About Downtown Stratford BIA
The Downtown Stratford Business Improvement Area (BIA) was founded in 1973 and is made up of eight downtown small business and property owners, a volunteer board, and a dedicated staff, who work in partnership with the City of Stratford to create a thriving, competitive, and safe business area that attracts shoppers, diners, tourists and new business. By working collectively as a BIA, our local businesses have the organizational and funding capacity to be catalysts for civic improvement, enhancing the quality of life downtown and the City as a whole.
The Downtown Stratford BIA consists of a Board of Directors that oversees and is responsible for all the operations, activities, and decisions of our BIA. The positions are a four-year term that run concurrently with city council terms. Our Board comprises eight small business owners/employees, or property owners and one City Councilor. Four staff also support the operations in the role of General Manager, Membership and Animation Liaison, Content and Social Media Manager, and Administrative Assistant.
We hope you agree that Stratford’s Downtown is truly a “Main Street” we can all be proud of.
AIMS and OBJECTIVES
- To maintain Downtown Stratford BIA as an active and viable area.
- To beautify Downtown Stratford and to encourage preservation of downtown's architectural heritage, including appropriate building renovation by private businesses.
- To encourage more use of the Downtown Stratford businesses by both local residents and by visitors.
- To encourage a forum in which the downtown business community can develop opinions and programs which will benefit the social, economic and physical quality of life in Stratford.
- To work in a co-operative manner with city officials and other business groups, never neglecting to maintain Downtown Stratford’s unique position.
- To promote Downtown Stratford as a special place in which to shop, work, visit, or live.