Ballymena BID calls for ‘YES’ vote from businesses

Hailed unanimously as Northern Ireland’s first BID success story, the Ballymena BID board, chaired by well-known, local businessman, Stephen Reynolds, and supported by a collective of owners and representatives of local businesses, is now encouraging all local traders and stakeholders to come together in support of their recently published Business Plan and vote YES in favour of a new BID.

The five-year plan, which will generate in excess of £1m, will double as part of a post-COVID, economic recovery strategy for Ballymena town centre. The Board are keen to ensure they get the support of the town’s business owners to secure the funding.

Stephen Reynolds, Chair of Ballymena BID, and proprietor of the award-winning Front Page Bar. said: “This week marks a very positive start to the much-needed economic recovery of Ballymena town centre. I am encouraging everyone to get their postal vote completed and returned as early as possible and vote YES.”

“The past five years have allowed us as a board, most of whom operate a business in the town, to work closely with other local business owners to decide what our town needs most.

“We operate at local level, using our combined local knowledge and experience to continue to formulate the best way forward for Ballymena. I feel strongly that the BID business model will be fundamental to the success of our town centre recovery strategy.”

He said: “If the BID is successful then we will have over £1m to help roll out our five-year plan. If not, then Ballymena BID will cease and we won’t have that pot of funding to use to positively promote our town to the rest of Northern Ireland and beyond.

“For a successful Yes vote, over 50 per cent of eligible businesses must be in favour of the Ballymena BID Renewal Business Plan. That’s why we are calling on our local business community to support this important initiative which is now open for postal ballot. Many of you should have received ballot papers posted to your business premises in recent days. Duplicate or replacement ballot papers are available by contacting our BID manager Emma. I would encourage all of you to vote YES in favour of the new Ballymena BID. The closing date for votes is 30th March, 2021.”