A new online survey is helping Downtown Nanaimo businesses decide how to better serve the community.
‘Speaking of Downtown…’ is the name of the multi-phase project aimed at creating a strategic plan for downtown businesses over the next few years.
The public opinion poll asks residents of Nanaimo what they think of their downtown, what attracts them, what improvements can be made and what they’d like to see more of.
“It probably takes less than five minutes to answer but will give us a benchmark that provides more than anecdotal input for planning,” said general manager Corry Hostetter, in a press release. “Everybody has an opinion – we’d like to hear as many as possible to capture a collective view from those who visit downtown a lot as well as those who don’t come here very much.”
The goal of the program is to find new ways to increase business and make downtown a more appealing and exciting place to be.
Public input is just one of the tools the association plans to use.
Stakeholders and community partners have been interviewed, a survey of nearly 1,200 members and property owners begins soon, and public meetings will be held to contribute to strategic planning.
The association is preparing to begin another five-year agreement with the province and the city to continue its mandate of downtown revitalization, beautification, advocacy, safety and security, planning and design, special events and marketing.
A member-directed strategic plan will guide how that work unfolds.
The survey is available on the association’s website at www.dnbia.ca.
