 November, Newry traders voted to back the BID to drive investment in Newry and give local businesses a greater say in the way Newry is marketed and managed.
Newry is the third of the BID pilot areas that have been receiving extensive capacity-building support and training through the Department for Social Development-funded NI BID Academy to successfully prepare, and vote, for the setting up of a BID in their area. Ballymena and Belfast City Centre have also established BIDs.
Minister Storey added: “This result means that businesses in three diverse areas of Northern Ireland have now given their overwhelming backing to the BID concept by voting yes. They have shown local support and enthusiasm for working together to maximise opportunities for further promotion of what towns have to offer. I look forward to hearing how the projects and activities the BIDs will deliver help to grow the local economy and strengthen our town and city centres.”
Notes to editors:
- Just over 18 months ago, a group made up of the Mosaic Partnership, Place Solutions and the Association of Town and City Management, was established to head up a BIDs Academy. Six pilot areas across Northern Ireland are involved in the Academy and include:
· Belfast City Centre (Belfast One);
· Ballymena;
· Belfast Cathedral Quarter;
· Enniskillen;
· Newry; and
· Strabane - Through participation in the Department for Social Development’s Northern Ireland BIDs Academy, the Newry BID has been working with local businesses to develop ideas for moving forward. These ideas were presented in a BID proposal which was given the green light by BID participants in a ballot which closed on Thursday, 5 November
- The NI BIDs Academy is run by the Mosaic Partnership and further detail on BIDs can be found on their website
- For media enquiries please contact the DSD Press Office on 028 9082 9496 or alternatively you can email press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned