Item - 2019.EC6.22

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1.  Requested the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the Manager, Business Improvement Areas to report to the September 5, 2019 meeting of Economic and Community Development Committee on:

a.  development of Business Improvement Areas in all of the Scarborough community area east of McCowan Road; and

b.  efforts being made to improve business relationships with the City of Toronto for the purposes of improving employment opportunities and the establishment of business within all the Scarborough community area east of McCowan Road.

To address the rising rates of unemployment within Scarborough it would be beneficial to explore the formation of Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) within the business communities to encourage a partnership with the City to create thriving, competitive, and safe business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses.

The City of Toronto currently has over 80 BIAs across the City representing 45,000 members working towards street and sidewalk beautification, marketing and promotional campaigns, street festivals, clean street / graffiti-removal campaigns, and crime prevention strategies.

Beginning the conversation to introduce BIAs to the area of Scarborough east of McCowan Road would benefit the entire community.