Fifty-one (51) of the 65 eligible property owners and businesses in the Hess Village area [Hess Street North (Main Street West to King Street West) and George Street (Queen Street North to Caroline Street North)] have voted in favour of creating the Hess Village Business Improvement Area.
The new BIA plans to raise $50,000 annually from a local tax levy to support programming and initiatives to attract more people to the restaurant, entertainment, and personal services focused business area.
The organizers of the BIA movement organized last year’s Hess Village Winter Market as a proof of concept, organized joint promotions (such as Happy Hour in Hess), and are operating a website promoting area businesses.
These existing efforts will be rolled into the BIA.
The creation of the BIA will enable area businesses to access more municipal grant programs.
The Main Street West and King Street West BIAs, both of which are near Hess Village, remain dormant. The City is not including businesses along King Street West in the new Hess Village BIA. This will be reviewed if the dormant BIAs are disbanded in 2026.
Council’s general issue committee meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21. The Hess Village BIA is the 12th item on the agenda.
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Published: May 17, 2025
Last updated: May 17, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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