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About Downtown Improvement Area

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About the OSDIA

The Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area (OSDIA) was formed by the Downtown Business community in 1973 under a by-law of the Corporation of the City of Owen Sound. By Law 2006-113 (replacing 1973-73)

Governed by the Ontario Municipal Act the provincial mandate for all DIA/BIAs is:
"A local municipality may designate an area as an improvement area and may establish a board of management, (a) to oversee the improvement, beautification and maintenance of municipally-owned land, buildings and structures in the area beyond that provided at the expense of the municipality generally; and (b) to promote the area as a business or shopping area."

Beyond the basic provincially regulated mandate, the OSDIA has established its own strategic vision and mission which remain at the core of who we are and how we conduct business.

Vision Statement

The vision statement of the Owen Sound DIA is Growing a vibrant, safe and fun Downtown.

Mission Statement

Our mission outlines our organization’s purpose and rationale for being. Unlike the vision statement which deals in the future, the mission statement deals in the present tense and describes specific outcomes and goals. Our mission statement supports our vision by describing how it will be attained.

Expressed as a statement, our mission provides a clear understanding of who we are and what we do. With a strong sense of vision, the following mission statement supports the goals of the organization.

The Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area is committed to providing effective leadership in the ongoing development of the membership area as a vibrant and sustainable business, cultural, and residential community. We will achieve this goal by supporting initiatives aimed at improving, beautifying, and promoting the membership area on behalf of all of our members.

Benefits

With the wide ranging needs of a diverse downtown community, the Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area continues to work towards developing programs and resources that benefit merchants and businesses throughout the community. Among other things, these programs and resources include:

Enhanced downtown streetscaping (plants, flowers, trees, fixtures, art, etc.)

Enhanced downtown maintenance (cleaning, watering, weeding, etc.)
Ongoing downtown promotion (events, branding, promotions, etc.)
Strengthening downtown community communications (newsletter, website, site visits, etc.)
Special programs (Downtown Gift Certificates, etc.)
Advocacy (representing the collective voice of the membership)
Networking within the OSDIA community, and through alliances with other business and community sectors (meetings, committees, events, etc.)

Communications

Strong, open, reliable, and timely communications are essential for the long term success of any organization.

Boundaries

Unchanged from inception in 1973, the current OSDIA boundaries are:

south side of 11th Street East (to the north)
north side of 7th Street East (to the south)
west side of 4th Avenue East (to the east)
Sydenham River (to the west)

DIA Boundary Map

Contact Us

Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area
808 2nd Avenue East
Owen Sound, ON N4K 2H4
Open Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

phone: (519) 376-9225
fax: (519) 376-3908
email: DIAInfo@owensound.ca
facebook: Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area
twitter: @OwenSoundDIA