For our Members:  Get the latest news!

Whether you are a new business or an established Downtown business, we would like to extend a warm welcome to you, your business and employees.  We are happy you have decided to locate your business in downtown Parry Sound, a dynamic centre of commerce, entertainment, recreation and parks, and look forward to working with you!

As a member, you will receive invitations for you and your business to attend and participate in Downtown Parry Sound events,           e-mails of pertinent information from our Executive Director, and other Downtown related material throughout the year.

DBA Board Meetings are typically held on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm at Parry Sound Public Library.  

Please feel free to attend as a guest at any time.  Our Annual General Meeting takes place annually in April or May.

We are always happy to hear from our members.  Please e-mail or call us with any comments and concerns.  We invite you  to join one of our 3 committees, Events, Beautification or Marketing or come on out to one of our board meetings.  Together, with your support and participation, we can continue to grow Downtown Parry Sound!

Our office is located at:
52 Seguin Street, Parry Sound, Ontario, P2A 1B4

Phone:  (705) 746-6426  

Email:  downtown@psdba.ca

Your business is located within the geographic area designated as the Business Improvement Area (BIA)

The BIA also refers to the organization – the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association (Parry Sound DBA).  All Downtown BIA’s have the same goal, to encourage more traffic and ultimately increase traffic and sales in their downtown business district.  The BIA acts as a unifying body for its membership working to make Downtown Parry Sound a “destination” not only for retailers and restaurants but for its professionals as well.  BIA’s function best through the co-operation of each and every business.

The goals of the Parry Sound DBA include revitalizing the downtown area through regular maintenance, streetscaping, special events and promotions and municipal partnerships.  They are dedicated to ensuring the Downtown is a safe and desirable place to conduct business, live, work, play and enjoy through the cooperative efforts of its members and local government. 

The Parry Sound DBA is a non-profit organization comprised of approximately 250 members who operate a business in a commercial or industrial assessed property within the DBA boundaries. 

The BIA Board of Directors establishes a budget every year which is presented to the membership at the Annual General Meeting and then submitted to Town Council.  A mill rate is calculated by the Treasury Department of the Town to realize that budget figure.  The mill rate is then applied to the commercial property value calculated by MPAC.  This assessment varies by the amount of the annual budget set by the Board.  The money is collected through property taxes and allocated to the DBA. You are automatically a member of the Downtown Business Association when located within the BIA boundaries.

Business Owners:  A BIA can benefit more than just local retail businesses.  All businesses in the area, whether professional, dining, entertainment, finance or retail will benefit from the improved local atmosphere that a successful BIA help create.  It is the responsibility of each business to build upon the activities of the BIA and ensure the customer receives the best value in an efficient and courteous manner.  An expanded customer base depends on the successful partnership between the activities of the association and individual businesses.

Property Owners:  BIA initiated improvements and activities may lead to an increase in property values.  Improvements help to create and sustain a more vibrant and viable economic environment within the local area.  This attracts both commercial and service sector businesses to the area that, in turn, may lead to an increased demand for retail and office space, and a subsequent increase in property values.

Non-retailers also benefit:  BIA improvement and activities help to create a more vibrant local community and a more prosperous local economic environment.  A more vibrant community attracts more visitors and retains more local customers for all types of services, including dining, entertainment and professional services.  In addition, a more vibrant community creates a more inviting atmosphere that clients and customers will enjoy visiting.

Advocacy and Committee Work:

• Volunteer Board of Directors including a Town Representative
• Ontario BIA Association membership
• Ability to access grants not available to business through a cooperative approach.

Beautification

• Maintain and enhance gardens
• In ground gardens
• Banners through the downtown area
• Plant and maintain the flowers in the free standing planters 
• Seasonal decorating
• Maintains Information Kiosk area
• Bike racks and the recyclable cigarette receptacles placed throughout the downtown

Marketing

• Advertising the Downtown area as a whole on the local radio station and newspaper
• Advertising in local magazines
• Opportunity to participate in all events and promotions
• A web page on the Parry Sound DBA’s website
• Active Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn pages

Events

• Summer in the Sound – July
• Halloween in the Downtown – October
• Parry Sound Girlfriends’ Weekend – November

More events that could change from year to year

As a friendly reminder with customer satisfaction in mind and parking at a premium, we respectfully ask business owners and their employees to refrain from parking on the main streets. If you require long term parking (all day parking) the BOCC is a great location to park for free.  Another option is to purchase a monthly Municipal Parking Permit from the Town Office for $30 per month.  This will allow you to park in a designated lot on Gibson or Miller Street or the St. Andrews Church lot. See our Parking page for more info.

The Parry Sound DBA uses downtown dollars as promotion giveaways.  They come in denominations of $10, $25 & $50.  They are to be treated as cash.  If you receive any please call us at 705-746-6426 and we will come by to collect them and reimburse you the cash equivalent.