1. How much does a business expect to pay?

The Inglewood BIA tax rate is 0.246, which is determined yearly by the Board. An assessment of an Inglewood business is an average of $57,939, with the average BIA Tax to be $1,420. The median assessment is $35, 282 in Inglewood, with the average BIA Tax to be $848.

The Average is $1,420 with Inglewood businesses. The Median is $848 with Inglewood businesses. This is the average/median range an Inglewood business pays.

2. Why is the expansion including industrial areas in Ramsay and Inglewood areas?

Industrial areas are home to creative industries, light manufacturing, breweries, studios, and start-ups. These industrial zones are emerging economic hubs within Calgary, and a BIA assists in catalyzing revitalization, business scale-ups, investment attraction, and filling vacancies by providing support. Traditional industrial planning is being re-aligned with the City of Calgary’s inner-city growth policies to encourage integrated, walkable, mixed-use communities.

3. Why now?

Growth pressures and development are occurring with population and investments. Many projects with The City of Calgary, developers, and private investments are advancing quickly in both areas of Ramsay and Inglewood. It is important to have a BIA to fill a missing gap as the ‘glue’ and ‘voice’ of the business community, being at the table as a connector, facilitator, negotiator, planner, and advocate.

4. What are the benefits for industrial areas versus traditional retail areas being included in a BIA?

The benefits add to your sales and savings with increased visibility and promotion of the area, enhancements to safety and security, improvements to reduce crime and social disorder, and increases value with grants, shared services, and business development. These are just a few high-level benefits to outline, but overall, an industrial action plan with a BIA will serve as a tactical guide based on industrial needs for support.

5. If I am happy with it being the same, why does the area need to improve?

There are many community pressures coming from all levels of government, due to growth in population and investments coming into Calgary and Alberta. Ultimately, change is inevitable, and the pressure of growth occurs.

It is important to be mindful, intentional, and purposeful with changes in a pressured area to receive the best benefits for the neighbourhood. The BIA acts as an advocate to raise awareness, steer conversations, and collaborates with partners and stakeholders on behalf of the business community. The BIA assists in shaping the neighbourhood as it is the voice of the neighbourhood. It is important to improve an area overall to increase the quality of life and increase business resiliency.

6. How will the additional cost of the levy with a BIA improve the area?

The levy is a reinvestment into the area as a collective whole, with support for improvements. Through these improvements, there will be an increase in business growth, resulting in increased ROI as part of sustainability overall. It is a cost with each business, but with each business paying into a collective, the impacts are 100x stronger with meaningful results.

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7. How is transparency, being inclusive and having accountability demonstrated?

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Transparency, being open and inclusive, and accountable are values in the BIA. As part of a transparent and inclusive process, the BIA budget is decided by Board members, shared with ratepayers at the AGM in October with financial reports, reviewed and approved by City Council, and shared with all ratepayers as a mailout. An open door policy and collaborative culture is encouraged. To be part of decision-making and strategic direction of the BIA, we encourage ratepayers to participate in volunteering as Board members and committee members. 

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8. If the BIA does not expand, what does that look like?

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With the saying, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, it will be parts. There will be less collaboration and support with stakeholders and partners and more siloed communication. Business development for investment, attraction, and retention will be slower, and focusing on individual efforts and pocket locations. Developments will continue to develop ‘TO’ versus ‘WITH’, aligning top-down strategies and interests. Overall, business development may be a struggle with businesses by a lack of economic community development coordination, collaboration and support, fostering sustainability and resiliency.

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