|
Pop Up Market Street Sale
Plans are under consideration to hold a Pop-Up Market in mid-August. We have held this type of event in the past to support our independent businesses.
A conversation on this will begin at our February board meeting including a decision as to where the event will be held within our BIA zone.
|
|
Business Contacts
Do we have YOUR email address?
 We currently use MailChimp to get our newsletter bulletins out to our membership. However, there are a number of businesses for which we have incomplete contact information and use regular postal service to reach them with our newsletters. This creates extra costs on postage, envelopes, paper etc. These are funds that the business association could use for other items.
We have engaged Judy Allan to help us obtain, with permission, any missing contact information. Getting our messages out to our businesses electronically is important in maintaining a clear and consistent communication with our businesses. We also want to ensure the most complete and up-to-date contact information is included in our online business directory.
|
|
|
Alberta Avenue In the News
Several Alberta Avenue businesses and events were featured in the media over the last few months. Here are some of the highlights!
Mama Asha Cafe - Edmonton Journal
"Mama Asha offers comforting Somali Cuisine"
Green Onion Cake Man - The Star Edmonton
"Edmonton's king of green onion cakes serving up piping hot, flaky pastries at new restaurant"
Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival - Global Edmonton
"It was the best yet!"
|
|
|
Business Safety Matters
Having a safe and secure BIA has always been and will continue to be a top priority for Alberta Avenue Business Association. Recently the City of Edmonton and Neighbourhood Empowerment Team produced a multi-topic flip up booklet called “Business Safety Matters”.
Topics include:
* Introduction
* Lighting
* Visibility
* Alarms and Video Surveillance
* Beautification
* General maintenance
* Lock up your property
* Be aware and alert of your surroundings
* Loss Prevention
* Back Alley safety
* Aggressive Panhandling around business
* Secure your vehicle at work
* Training and Resources
A link to Business Safety Matters can be found below for your convenience and reference.
|
|
Even in the polar vortex, graffiti can be an issue. Graffiti is not only visually degrading but costly to building owners. You can play a part in combating graffiti.
Capital City Clean Up offers $750 of FREE professional graffiti cleaning to property owners each year. Any time you have been tagged, the quickest and easiest way to remove the tag is apply for the program.
|
|
Business Learning Session
In November, we held a successful Business Planning seminar, at The Carrot Coffee House, one of our valued businesses, and presented by BizPlan World. Attendees learned the important key components of building a business plan. As well, Joachim Holtz, our Executive Director and a former career banker spoke to the group on how to actually sell your completed business plan to a lender.
We received positive feedback from our attendees and plan to hold more planning seminars this year. We'll be sure to keep you updated on our plans.
|
|
So, What is a BIA?
Alberta Avenue Business Association is one of 13 BIA’s or Business Improvement Areas in the City of Edmonton. 
In December of 2018, after a comprehensive period of much consultation with key stakeholders including BIA Executive Directors, the City’s Local Economy / Economic and Environmental Sustainability Dept. released a new ‘BIA Toolkit”. Understanding what a BIA is and how they work is of prime importance to anyone business or property owner operating within a BIA zone, such as Alberta Avenue BIA.
The “BIA Toolkit” is comprised of four parts:
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Key People and Responsibilities
Part 3: Operating a BIA
Part 4: Working with the City You can access the complete toolkit using the link below.
Also, take a look at ‘Step by Step’ BIA Tax process. A hard copy of this was mailed out last year along with a newsletter to all businesses on Alberta Avenue. As well, a copy of it was also handed out at our AGM last September.
We hope these are helpful and valuable pieces of information for you.
|
|
Executive Director
Changes in the Job Description
Our current Executive Director, and sole staff member Joachim Holtz, has been in our business associations’ employ since January 2008.
Since that time we have all seen many changes on Alberta Avenue in various ways.
In order to bring us more into alignment with the current day, the board of directors ‘Executive Committee’ is in the process of preparing a new job description for Mr. Holtz. A refresh of the duties and responsibilities of it will more closely match the expectations and direction of the current day that the board has for the position.
Other Matters
The following are on the horizon and are expected to be touched upon, to one degree or another, during this year’s operation:
- Strategic Plan
- Alberta Avenue Revitalization: Continuing further discussion with City
- BIA Council
- Alberta Avenue District Council
- AABA: 2018 Audit
- AABA: 2018 Annual Report to Executive Committee (City)
- Vacant and Derelict Properties
- Safety & Security
- Joint AABA /EPS Project
- The urgent need for development
- Business Attraction & Attention
- Beautification
- Graffiti Management
- Litter Pick Up and Back Alley Dumping
- Façade Program and Development Incentive Program
- Edmonton Community Development Corporation
- Edmonton Exhibition Lands
- BIA Economic Indicators Project
|
|
|
Our Executive Director
 He is the front line contact to our business association office. If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact him directly. Mr. Holtz plans to increase the time he will spend visiting businesses on an ongoing basis.
He can be reached at 780.471.2602 or director@alberta-avenue.com at any time. He will also come to your business at your convenience.
Mr. Holtz represents the Business Association at numerous meetings throughout the year including the Edmonton Council of BIA's, Alberta Avenue District Council and Community Exhibition Grounds Committee.
|
|
|
Engagement
The success of any business association depends on the degree of engagement by its business members. We encourage our business members to get more involved in the happenings of your association.
Get involved by:
- Contacting our Executive Director with any questions, suggestion or concerns you may have. Drop in to our AABA office for a coffee or tea, or Joachim can meet with you at your store.
- Connect with the AABA Board Chair. Let him know what your biggest issue of concern is in the running of your business at the moment on Alberta Avenue and what you think the solution to it should be.
- Attend the Annual General Meeting in September. It is your chance to ask questions from the floor.
- Make connections! Do you know who your businesses next to you are? Or located across from your business? Why not drop in to see those businesses owners. Networking is a powerful thing.
- Share a story about your businesses with us! Let us know how we can get you on our social media platforms, blog and participate in monthly promotions.
|
|
|
Our 2019 Board of Directors
- Jim Nguyen (Downtown Auto)
- Amanda Nielsen (Norwood Dental Associates)
- Christy Morin (Carrot Community Arts Coffee House)
- Jesus Gonzalez Jr. (Paraiso Tropical Food Market)
- Senait Tamere (Simba’s Den Pub & Bistro)
- Jonathan Rivero (Qi Creative Inc.)
- Suzanne La Grange (ATB Financial)
- Charity Durowaa (Kasoa Tropical Market)
- Trevor Stride (Plaza Bowling Co.)
- Laura Truong (T & D Noodle House)
|
|
|
For more information on Alberta Avenue Business Association please do not hesitate to contact Joachim Holtz C.MGR, Executive Director at 780-471-2602 or email at director@alberta-avenue.com.
|
|
|
|
11739 – 88th Street NW
Upstairs Office B
Edmonton, AB
(780) 471-2602
alberta-avenue.com
|
|
|
|
