Survey results gathered from nearly 70 Stittsville business owners who attended a breakfast meeting at ALE Tuesday morning are being compiled to determine the future direction of a voluntary business association in Stittsville.
Tentatively dubbed the Stittsville Business Association (SBA), the group aims to support local business interests as well as the community as a whole. How that takes shape, however, will be up to the association’s membership, said meeting organizer Allan Ryan in his comments Tuesday.
“We want to hear from you, what you want this to be,” Ryan said, adding the committee’s appreciation of the tremendous turnout of business owners and management.
A survey was distributed, asking business representatives for their input on topics including the association’s proposed name, what they would like to see from their business association, whether they could lend financial support to the SBA, and whether they would be willing to volunteer. Results of the survey will be compiled and will dictate how the association moves forward.
Possible activities for the SBA could include a shop local campaign, a website and business directory, beautification projects, and community events, either individually or in collaboration with other groups in the community, such as the Stittsville Village Association (SVA).
“We hope the new SBA would also do more promotional type events for local business, to bring awareness to the community of all business, especially new upstarts, and show the diversity of business right here in Stittsville to service your needs as consumers,” Ryan added after the meeting.
The idea of the business association came about after an effort to create a more formal Business Improvement Area (BIA) was rejected by the Stittsville business community this year. BIAs come with a host of restrictions, including a mandatory participation and an annual levy based on commercial property assessments. Many businesses in the community felt that option did not offer the flexibility they wanted in an association.
A variety of local business interests were represented at the meeting, spanning food service, retail, professional services, and beauty/healthcare. For anyone who missed the meeting, additional surveys may be picked up at Bradley’s Insurance, Daryl Metzger (Edward Jones), McDonald’s, and at Mahogany Salon and Spa, or by emailing acochran0808@gmail.com