ARDA WORKING WITH BUSINESSES TO FORMALIZE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION

A group of business owners in Antigonish are working with ARDA to formalize a downtown association. Downtown business owners are invited to a meet and greet on Wednesday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. at the Hawthorne Room.

“This meet and greet will be a chance for downtown businesses owners to meet their neighbours and get to know one another so we can all work together,” says Sherry Jackson, owner of Shabby Shutters.

The meet and greet is just part of the agenda. The group of merchants organizing this evening also wants to take the steps to formalize a downtown association. There will be an opportunity to elect a chair, vice-chair, secretary/treasurer, and some sub-committees.

“As downtown merchants we all have a common goal and that is to thrive, be sustainable and continue to offer residents of Antigonish and surrounding communities products and services, that they can get right here, at home” says Jackson. “We’d also like to have someone designated as a liaison with the Town of Antigonish; someone who can communicate our plans and vision, so we can all work towards the same goals.”

ARDA has been working with downtown businesses owners for about a year and a half after a secret shopper-type assessment was conducted on the Northumberland Shore. The Assessment Findings and Suggestions Report had many opportunities for downtown Antigonish.

“We’re going to re-visit the list of suggestions that came from that report so once the group is formalized, we can help them prioritize some goals and objectives,” says Heather Myers, development officer at ARDA. “We really hope this meeting energizes our downtown businesses and encourages cooperation between them to reach the goals they are going to set.”