TABIA works with all levels of government to actively advance the interests of Business Improvement Areas and create an environment in which their members can thrive. Be it Parking Issues, Garbage, Safety, Taxes, or BIA legislation TABIA strives to look after the best interests of its members.

The following are just some of the many advances made by TABIA:

• TABIA/City of Toronto Interdepartmental meetings bring City Staff from various departments and BIAs together so that BIA issues or departmental initiatives can be discussed and resolved before they become problems.
• The cost of newly legislated BIA financial audits by a non-city official will be covered through a grant for the 2003 audit. TABIA is pushing to have this extended to 2004 as well.
• As part of a City of Toronto Economic Development Department initiative BIAs were able to retain additional staffing until December 10th, 2004. This initiative also allowed BIAs to participate in a 50/50 cost share program for the purchase of computer equipment.
• A Simplified annual budget process and shorter wait times for receiving BIA operating funds.
• BIAs are now exempt from the city set fee structure and application frequencies when dealing with banners in designated BIA areas. This has resulted in more manageable BIA banner, floral and seasonal decoration programs and hundreds of dollars of savings for BIAs.
• BIAs are covered under the City of Toronto's policy for Public Liability insurance. The $308 or so annual deduction from a BIAs levy covers any liability issues related to festivals, special events and streetscape initiatives and allows BIAs to satisfy the municipality’s insurance requirement for up to 5 Million dollar coverage around festivals/special events and road closures. Most Importantly the $308 covers the $50,000 deductible the city policy caries. To retain this coverage independently would not be economical for most BIAs.

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Discounts for Toronto BIA Boards

Directors & Officers Liability Insurance
TABIA has secured favourable rates for Directors & Officers Liability Insurance. Member BIA Boards can receive coverage under TABIA's policy at a fraction of the going rate. Independently some BIAs have paid between $1,100 and $2,500 annually. Through this initiative, your board could be covered for between $400 and $1,000.

Forward completed applications to the TABIA office for processing. Contact for further details.

Download the Application

Financial Audit Fees
When the city legislated that BIAs would now be required to seek the services of a private firm to conduct their financial audits TABIA proactively sought quotes on behalf of its members. The successfully coordinated RFP for audit services by TABIA means long term savings for BIAs. Savings to individual BIAs can range from a minimum of $1,000 to $2,500 based on the complexity of the BIAs operations. Contact for further details.

Join Tourism Toronto
Through our partnership with Tourism Toronto BIAs can now join at the special price of only $449.
Get active as part of the leading association for Toronto's tourism industry. Enjoy all the exclusive benefits of membership in an influential network that represents the tourism and hospitality products and services of the Greater Toronto Area.

To sign up - please visit: www.torontotourism.com
Contact for further details.

Visa / MasterCard
Through Global Payments Canada GP TABIA is able to offer BIA members the following preferred Visa and MasterCard merchant package:

• Absolutely no application fee ($100 savings)
• Visa rate – 1.79%
• MasterCard rate – 1.85%
• MasterCard Assessment Fee - 0.054%
• Visa Infrastructure Fee - 0.054%
• Interac fee – 10¢ per transaction
• Verifone 3750 Dial with Internal Pinpad $29 a month (chip card enabled)
• No charge funding to bank of your choice ($10 per month savings)
• No minimum monthly processing fee ($240 annual savings)
  

Download the Visa/MasterCard Bulletin
For more information or to apply, please contact:
Candy Hoang
Tel: (416) 847-4438
Fax: (416) 847-4330
Toll free phone: 1 (800) 361-8170 x 74438
Toll free fax: 1 (800) 608-8595
Email:

Group Insurance
PIB/RWAM Insurance offers BIA members a comprehensive Employee Benefit Package designed specifically for the Self-Employed and Employers with one to five employees - including Dental, Life Insurance, and Drug Plan. Whether your members are mom and pop or have staff, should they need single coverage or family plans this program will allow you to provide them with the options.

Find out why over 800 Home Hardware Dealers have chosen PIB/RWAM!

Download the Group Insurance flyer & prices
For additional information, please contact:
Programmed Insurance Brokers Inc. / RWAM Insurance Administrators Inc.
49 Industrial Drive, Elmira, Ontario N3B 3B1
Tel: 1-800-265-6197 or
1-888-742-7926. . . and ask for
Lynn Martin, ext 328
Fax: (519) 669-1923
www.rwam.com

Payworks
Save money and time with on-line payroll services.
TABIA members and members of individuals BIAs will receive preferred pricing from Payworks, an online payroll service. As part of the agreement Payworks will provide clients with the option of processing their payroll by fax, e-mail, telephone or by using Payworks online solution. In addition Payworks will issue Record of Employment T4s/T4As and submit the annual T4 Summary directly to the Revenue Agency. As well payroll reports will be available after each payroll run, in an easy-to-use excel format, and accessible as far back as 7 years. 

