Vancouver Chinatown BIA Society Information

In the 1990s, the Chinatown business community, through the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association (VCMA), began to search for an effective vehicle to fund and implement projects to revitalize the area. Other areas, such as Gastown and Downtown Vancouver had formed Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to revitalize, with visible success. With the consent and support of the merchants and the property owners in the area, Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association planned to establish the BIA in the Chinatown sub area. After several attempts in the 1990s, the VCMA succeeded in obtaining the business and property-owner support required to establish the Vancouver Chinatown BIA Society which incorporated in 2000. The VCBIA is modeled after successful BIAs in other sub areas of Vancouver and mandated to benefit Chinatown’s business prosperity. VCBIA’s focus is on improving the safety & cleanliness, promotions & events, and working with partners to continuously improve Chinatown. We welcome any and all efforts to improve our public realm and engagement in our community. What is a BIA? A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a non-profit association of commercial property owners and business tenants who join together to promote and improve the economic vitality of their business district. The City assists by helping the merchants and landlords to form BIAs. Once a BIA is formed, it is managed by a volunteer board comprised of property owners and business tenants. BIA funds are used for staff wages and implement BIA activities. The City has a continuing role assisting with contacts between the BIA and City departments, facilitating the annual funding process, and monitoring BIA budgets. BIAs obtain funding through property tax, much like a Local Improvement Levy. Each property owner’s share of the annual BIA budget is proportionate to their share of the total taxable value within the BIA boundaries.