Business Improvement District (BID) is an arrangement whereby businesses get together and decide;
This all goes into a business plan which is voted on by all those who would have to pay. The BID lasts for a maximum of 5 years and must be able to demonstrate how it benefits the businesses that have founded it.
The Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) was implemented in Ballymena Town Centre following a resounding successful vote by Ballymena town centre businesses.
“In this unprecedented year, supporting the Financial Wellbeing of our customers and communities, and their underlying local economies, is more important than ever to us at Bank of Ireland.
Despite these challenging times within the local wider economy, Ballymena remains a great retail destination. The local businesses have shown great solidarity and fully understand the value of working together to keep Ballymena business and communities thriving in this difficult times.
Ballymena BID still remains an important vehicle of support to a wide range of local businesses, from small independent retailers services to larger high street brands.”
“No one prepared us for the shock of lockdown and what it would mean to our business and staff”, says Kieran McAtamney.
“Thankfully the butchery remained open and we extended our service and customer base through home deliveries.
With our new restaurant, Graze, due to open in the Autumn, we are very encouraged with there turn of shoppers to the town. It’s important we support the BID re-ballot.”
Lesley from Follow Coffee says, “A big thank you to the Ballymena coffee drinkers for supporting us during this uncertain period. As a new management team taking over Follow Coffee,
lockdown stopped us dead in our tracks. Thankfully we took the downtime to carry out a refurb and we were able to operate street side coffee sales from outside the business.
” Further, Lesley adds, “Social distancing is now the new norm and our customers really appreciate the steps we have taken to offer a safe café experience. It’s great to see Ballymena getting back to business with the help of the BID.”
“What a strange period of trading the last 4 months has been! As an essential retailer the store remained open throughout lockdown, continuing to keep key workers operational in the supply of white goods and essential electrical items.” Samuel Moore continues, “Coming out of lockdown has posed some challenges for us but the shop is open and welcoming new and old customers back into Ballymena. More than ever now the town can benefit from BID initiatives.”
“Ballymena BID has worked extremely hard with Council to get Ballymena Town centre open again. Independent retailers play such an important role and they are at the heart of the communities. It has been an exceptionally difficult time for businesses and local retail but I’m really pleased that we are starting to move in the right direction, and we are beginning to see shops across Mid and East Antrim reopen their doors.
“Every business has been affected but their resilience has been inspiring and I am really pleased that there is still so much positivity among our business community.”
“I would like to praise the work that Ballymena BID has done throughout the last few months. It’s clear that the Business Improvement District has provided a stronger voice for businesses to support the changes that have come about as a result of the pandemic.“
Ballymena BID has played a key part, along with Council, in the reopening of the town centre and they will continue to boost growth
EASTER FUN IN BALLYMENA TOWN CENTRE Join us in Ballymena Town Centre this Easter! The Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) has organised a cracking range of Easter entertainment in the town centre on Friday 7th April to ensure shoppers and visitors enjoy their time in the town. The entertainment will see several Easter Characters, Face Painting,…
Ballymena BID Helps Businesses Enhance Digital Marketing Skills Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) is celebrating the completion of a hugely successful 8-week business breakfast series designed to help inform, educate and upskill businesses on their digital marketing stills. The weekly morning workshops were delivered by Ballymena-born James Scullion, founder of multi-award-winning Rapid Agency, a creativity-led,…
Talented Local Artist Brings Colour to Ballymena Town Centre Monday 27 March 2023 Leanne McClelland, a talented freelance artist and designer from Ballymena, has recently been commissioned to deliver a mural in the town centre as part of the Covid-19 Recovery Revitalisation Programme. The programme is funded by the Department for Communities, Department for Agriculture, Environment and…
BALLYMENA BID GIVES HEART-FELT THANKS FOR LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) has given huge thanks to a local shop owner, Sinead Connolly, who has donated a life-saving portable defibrillator to the town centre, following her own need for one a few years ago. Ballymena BID maintains three further defibs in the town (at…
Ballymena Celebrates Biggest Ever Discount Day in History Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) is celebrating record footfall and sales figures at the recent ‘biggest ever’ Discount Day in history. The annual event saw an increase in footfall of 15.5 per cent compared to the same day last year. And the previous week enjoyed a 161…
Bloomin’ Beautiful Ballymena! Local Artist & Garden Centres Transforms Face of Ballymena Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID) has helped transform the town centre in unique way with the introduction of bespoke Shutter Art and new green planters across a series of businesses. The Shutter Art concept, thought to be the first of its kind in…
Ballymena Monthly Artisan Market will return in Spring 2023. If you are a creator and would like to become one of Ballymena Markets Traders, please email Emma: info@ballymenameans.com
Northern Ireland’s top gardening talent was celebrating at the annual Translink Ulster in Bloom awards presentation on Wednesday 23rd March. Hosted at Cultra Manor, the awards event recognised the community-work carried out by gardening enthusiasts, Councils and other public bodies across Northern Ireland. Emma McCrea & Clare Moore from Bid join Mid and East Antrim…
BALLYMENA IS BOUNCING BACK FOR SPRING SHOPPING TRIPS It has been almost 12 months since businesses in Ballymena voted ‘YES’ to at the re-ballot of Northern Ireland’s first Business Improvement District (BID) and since then the town has recorded positive footfall statistics and has welcomed 8 new independent businesses. Two ladies clothing retailers Zarabella and…
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council have teamed up with Ballymena Business Improvement District to encourage dog owners to take the Green Dog Walkers pledge and ‘leave only paw prints’ on our streets. As restrictions continue to ease, local businesses are enjoying a steady increase in footfall within our town centres, so it is important…
Despite challenging trading conditions throughout 2021, Ballymena has had plenty to celebrate, and it’s been buzzing with positivity and community spirit. That optimism looks set to continue as the festive season gets underway as local businesses come together to celebrate recent successes and announce exciting future plans. This month saw the town come alive with…
This week saw the official launch of the Ballymena Business Improvement District’s (BID’s) five-year business plan, which will see over £1M invested directly into Ballymena town centre. Almost 70 attendees, made up of local business owners, stakeholders, strategic partners and board members were welcomed by local businessman Stephen Reynolds who was re-elected Chairman of Ballymena…
On Wednesday 31st of March, Ballymena received some great news. Stephen Reynolds Chair of Ballymena BID and Emma McCrea Bid Manager break the news and give thanks to the the local business community for voting YES and to our business partners for their continued support. Ballot results released by the independent scrutineer, Civica Election…
The deadline has passed, the votes have all been counted, and today, the fate of Northern Ireland’s first Business Improvement District’s (BID’s) second term has been decided… And…. It’s a resounding YES! Ballymena businesses and organisations have once again voted in favour of retaining the Ballymena BID for a further 5-year term. The support for…