Good practice:

Sligo BID

Sligo made history in 2016 in adopting a Business Improvement District Scheme, the first such company located on the west coast of Ireland.
The objectives of the BID include:
a)Ensure Sligo progresses towards becoming a vibrant, exciting, sustainable town, attracting businesses and visitors, driving the local economy, and enhancing the quality of life of residents and visitors alike.
b)Promote close cooperation and collaboration with key local stakeholder agencies and amongst BID members.
c)Ensure that Sligo realizes its ambition as a regional centre for growth as per the National Planning Framework, Ireland 2040.
d)Facilitate and support programmes of actions that will enhance the cultural identity of the town and boost its national and international profile.
e)Develop external relationships that may influence Sligo’s performance such as with Fáilte Ireland (Irish Tourism Body) , the Heritage Council, Coach Tourism Council of Ireland, Irish Tour Operators Association.
f)Deliver value for money to ratepayers in Sligo

The BID's actions are based primarily toward achieving an increasing footfall in the urban area. The BID contribution is based on a democratic vote and once adopted is statutory - all of the businesses in a designated geographical area are compelled to contribute extra tax which is payable to the BID to develop an agreed set of actions and projects. The new BID (2021) has been adopted at 3% of the “taxable value” of 758 business premises.

• Sligo County Council input into governance and general support inclusive of the collection of the BID levy.
• BID Management.
• Voluntary BID Board of Directors.
• Annual BID Contribution of €444,264 from 758 local businesses within the BID zone.

The BID engages in targeted activities
a)data relating to footfall, land use, consumer & business surveys.
b) Hosting new events
c)Repurposing of vacant retail stock
d)Focused marketing campaigns
e)Retail and hospitality programmes, destination vouchers and shop local campaigns.
f)BID funds leveraged as a match funding for suitable community led schemes. (additional funding of €100,000 secured p.a.)
g)Purple Flag designation -night time economy
h)Coach Friendly Destination status

a) Maintaining the ongoing collection of BID payments.
b) Maintaining the high level of volunteerism required to administer the BID Company.
c) Maintaining support among the business population to continue making the extra tax payments required to run the bid.

Town Centre’s are changing across Europe and no longer operate as mono-functional entities. Consumers now want towns to be multifunctional including services and amenities such as food, beverage, events, entertainment & exercise in addition to retail. Last year, Irish consumers spent €7B online – approximately 70% of which was outside the EU. In 2019, for the first time, more consumers went into Dublin to eat and drink than shop.
The multiple challenges facing towns are centred in the cost of physical trading and the need to augment that with an online presence. The mix of indigenous and multiple stores that provide an attractive retail offering is the strength of towns and this needs to be highlighted. A BID is driven by a primary metric – footfall. All actions are based around increasing footfall by developing high quality experiences in a coordinated fashion.

Sligo has built up a transferable knowledge base in terms of establishing and running a successful BID Company.