Members

All property owners and business owners located in the designated downtown area are members of the Salmon Arm Downtown Improvement Association, a not for profit society governed by the Society Act and funded by a special levy agreed to by Class 5 and Class 6 property owners. Membership in the Salmon Arm Downtown Improvement Association is automatic for any business or property owner in the business improvement area defined as Downtown Salmon Arm.

Boundaries:

The current boundary of the DIA is from the foreshore area of the Salmon Arm Bay to Okanagan Ave and from 3rd Street SW to 6th Street NE.

Each year during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) the membership of the DIA elects a Board of Directors to govern the operations of the organizations. Individuals interested in sitting on the Board of Directors must submit a completed Directors Application attention to the Nominating Committee.

2011 Board of Directors:

Representatives:

Patti Munro, Community Representative
Katanya Woodruff, Senior’s Representative
Chad Eliason, City of Salmon Arm Representative
Jim Kimmerly, Chamber of Commerce Representative

Mandate:

Founded on the objectives of marketing and promoting the downtown through events and promotional schemes, the DIA has broadened its mandate to encompass a “neighbourhood management” philosophy. With this over arching mandate the following key areas are a focus for the DIA:

1. Revitalization & Beautification
2. Advocacy & Membership
3. Marketing & Promotions
4. Collaborative Programming

What does the DIA do?

The DIA is part of a vibrant movement towards downtown revitalization currently taking place in cities around the world. In North America, downtowns are enjoying resurgence in interest by citizens as they look for places where they can interact more with one another, walk more and drive less, and be categorized as vibrant, creative places. Currently there are more than 1,400 BIAs across North America and more than 60 in the province of British Columbia. These associations continue to build and enhance their neighbourhood’s through cleanliness, safety, security, business development, promotions and event initiatives.

1. Coordinated Efforts – Working together, everyone is able to achieve more than working alone. Whether it be addressing street issues, managing growth and development, or managing special events to increase visitation to the core, the efforts of the Association, its membership, and stakeholders has a dramatic impact in the community.
2. Self Reliance – The structure and mechanism of the Association is used to identify useful neighbourhood projects and allocate money towards those projects. Businesses benefit from the whole area coming together to leverage its resources verses each business trying to work independently.
3. Strong Public Image – The activities and commitment of the Association to improve the neighbourhood through stewardship raises the profile of the downtown and creates an image of a “cared for” area in the community.

In 1974 the Salmon Arm Downtown Improvement Association (DIA) was incorporated under the British Columbia Societies Act as a result of a core group of merchants who organized in 1972 to address issues relating to the downtown business core.

From 1974 to 1988 the Association operated on a volunteer membership basis, primarily as a retail merchants group developing promotions, beautification and marketing projects to improve the business area. During this time the Association successfully worked with the District Council to establish The Downtown Parking Commission and The Downtown Revitalization Area. The Association also worked with Council and other business and tourism organizations to promote Salmon Arm.

In 1988 the DIA was the first association in the province to be established as a Business Improvement Area under the BC Municipal Act. This new act enabled property owners within a designated area to approve the collection of fees for the express purpose of promotion, beautification and marketing of that designated area. The Municipality collects the fees through tax rolls for disbursement to the Association for projects that are approved annually by the membership of the Association and the City of Salmon Arm.

There are two documents that control the activities of the DIA: The City of Salmon Arm By-law No. 3205 and the Articles of Incorporation, Societies Act, Province of British Columbia.

The BC Municipal Act, By-law No. 3205, expressly stipulates that property owners of Class 5 and Class 6 properties within the designated area must agree to be assessed a special levy for a business improvement scheme. Only business properties within the designated area are included in collection of the levy for the area. It does not apply to residential properties. This levy is collected according to a mil rate on the assessed value of those Class 5 and Class 6 properties.

If you create an exceptional place, people will come. One result of this train of thought is the creation of the Town Centre Revitalization Plan. This way of thinking has resulted in the DIA partnering with the City of Salmon Arm and Downtown Parking Commission, among others, to carry out planning and development processes to make Downtown Salmon Arm THE place to be.

