Archive

Grand Valley BIA, community conducting bike art campaign

July 28, 2016   ·   0 Comments

The Grand Valley Business Improvement Area (BIA) has invited businesses within the community to participate in a public art campaign. In late April, the BIA approached local businesses to recycle old bicycles by painting them bright colours and showcasing them around the community with baskets of flowers attached. Aimed at drawing more residents and visitors to the downtown, the bicycle initiative highlights the community’s creativity in a unique way. The campaign began May 19 and will run until October 15.

Quickly after the BIA placed the colourful bikes around town, local residents began participating in the initiative by painting their own bikes and placing them in private gardens in both the urban and rural parts of Grand Valley.

Adapted from a similar initiative in Orillia, the BIA is very active and eager to bring tourism to Grand Valley and to better develop the local economic scene. “As a breath of fresh air, it’s wonderful to see the BIA take on an initiative that provides local businesses with an opportunity to draw more visitors downtown while further actively engaging our rural and urban communities alike in a wonderful community art project.” said Councillor Taylor, member of the Grand Valley BIA.

“It’s clear that the merchants we have participating in the BIA are stepping forward as community leaders to enhance local economic development, downtown beatification, and assisting in the development of a platform for tourism in Grand Valley.”

With a new Board of Management, the Grand Valley BIA has been focusing on various initiatives to spur local investment in the Downtown, draw tourism to the Town of Grand Valley, and showcase the natural beauty of the local shops on the Grand River.

Local business owner and Chair of the Grand Valley BIA, Marie Jordan, praised the new Board of Directors for jumping into their new roles quickly and added that the bikes have brought positive attention to the Main Street. “It’s great to see local business come together to try something new. It’s always a risk, trying something different, but I’m hearing positive comments and it’s even better to see local residents participate by installing their own bikes on their properties and in their gardens. It’s certainly made the Town a lot more colourful!”

The BIA plays an important role in the revitalization and retention of Grand Valley’s hub of retail activity. Working alongside businesses and residents throughout the community, the BIA is actively involved in marketing, business recruitment, streetscape improvement and investment in seasonal decorations for ‘the Town.

Readers Comments (0)