Inverurie is less than a week away from potentially entering a new chapter in its history.
The town might soon be looking at how best to spend a £500,000 pot of BID levy funds which could be raised over the next five-years – if the scheme is successful.
Voting ends on Thursday for the proposed Business Improvement District, with the results set to be announced the following day at the Garioch Heritage Centre.
Under the banner, “We are Inverurie”, the steering group has devised a business plan, designed to “keep Inverurie at the forefront of Aberdeenshire” and make it one of the most desirable places to live, work, visit and do business.
Ashley Wilson, BID co-ordinator explained that, if successful, the town would have even greater leverage to attract funding in the future.
She said: “We already have some voluntary contributors signed up who are outwith the ballot area.
“The current estimated BID levy total is £100,000 per year, so that’s £500,000 over the five-year period. This could be doubled each year through matchfunding from sources such as VisitScotland’s Growth Fund, Abellio and Aberdeenshire Council – funding sources which would otherwise be inaccessible to current groups in Inverurie.”
The town is the latest place in Scotland to sign up to develop a Bid programme and, if the venture gets the go-ahead, all the 199 eligible businesses and organisations in the Inverurie area will contribute a financial levy to the scheme.
This would replace the payments currently being made for membership of the Inverurie Business Association and the Environmental Group charges for hanging baskets outside retail premises and would also pay for Christmas and other events.
Mrs Wilson added that other funding applications will be submitted to support projects within Inverurie.
Jo Robinson, VisitScotland’s Regional Director, said: “In common with other government agencies, we have a number of funding sources which official groups – like BIDs – can access.
“The ‘We are Inverurie’ BID has an ambitious programme for growth, and we would be delighted to receive applications for Inverurie projects, should the BID Company be formed at the end of August.
“Tourism is at the heart of the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire economy.”
For more information on Inverurie’s BID plans, visit: www.weareinverurie.co.uk
