Associate Membership

Associate Membership

The Heart of Orléans BIA

The Heart of Orléans Business Improvement Area (BIA) works to promote our BIA district as a whole, advocates on behalf of our members, and helps make improvements to the streetscape. 

Our BIA is proud to be a recognized leader in the east end and a part of the Ottawa Coalition of BIAs (OCOBIA). OCOBIA represents over 6400 businesses employing 120,000 people. That is 1 in 5 jobs across the city. Together, we ensure our voices are heard. 

The Heart of Orléans BIA district runs east along St-Joseph Boulevard from Youville Drive to Dairy Road then north over the highway to Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard and west back up around to St-Joseph, including Youville Drive itself.

Membership

BIAs are a way for commercial districts to pool their resources and speak with one common voice. A BIA’s budget comes from a tax levy paid by the property owner with property in the BIA district. Property owners can, in turn, pass along the levy on to their business tenants through rent. Therefore, BIA Members are commercial property owners and their tenants with a bricks and mortar business located within a BIA. 

Associate Membership

If a business does not have a bricks and mortar business in the BIA district but DOES have an eligible registered home-based business WITHIN the BIA district, there is an opportunity for an associate membership.  

Eligible businesses include home-based businesses that are licensed and registered to a home address within the BIA boundary. A copy of this master license must be provided with your application.  

Eligible businesses abide by the rules set out in Part 5 of the Zoning By-law 2008-250 Consolidation and have a business registration number or municipal business licence as applicable. 

Examples of Eligible Businesses

  • Accounting Services 
  • Bed and Breakfast 
  • Catering 
  • Daycare 
  • Group Home 
  • Hair Salon  
  • IT Services 
  • Human Resources 
  • Landscaping 
  • Marketing 
  • Nail Service 
  • Pet Grooming 
  • Photography 
  • Spa 
  • Virtual Assistant 

Ineligible Businesses

Multi-level Marketing (MLM) or Pyramid type of Businesses – Businesses that involve selling products to family and friends and/or recruiting other people to do the same. 

Examples of Ineligible Businesses

  • Arbonne 
  • Avon 
  • DoTerra 
  • Herbalife 
  • Isagenix 
  • Mary Kay 
  • Norwex 
  • NuSkin 
  • Primerica 
  • Tupperware 

Benefits of becoming an Associate Member 

  • Increase your business’ visibility by being added to the BIA’s online Business Directory. 
  • Be “in the know” with the receipt of The Beat – our member newsletter.  
  • Increase your access to information related to Orléans business, events, economic development, streetscape and revitalization, security issues, etc. 
  • Join your peers on our website which provides valuable resources, real estate opportunities, Behind the Business blogs, etc. 
  • Join the conversations, strengthen your network, share best practices, and help your business thrive by meeting industry leaders at various networking events. 
  • Access your three levels of government or local experts through Town Halls.  
  • Take the opportunity to engage and provide your input into events, advocacy, marketing, streetscape initiatives, and other BIA developed policies by volunteering your time. 
  • Participate in all BIA co-operative marketing, promotional activities, sponsorships, and other programs under the ‘Heart of Orléans’ brand. 

Limitations 

An Associate Membership does not provide: 

  • Access to any property or streetscape improvements, which are specific to the commercial areas of the BIA district. 
  • Access to grants and programs designed specifically for main streets and/or for the commercial areas of the BIA district. 
  • Voting rights, including voting at the Annual General Meeting. 

Application 

Each application (see below) will be judged on its own merits. The Heart of Orléans Board of Management reserves the right to add or delete benefits received by Associate Members. 

The Heart of Orléans Board of Management also reserves the right to refuse applications. 

Fees

Membership fees are $500 (+HST) for a calendar year (January to December) and will be prorated for a partial year. This fee is subject to change. 

The Heart of Orléans Board of Management reserves the right to waive fees in lieu of services provided. 

For More Information

If you would like to read more about what the BIA is and what we do, we encourage you to take a look at our website. 

If you would like to discuss Associate Membership further, please don’t hesitate to contact the BIA office. 

Associate Membership Application