Businesses in Inverurie will make their first major decision since forming a coalition to breathe new life into the town.
A whopping 87% of firms voted to launch a new business improvement district (Bid), known as We Are Inverurie, at a ballot last month.
Each member will now contribute a levy to the scheme, with the organisation investing £100,000 each year until 2022.
Now traders are being urged to put forward nominations for the board of directors, which will be made up of 12 people.
Ashley Wilson, the Bid’s project coordinator, said: “We are absolutely delighted at the response we received. We need a strong team of directors to steer the BID over the next 5 years and it is fantastic that all the businesses in the area are part of the democratic process of voting for the directors.”
The open ballot is being held at 5.30pm tonight at Sinclair’s Bistro in the town.
John Glover, chairman of the Inverurie Environmental Improvement Group, will chair the ballot.
Last night he said it was vital that businesses had their say in the future direction of the organisation.
He said: “This is a really exciting time for Inverurie, the projects identified for the town are going to make a huge impact, not just on the retailers but on everyone who lives and works here.
“The levy alone will ensure that there is £500,000 available to spend in the town over the next five years and it is important that there is a strong board of directors in place to oversee this.”
The Bid was given overwhelming backing in last month’s ballot of 125 businesses, based in the main streets of the town centre, with just 16 votes against the plans.
We are Inverurie BID will officially become operational as a limited company on August 22.
