Business Improvement Areas

In partnership with Small Business BC, the City of Vancouver, Western Economic Diversification Canada and Vancouver's Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), VEDC produces both Commercial and Neighbourhood area profiles to support and assist BIAs in:

  • merchandising and marketing decisions of local small businesses;
  • providing relevant market assessment information to new start-ups;
  • helping businesses to evaluate the market potential of new locations;
  • attracting new investment to their areas; and
  • strategic planning within BIAs.

The commercial area profiles describe the business mix, land use, and development potential of the BIAs. Data for the profiles has been sourced through Small Business BC, the City of Vancouver, BC Assessment Authority, Vancouver Real Estate Board, and BIA member surveys.

The neighbourhood market profiles describe the customer base of the BIAs, based on the adjacent neighbourhood. Data for the profiles has been sourced through Statistics Canada’s 2001 Census and Household Expenditure Surveys, BIA market surveys, the City of Vancouver, and the Vancouver Real Estate Board.

 

 

Commercial Area Profiles Neighbourhood Area Profiles
Chinatown
Collingwood
Commercial Drive
Downtown Vancouver
Dunbar Village
Hastings-North
Kitsilano Fourth Avenue
Marpole
Mount Pleasant
Point Grey Village
South Granville
Strathcona Area
West End
Yaletown		 Chinatown
Collingwood
Commercial Drive
Downtown Vancouver
Dunbar Village
Hastings-North
Kitsilano Fourth Avenue
Marpole
Mount Pleasant
Point Grey Village
South Granville
Strathcon Area
West End
Yaletown

Business Improvement Area (BIA) organizations are not-for-profit associations that promote the shared interests of commercial property owners and businesses located within specified geographic areas. Established by municipal bylaw, BIAs are funded through a special tax levy that is collected by the municipality, and passed on entirely to the BIA organizations.

The BIA funds support programs such as marketing & promotion, street enhancement, safety & security, events & festivals, and business development. Each BIA organization is independently managed by a Board of Directors, with autonomy for decision-making and priority-setting.

The City of Vancouver has a formal program to support merchants and property owners who wish to establish a Business Improvement Area. Presently, there are currently 20 BIAs within the City of Vancouver, representing over 15,000 businesses. Many of the businesses that are represented by BIAs are small and locally-owned.

Additional information about Vancouver’s BIAs can be found at the City of Vancouver’s website here.