HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – The post-tornado year was one of adaptation and change for Goderich’s downtown property and business owners, the Goderich BIA board co-chair told members at its annual general meeting last night.
“I think it was all positive. I think it all led to a very good outcome,” said Dan Stringer, who shared the job of chairing the BIA board with Tom Fincher in the year leading up to its 35th AGM.
The BIA, which generates almost $800,000 in property taxes and has one of the largest payrolls in the area, has worked with a
Dan Stringer. File photo.
number of local economic development groups to “bring Goderich back to a more vital economic region,” he said, in a recap of post-tornado activities. It has also invited a representative from Goderich Tourism to its meetings, recognizing that with the recent closures of Volvo Motor Graders and Bluewater Youth Centre tourism becomes more important to economic development.
“A lot of what we do as a BIA board is react to things that happen at council, to things that happen around the town, to things that happen in the BIA area,” said Stringer, noting that in the past year the BIA has been in discussions with the town over the structure of its Communities Initiative Program, which grants funds to downtown businesses that make various types of improvements. In the coming year, it will face challenges in changes to the zoning bylaw.
“There will be more on this in the future but in the meantime it does add to our stress load,” he said.
Guest speak Brian Thorne, vice-president of member solutions for United Communities Credit Union, applauded the work the BIA has done over the past 12 months.
“You guys are a force of inspiration for so many communities. You’re setting a mark and an example for so many other communities to really learn how to rally and to face tough and difficult times and recover with such great flare,” he said.
This year, the BIA broke with tradition and decided rather than handing out annual awards, it would recognize new businesses that have opened since the tornado and make a donation to the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital.
“[Otherwise] we would have to give everyone – every property owner, every business owner – an award this year to recognize that everyone had to do some change, improving, upgrade as a consequence of the tornado,” Stringer said. Thirteen new businesses have opened in downtown Goderich since the tornado: Miga’s Ballons + More, Pat & Kevin’s on The Square, Gentle Dental Hygiene, Roxy’s Video & More, the Culinary Poet, Curves, United Communities Credit Union, Prie-Form Outdoor Living, Cyndy’s Hidden Treasures, Scoops, C’est La Rose Antiques, Just Laser Clinic and Status Panache Day Spa.
As BIA board co-chairs Stringer and Fincher wrapped up their last official duties on the board, a long-time BIA member recognized the two businessmen for more than 40 years of combined service to the BIA.
“They worked, they soldiered, they’re caring, they’re competent and they never let anybody down. They’re tuned in, they listen and no one will outwork them. So we’re grateful for their contributions and they will be missed,” said Rob Evans.
The new slate of directors for 2013 are: Elizabeth Vanden Broeck, Paul Ross, Dean Whelan, Michael Nephew, Larraine Baechler, Anne Ferguson, Donny Rivers, Bill Brittain, Michael Strickland and Cheryl Dunn. Kevin Morrison and Judy Crawford, who are Goderich councillors, will also sit on the board.
