BIA pulls out of downtown funding project

By John Edwards Simcoe.com August 4 2010
COLLINGWOOD – The Collingwood Downtown BIA is pulling out of funding program between itself, the municipality and the province.

Earlier this year, the BIA applied for and was successful in receiving a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) under its Main Street Program.
The grant was a three-year contribution, for $150,000. The town and the BIA each agreed to contributed $25,000 per year.
Under the program, a staff person would be hired to do market analysis, be involved with planning special events and attracting people to downtown Collingwood.
BIA chair Jeffery Shearer said under the agreement, the coordinator was slated to work in the BIA office, reporting to BIA general manager Sue Nicholson.
“(The goal was) to really take the physical revitalization and extend it into the communications and marketing,” Shearer said.
Shearer said the BIA wanted to be involved in the hiring of the coordinator.
“For whatever reason, senior staff decided they didn’t want the BIA directly involved,” he said. “We only heard a person was hired after the fact.”
Collingwood CAO Kimberly Wingrove and Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier were unavailable for comment prior to press time.
Paula Lehr, who sits on the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce board, has been hired as the downtown revitalization project coordinator.
Shearer told the Connection the BIA and the town held several meetings and believed they had come to a consensus, but said the town decided to go in another direction.
“We had no choice but to pull out,” he said.
The decision to pull out of the agreement was made at a BIA meeting on Friday. The vote was unanimous. Councillor Kathy Jeffery, BIA liaison, was present at the meeting and voted in favour of pulling out.
In a letter addressed to Martin Bohl, director of community development branch for OMAFRA, Shearer said “given the fact the management does not provide for suitable input and direction from the BIA, in our view, it’s not suitable use of BIA funds.”
Councillor Jeffery said the town formed a steering committee for the project. She said the committee has seven members, including downtown business owners and is chaired by former mayor Doug Garbutt.
Shearer said the town and the BIA has had a strong relationship over the past several years but said this could hinder that partnership.
“I don’t think it will be a permanent problem between us but it’s a bit of a glitch,” he said.