Strabane BID Urges Businesses to Vote YES by Sept 23rd

Strabane BID Urges Businesses to Vote YES by 23^rd September

Strabane BID are encouraging businesses to submit their votes as soon as possible and certainly before the 23^rd September as they seek to continue providing support to town centre businesses.

Town Centre Development Manager, Emma McGill, stated “We are entering the final push now and we really need businesses to submit their votes. Strabane BID has been working hard to increase engagement with businesses and ultimately be a strong collective voice to ensure the needs of businesses are considered and met at both local and national level. In the current climate BID services can be vital, providing marketing and promotional support, advice and access to funding, lobbying to local and central government and a constant focus on improving the town centre and increasing footfall. Our projects, such as the InStrabane gift card, strengthen our local economy and make sure that spend is retained within our town which has helped our businesses hugely in recent months.”

BID are a key organisation working on behalf of businesses in the town centre and Chairman, Kieran Kennedy, is eager to point out that without BID a number of crucial elements will be lost to the town;

“BID has made a significant contribution to businesses and the wider Strabane area. The InStrabane gift card has secured over £80,000 local spend in the area but without BID this successful initiative will disappear and be lost to the town. BID put a lot of effort into marketing and promoting both local businesses and the town itself, focusing on a Shop Local, Love Local ethos. In the past year alone we have developed a Strabane Back on Track initiative with Strabane Chronicle showcasing our local offering, we run a strong and focused festive campaign including additional lighting, tree at the Tinnies and competitions to encourage footfall and most recently we have just released another promotional video showcasing local businesses, why they are passionate about BID and are voting YES for another term. If BID aren’t successful in the ballot this will all be lost and businesses will have no ongoing support. We will also lose our recently appointed Town Centre Manager who has really helped to increase engagement and ensure that BID’s business plan is fully implemented, BID worked hard to secure a Town Centre Manager on behalf of businesses and we don’t want to lose that asset.”

“For these reasons I would encourage each and every business to vote YES right now to ensure your business can access crucial support over the next 5 year period. Our new business plan sets out what we intend to deliver, with a refreshed BID board and Town Centre Manager we are in a key position and eager to deliver for our town centre.”

Strabane BID Vice-Chair, Michael Kelly, emphasised the importance of businesses submitting their vote, “We won’t be successful if businesses don’t submit their YES vote so we are asking everyone to show their support and get their vote posted now. There are many areas who would love a BID which makes it even more important that we don’t lose ours so please get your votes in now!”

To vote businesses need to complete their BID ballot, sent to them by independent body CES (Civica Election Services) and return in the stamp addressed envelope provided to reach CES by 23^rd September 2021. The BID ballot result will be announced on Friday 24^th September.

To download a copy of Strabane BID’s business plan visit www.instrabane.org/renewal-ballot