From year to year the details of specific programs change, however the intent to improve local, regional and provincial awarenss of all Downtown Salmon Arm has to offer will remain the same. Current program specifics are updated in the news section. Please be sure to check back often to stay current with all that’s happening in Downtonwn Salmon Arm.

Downtown Salmon Arm Communication Strategy:

Marketing/Community Events

Beautification & Revitalization

In an effort to respond to graffiti and "tagging" in the downtown area, the Downtown Improvement Association is embarking on a Graffiti Removal Program and needs your help.

This office will be outfitting contractors with paint and marker removal equipment this week and sending them out to remove these markings from affected buildings and businesses. In order to facilitate this project, we ask property owners to agree to grant access to our contractors (please see attached consent form) so that they may quickly and efficiently remove the vandalism when it appears. It will be the goal of this project to remove graffiti within 48 hours of its appearance. Further to this point, we also ask you to contact our office should you notice a new "tag" in the downtown area.

The DIA will fund this project and will outfit our contractor with 2-3 colors of paint in order to remove the graffiti. If you already have paint or would like the color of your building color matched, please contact our office and arrangements can be made to use your paint.
In order to ensure the long term viability of this project, we ask that businesses receiving graffiti removal services make a donation of supplies such as paint or funds to help cover project labour costs.

Please take the time to fill out the consent form (MS Word format) so that we may remove this vandalism as soon as possible. Feel free to contact our offices anytime should you have any questions or concerns regarding this project.

Meeting Minutes

If you have a password, Click here for access to the last 6 months of meeting minutes.

If you haven't yet received a password, please email info@salmonarmdowntown.com to obtain one.

Documents, Resources and Reports

2011 Annual Report [PDF]
Shuswap Regional Tourism Strategy [PDF]
Train Troubles? [PDF]
2009 Renewal Process [PDF]
Google Map Business Listing – How To [PDF]
Dine Downtown Salmon Arm 2010 Map [PDF]
Do Downtown Salmon Arm Map [PDF]

WorldHost Customer Service Training
Fundamentals [PDF]       Ambassador Workshop [PDF]
For more info on the WorldHost Training – direct your questions 250.803.0156                                                   
or CMcGillivray@futureshuswap.com

Healthy Opportunity and Way (H.O.W.) report is now available for download.                                                 
The report is offered as information to be considered when discussing the state of Large  Scale Development within the City limits of Salmon Arm.
The H.O.W. Report - Retail Demand Analysis [PDF]
The H.O.W. Report - Economic Development Strategy [PDF]

Community-based Business Links

City of Salmon Arm – Business Liscencing
Salmon Arm and District Chamber of Commerce
Business Devleopment Program
Salmon Arm Economic Development Society
Community Futures Shuswap
Shuswap Tourism
Shuswap Construction Industry Professionals

Town Centre Design Guidelines

Building Design
Facade Improvement
Landscaping Design

General Business Links

Canada Business - Government of Canada
MERX - Canada's electronic tendering service easy access to finding government  contracts
Small Business BC – General source of business information
BizPaL - Convenient and easy to use, BizPaL can help you identify regulatory requirements by providing a single point of contact where you can access a   comprehensive list of applicable business permits and licenses.
FrontCounter BC - a single window service for clients of provincial natural resource  ministries and agencies. Offices across the province, natural resource clients obtain all the information and authorizations they need to start or expand a business
Ministry of Small Business and Revenue - This Ministry provides programs and services for small business such as: regulatory reform; the Taxpayer Fairness and Service Code;    the creation of a permanent small business roundtable and PST tax seminars and requirements.
OneStop Business Registry - Provides easy access to business information and online business registry for small businesses throughout British Columbia.
CYBF – A nationally registered charity that helps young adults (18-34) who have great ideas but little money to start and build businesses. CYBF support young entrepreneurs by combining seed-financing up to a maximum of $15,000 with mandatory mentoring.