Business Improvement Associations
A Business Improvement Association (BIA) represents a business area of the City that is specially funded to assist businesses and property owners in financing effective marketing, promotional and revitalization programs.
A BIA provides both the organized structures and the source of funds to enable business areas to improve their commercial viability.
Each BIA is run by an association of property owners and business tenants whose goal is to promote and improve their business areas. A BIA provides both the structure and resources to enable local business areas to improve their commercial viability.
Benefits of Business Improvement Associations
For property owners and tenants, a BIA is an effective way to organize and finance initiatives that would not be available to individual businesses by any other means. A BIA helps local businesses create a thriving, competitive and safe business area.
For the City, a BIA provides a highly motivated group within the community with the means to improve their businesses and stimulate the local economy.
Business Improvement Association Funding
Once the budget is approved by the BIA members and ratified by City Council, funds are raised through an annual levy on all commercial and industrial properties within the designated BIA's boundary. Calculation of this levy is based on the value of each property's commercial and/or industrial assessment. The levy is collected by the City and once the levy is collected by the City, the funds are passed on to the BIA Association to manage and fund initiatives.
Business Improvement Associations in Surrey
#330 10362 King George Boulevard
Surrey, BC V3T 2W5
Phone: 604-580-2321
CEO: Elizabeth Model
5748 176 Street,
Surrey, BC V3S 4C8
Phone: 604-576-3155
Executive Director: Paul Orazietti
#200 - 7380 King George Boulevard
Surrey, BC V3W 5A5
Phone: 604-593-2294
Executive Director: Philip Aguirre
#203 - 15957 84th Avenue
Surrey, BC V4N 0W7
Phone: 778-564-1595
President: Sandeep Gill
Additional Business Partners
In addition to the Business Improvement Associations, Surrey is also home to membership-based business associations that support, advocate and provide networking opportunities for their members. Surrey’s Economic Development Division networks with the following organizations and industry associations:
Surrey Organizations
- Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Ocean Park Village Business Association
- South Asian Business Association
- Simon Fraser University, Surrey
- South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce
- Surrey Board of Trade
- Surrey City Development Corporation
Federal, Provincial and Regional Organizations
- British Columbia Ministry of Technology, Trade and Economic Development
- Business Development Bank of Canada
- Front Counter BC
- Government of British Columbia
- Government of British Columbia - Small Business BC
- Government of Canada Business Services for Entrepreneurs
- Industry Canada
- Metro Vancouver
- NEXUS Program
- Service Canada
- Partners - Industry Canada
- BC Registry Services
- Western Economic Diversification Canada
Economic Development Organizations
- Economic Development Association of BC
- Economic Development Association of Canada
- International Economic Development Council
View Surrey's complete Business Directory.
