Active Argyle BIA swings into action [hat]
Since a one-time $50,000 start-up grant from city council in May, the Argyle Business Improvement Association has been active in the east London neighbourhood.
With further financial support from the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, they have set up a new website, an office at 1815 Dundas Street and have hired two new staff members to help with public relations and administration.
They had a summer student in the office recently too and executive director Nancy McSloy, who approached city council to get the association off the ground initially, said the association has been a successful networking tool for east end businesses so far.
"The businesses are really responding to what we're doing," said McSloy, adding over 50 businesses are participating in networking events hosted by the association. "We're working on membership and we're really happy with the partnerships we're creating, not just with businesses, but the community in general."
The association hasn't been afraid of raising their voices to local politicians either. They are one of the main proponents behind an idea to add surveillance cameras on Dundas Street, an issue still being considered at city hall.
"The businesses are very much on board," McSloy said. "It's more of a preventative maintenance."
The cameras would target crime hotspots the association has noticed on Dundas Street between Highbury Avenue and Carlyle Drive.
"When you have drugs or prostitution, they normally gather in places … anywhere there's a phone booth, maybe a bar, a coffee shop or even a variety store where they can go in and out quickly," said Rose Martin, a staff member with the association, adding it's about finding areas cameras will help prevent crime.
In an effort to promote local business and spruce up streetscapes, the association is borrowing an idea from Dorchester and considering banners featuring area businesses that can be seen from the road.
"They are very personal," Martin said. "And that's what we wanted to do here, make it more personal."
Right now the business association is in the midst of some charity work in east London too, recently launching their first Cold Hands/Warm Hearts drive. They are encouraging Londoners to donate winter mitts, hats and scarves to decorate a Christmas tree in their office. After December 21, the clothing will be donated to Keeping Kids Warm, a start-up local charity that knits and delivers the winter items to kids in London who would otherwise not have any this season.
Donations can be made at the association's office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
"We're already off to a good start," said McSloy. "Especially in the schools, there're a lot of kids that probably go to school without mittens."
And approaching its one-year anniversary in the spring, becoming an official business improvement area in London will be on the table — but that's not the main goal, according to McSloy.
"The end goal is to keep doing what we're doing," she said. "Keep creating partnerships, strengthening and building bridges."
With further financial support from the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, they have set up a new website, an office at 1815 Dundas Street and have hired two new staff members to help with public relations and administration.
They had a summer student in the office recently too and executive director Nancy McSloy, who approached city council to get the association off the ground initially, said the association has been a successful networking tool for east end businesses so far.
"The businesses are really responding to what we're doing," said McSloy, adding over 50 businesses are participating in networking events hosted by the association. "We're working on membership and we're really happy with the partnerships we're creating, not just with businesses, but the community in general."
The association hasn't been afraid of raising their voices to local politicians either. They are one of the main proponents behind an idea to add surveillance cameras on Dundas Street, an issue still being considered at city hall.
"The businesses are very much on board," McSloy said. "It's more of a preventative maintenance."
The cameras would target crime hotspots the association has noticed on Dundas Street between Highbury Avenue and Carlyle Drive.
"When you have drugs or prostitution, they normally gather in places … anywhere there's a phone booth, maybe a bar, a coffee shop or even a variety store where they can go in and out quickly," said Rose Martin, a staff member with the association, adding it's about finding areas cameras will help prevent crime.
In an effort to promote local business and spruce up streetscapes, the association is borrowing an idea from Dorchester and considering banners featuring area businesses that can be seen from the road.
"They are very personal," Martin said. "And that's what we wanted to do here, make it more personal."
Right now the business association is in the midst of some charity work in east London too, recently launching their first Cold Hands/Warm Hearts drive. They are encouraging Londoners to donate winter mitts, hats and scarves to decorate a Christmas tree in their office. After December 21, the clothing will be donated to Keeping Kids Warm, a start-up local charity that knits and delivers the winter items to kids in London who would otherwise not have any this season.
Donations can be made at the association's office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
"We're already off to a good start," said McSloy. "Especially in the schools, there're a lot of kids that probably go to school without mittens."
And approaching its one-year anniversary in the spring, becoming an official business improvement area in London will be on the table — but that's not the main goal, according to McSloy.
"The end goal is to keep doing what we're doing," she said. "Keep creating partnerships, strengthening and building bridges."
2011-12-07 12:17
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