A BID to boost Ennis

AN Ennis group concerned about the economic future of the county town has come up with an innovative plan in a BID to support and create Ennis jobs.

Councillor Johnny Flynn, representatives of Ennis Chamber and Aoife Madden, chairperson of the Ennis Development Forum, have come together to speak out for the establishment of a Business Improvement District in the county capital.
A Business Improvement District (BID) is a public/private partnership in which business owners elect to make a collective contribution to the maintenance, development and promotion of their commercial district.
It is estimated that this, along with other measures including the Purple Flag initiative, could protect up to 500 existing jobs and create a similar number in a variety of sectors.
Councillor Flynn explained the idea came about as a result of Ennis’ hub town status and its responsibilities in the areas of economic development and job creation within the Mid-West.
“For the future of the town, its citizens, employees and businesses, we need to take action now with several brave and well-planned steps. The first one is the widely supported Purple Flag initiative for a safer and more vibrant night-time economy, which is awaiting progression in early 2012. A second step could be the formation of a BID programme. Combined, these steps could lead by 2020 to the protection of up to 500 existing jobs and the creation of a similar number of jobs, in the retail, hospitality and related industries,” he said.
According to Councillor Flynn’s research and estimation, the town will require up to 8,000 additional jobs by 2020 to address challenges relating to the economic environment, population growth and current live register figures.
“It is my intention to bring forward a notice of motion at the next meeting of the town council to seek support to consider the establishment of a BID company in order to further economic, social and cultural development of a district in Ennis to facilitate the growth of employment close to transport, services, residential areas and amenities as our Ennis & Environs Plan states,” he continued.
Councillor Flynn explained that, based on research by the Cornell University in the United States, the total employment in the Times Square area in New York has increased by over 14% following the introduction of its BID in 1991.
A BID does not replace the services offered by the town centre; the services of a BID supplement and further these services and often cover areas including marketing, visitor assistance programmes, capital projects and improvements.
He added that a BID provides the basis for a more attractive business district with the ability to react quickly to needs from the business community, based on a steady and reliable funding source and is, as a result, better able to compete with nearby retail and business centres.
Brian O’Neill, incoming president of Ennis Chamber added, “The Chamber supports moves toward a possible BID initiative as it would be a great opportunity for business owners to improve their business streets/area, which they are most familiar with, in the most efficient manner for their own business, job protection and the district as a whole.”
Rita McInerney, Ennis Chamber CEO stated, “The BID process has worked very well in Dublin and elsewhere, as shown just two weeks ago by a 78% vote in favour of renewing the BID that ran for the last three years in Dundalk. That level of support shows that it is a worthwhile concept in particular in a recessionary environment.”
Aoife Madden, chairperson of Ennis Development Forum, which has up to 3,000 facebook friends on its Ennis jobs facebook page, agrees.
“Recent experience shows that it is only by employers and employees working together with others such as Ennis Town Council that we can keep Ennis a strong employment centre and to grow jobs. The BID idea may well be the best way to go forward building on recent successful partnerships including the Ennis street radio, free parking initiative during Christmas and the Ennis Share the Feeling Christmas video,” she said.
The concept of BIDs originated in North America and has been in existence in the UK since 2003, with an estimated 1,000 BIDs now in the US and over 100 in the UK.
The largest BID in Ireland (and indeed in the whole of Europe), is the Dublin City BID, which has been in operation since March 2008.
On a recent visit to Dublin, Councillor Flynn met with the Dublin BID’s CEO, Richard Guiney and his operations manager, who shared their experiences.
“A BID in Ennis presents a great opportunity for the town, providing it has solid input from all on what is required. We have some of that data available from the Ennis 2020 documentation. I propose to supplement that information with a Needs and Assessment Street Survey for business owners early in the new year. For 2012, I am planning to continue my work with my colleagues at the town council and in partnership with businesses and agencies to stand together confronting the challenges of employment in Ennis.”