Payworks is committed to excellent customer service and will work closely with each BIA and business to ensure their needs are met.

For additional information, please contact:
Peter Marossis
Tel: 866-729-2323
Cell: 416-209-3010
Fax: 888-370-6829
E-mail: peter.m@payworks.ca
www.payworks.ca

Autoshare
Car rental service offers discounted memberships to BIAs.
TABIA offers a membership rate at half the price with Autoshare, a unique car rental company.  Autoshare offers its members flexibility and cost savings by providing car rentals on an hourly basis instead of at the standard daily rate. Need to zip across town for a lunch meeting? Need to pick up heavy supplies? Need to pick-up an important client at the airport?  With Autoshare this is simple and inexpensive. Call or use their online booking service to rent one of their clean and reliable vehicles.

For additional information, please contact:
Kevin McLauglin
Tel: 416-340-7888 ext. 24
Fax: 416-340-0080
www.autoshare.com

Dove Cleaning
TABIA members receive special pricing on Uniform, Dust Mat, Linen and Dry Cleaning needs. Provides premium dry cleaning services for the retail market as well as commercial laundry and cleaning services.

Providing TABIA members with special discounted pricing, and as part of our commitment, will also donate 5% of sales generated by TABIA members back into the Association and its communities.

For additional information, please contact:
John Belknap
Tel: 416 782-8788
Fax: 416 782-3065
Cell: 416 616-5404
Email:
www.dovecorp.com

Pop Packaging
Our company supplies a large variety of custom-made bags and accessories made from an environmentally friendly material known as Polyfabric™. It looks and feels like traditional fabric, but is much more durable and affordable and is made from 100% recyclable material.
Use these durable, attractive and environmentally friendly bags to promote your next event, or in your retail environment.

Special pricing for TABIA members. "Creating a better environment, one bag at a time..."

Download Pop Packaging flyer
For additional information, please contact:
Steve Mitchell
Tel: 416 621-1369
Toll Free: 1-866-594-2247
Fax: 1– 866-824-8059
Email:
www.poppackaging.com

Educating Main Street
With the assistance of the Ministry of Education, Universities and Colleges and the technical expertise of Seneca College TABIA now has a four course program that your BIA can deliver to your on street membership. The courses are designed with a focus on main street merchants and include, Internal and External Theft, Marketing your Business, Human Resources, Hiring and Firing.

BIA Operating Handbook
With the partnership of the City of Toronto BIA office and HRDC, TABIA has collaborated in developing the first BIA operating Handbook which provides BIA Boards of Management with a quick reference resource on the day to day operations of a BIA. View the online version here.

Website Resources
The website is your online resource for information about and for Toronto BIAs.

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The TABIA Citywide Campaign gives member BIAs the opportunity to promote themselves and their events in their local media at a substantial savings. This is all made possible through careful negotiations with the media and the generous assistance of our corporate sponsors. View the 2007 Citywide Campaign Promotion Schedule for further details.

All member BIAs are provided with a listing on the TABIA website (www.toronto-bia.com). Each listing includes contact information and a direct link to the BIA's website. The TABIA website also offers an events calendar featuring all BIA events and festivals that take place throughout the year. As the TABIA site is linked to the City of Toronto site, members also receive the benefit of that link.

TABIA shares information about BIA events with the City of Toronto Tourism office, the Economic Development department and City of Toronto Special Events. BIA events are also featured in our newsletters.

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TABIA offers its members a many opportunities to connect with their fellow members.

Since 2001 TABIA has coordinated a by-Annual National BIA Conference in Toronto to provide our member BIAs with the opportunity to share ideas and learn from the experiences of other BIAs, BIDs and Downtown Revitalization Districts from across Canada and the US. Over 200 participated in the 2005 conference and 19 trades/vendors displayed their BIA focused wares. Those members that attended found the sessions not only informative but valuable in dealing with member issues and legislative requirements.

Breakfast Meetings offer a more informal venue for members to meet and learn. Each meeting offers an informative speaker, a light breakfast and an opportunity to chat with fellow members.

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