McCausland Encourages Applications To Become NI’s First Business Improvement Districts

SOCIAL Development Minister Nelson McCausland is encouraging areas throughout Northern Ireland to apply to take part in a Business Improvement District (BID) pilot scheme.

Thexa0BIDxa0consortium, appointed to provide support and capacity building for thexa0BIDxa0scheme, has now launched a process forxa0areas to make expressions of interest in becoming axa0BID. Speaking about thexa0BIDsxa0scheme Minister McCausland said: “Becoming axa0BIDxa0enables Council and local traders to self manage and self-fund improvement projects, which aim to tackle specific local issues such as attracting more visitors to the area. There are around 140xa0BID’sxa0in the UK in towns and cities of all sizes, from small towns with onexa0BIDxa0such as Clarkston or Giffnock in Scotland, right up to cities like Birmingham or London, both of which boast a number ofxa0BID’s. “I would encourage all areas considering establishing axa0BIDxa0to take the time to register their interest in becoming one of the pilots. This is a valuable opportunity to receive extensive support from experienced practitioners who have overseen the establishment of successfulxa0BIDsxa0in many other towns and cities in the UK.”]]>