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Bruce County Awarded with Two 2024 BIA Ontario Business Improvement Area, ‘Awards of Excellence’ with The Municipality of Kincardine and Arran-Elderslie
Community partnership recognized! Bruce County has been awarded two 2024 Ontario Business Improvement Area (OBIAA) ‘Awards of Excellence’. The OBIAA recognizes innovative programs in revitalization, support and improvements for downtowns. The Municipality of Kincardine, The Municipality of Arran-Elderslie, and Bruce County, won two awards at the OBIAA Awards Gala during the 2024 Annual BIA Conference on April 29, 2024.
- The Municipality of Kincardine and Bruce County won the ‘Award of Merit,’ award in the ‘Streetscape and Public Realm Improvement’ category for the “Here for You,” Vandalism Incident Downtown Kincardine in 2023.
- The Municipality of Arran-Elderslie and Bruce County won the ‘Award of Merit,’ award in the ‘Communications’ category for the development of the Tara and Chesley Community Branding Guidelines and Façade Guidelines.
The OBIAA Awards Gala recognized these two programs that were developed through Bruce County’s Spruce the Bruce Program and the program’s leadership role in strengthening and promoting downtown physical improvements and revitalization.
“Collaboration amongst Bruce County, the partnered municipalities, entrepreneurs, and residents is what has made these programs successful. The Spruce the Bruce program uses a coordinated approach to revitalizing our downtowns and can pivot and adjust to adapt,” says Jeffrey Loney, Economic Development Manager at Bruce County.
Bruce County is pleased to be able to help support the growth and development of the communities by supporting local businesses, municipalities, and community partners with tools and grant opportunities through the Spruce the Bruce program.
“It’s certainly an honour for our community to receive this Award of Merit,” commented Municipality of Kincardine Mayor, Kenneth Craig. “I’ve said it many times: we’re better together and working to support the Kincardine BIA and impacted businesses during the unfortunate vandalism incident in Lakeside Downtown Kincardine showcases that truth beautifully.”
“Thank you to Bruce County for their partnership with our community in developing a successful branding program for Tara and Chesley,” says Steve Hammell, Mayor of Arran-Elderslie. “This work was essential for these communities to benefit from future revitalization opportunities and funding programs such as such as Spruce the Bruce. We are proud to have been acknowledged with this ‘Award of Merit’ which recognizes the importance of continuous community improvement.”
Spruce the Bruce is a regional community improvement initiative created by the County of Bruce which focuses on making downtowns within Bruce County more livable, attractive and economically viable.
Additional information about the Spruce the Bruce Program and the can be found at: www.investinbruce.ca/about/programs-projects/spruce-the-bruce/
About The Municipality of Kincardine: Whatever the season, the Municipality of Kincardine has something to offer. Discover our thriving lakeside downtown shops and dining options, renowned festivals and events, recreational programming, and an agricultural community rich in product and you'll understand how enticing it is to be a part of this wonderful community. Centrally located on the beautiful, sandy shores of Lake Huron, travel distances to the Municipality of Kincardine average within 2 hours to many city centers, as well as the US border. Enjoy a lifestyle that can be as busy or as relaxed as you want it to be.
About The Municipality of Arran-Elderslie: The Municipality of Arran-Elderslie is home to 7,000 residents who enjoy the natural landscape and rural life. People have found that Arran-Elderslie is a great place to live due to its proximity to major employers as well as the rural lifestyle, small town safety and lower housing prices. Major industries within Arran-Elderslie include agriculture, retail, tourism and construction. Arran-Elderslie is known as a welcoming community that many find the perfect place to buy their first home, raise a family, own a business or retire to.
About Bruce County: Bruce County is an upper-tier municipality in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, made up of eight lower-tier municipalities and 73,396 residents. The explorers who visit, live, and work here are the dreamers who take roads less travelled and see tried and true as an invitation to try something new. Be an Explorer and call Bruce County home.