New Brunswick’s Heart beats in it’s Downtowns

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a geographically defined zone within a community, primarily consisting of non-residential properties. In New Brunswick, BIAs typically encompass the area traditionally recognized as the “downtown” of a community. The BIA framework allows business communities to collaborate on initiatives such as promotional campaigns, beautification efforts, and revitalization programs to enhance their area’s appeal and competitiveness.

The 23 BIAs in New Brunswick are uniquely dedicated to fostering vibrant downtowns by advocating for the interests of local businesses, property owners, and communities. BIAs represent the purest form of grassroots economic development, funded directly by non-residential and commercial property owners through self-imposed levies on their property assessments. These funds are reinvested to support initiatives that enhance the economic, cultural, and social vitality of downtown areas.

The Role of BIAs in New Brunswick

The Impact of BIAs

In 2025, Business Improvement Associations in New Brunswick will represent $2,007,711,100 in assessed property value, in New Brunswick.

Established in 2023, the DNB Investment Initiative, titled: Heart of our Communities has proven to be a crucial tool in revitalizing our downtowns and main streets, offering significant economic and social benefits. With a $500,000 annual contribution from the Province of New Brunswick’s Department of Local Government, in 2023, the program successfully leveraged $874,578 in cost-shared investments, catalyzing over $5.2 million in economic activity across the province—a 6:1 return on investment. This initiative has bolstered businesses, enhanced infrastructure, and improved public spaces in urban and rural areas alike.

Keys to BIA Success

The success of a BIA depends on:

  • Business Community Support
    Strong engagement and commitment from the business community are essential.

  • Collaboration with Municipalities
    Building a productive relationship with the municipal council is critical, as their approval is required for budgets and proposed improvement projects.

How a BIA Operates

A BIA empowers business communities to take a self-help approach to revitalization through:

  • Defining Boundaries
    The business community determines the geographic scope of the BIA, focusing its efforts on this area.

  • Organizational Structure
    The creation of the BIA Corporation provides the framework needed to plan and manage improvement and promotional activities effectively.

  • Collaborative Funding
    The levy system ensures that all businesses and property owners within the BIA contribute to its initiatives, fostering a shared commitment to improvement.

  • Cooperative Initiatives
    BIAs operate similarly to shopping malls by pooling resources for centralized management, coordinated promotions, and shared improvement projects.