May 2015 BIA STREET BEAT

1
May 2015
BIA STREET BEAT
175 Bridge St.
Carleton Place, ON
K7C 2V8
613-257-8049
Project Manager
Cathie McOrmond
BIA Board of Management meetings are held
the second Wednesday
of each month.
Meetings are located in
Town Hall at 7 pm.
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Mobile-geddon” 2
Business events
2
BIA website info. 2
Welcome to the
2
Chamber
Farmers Market
2
and Cruise Night
Carleton Place in
Bloom
3
BIA Business ex-
3
pansion profiles
BIA Business review website
4
You Don’t Want To Miss ‘Wine’d Around Downtown
Carleton Place: Saturday, May 30th from 1:00 -5:00 pm.
Your T-Shirt ($25) is your ticket to this fun event and will be available as of April
27th at The Thirsty Moose, Ballygiblins, Slackon’s, Generations Inn &Fine Dining,
Century 21 Explorer Realty and May 1st at Chamber office new location. Please
remember, you must wear or carry your event T-Shirt (logo visible) in order to
participate. Don’t forget your loonies & toonies for featured wine and appetizers
($3.00ea). Included in the event passport is a voucher for a free appetizer at one of
the participating venues. This annual wine and food tasting extravaganza is a fundraising event of the Carleton Place Sister City Committee for the Sister Cities
Youth Exchange Program involving Carleton Place and sister cities Comrie, Scotland and Franklin, Tennessee. If you like more information on this event contact
Debbie Shaw 613 229 2587 or Steve Prieur 613.762.9639
The Storefront Façade Improvement Program is accepting
applications from BIA Businesses and Property Owners!
What is the purpose of this program? To help new and established
businesses attract customers. To leverage private investment from current owners
and inspire improvements to neighbouring buildings. To enhance the heritage
appearance and charm of our downtown commercial area. How does it work?
Priority is given to those applicants who have not participated in the Downtown
Heritage Façade Improvement Program in the past. Priority will be given to applicants supporting the Town of Carleton Place Heritage Guidelines. The BIA is
responsible for administering the program for 2014.
Option #1 – General Improvements
A property owner or business with approval of the property owner can be reimbursed up to 50% of the total costs of improvements. Extraordinary maintenance such as restoration of hard surfaces, repainting, brick cleaning and repointing of cornices. Eligible renovations are up to a maximum of $5,000 per award.
Applicants are encouraged to follow the General Heritage Guidelines and should
be reviewed and implemented as part of the Façade Improvement Application.
Option #2 – Heritage Improvements
A property owner or business with approval of the property owner can provide a
reimbursement of up to 75% the total cost of the project for eligible Heritage Improvements/renovations, up to a maximum of $7,500 per award . Applicants are
directed to follow the General Heritage Guidelines. For your application email
cmcormond@carletonplace.ca.
DT Beautification 4
Business info
4
www.downtowncarletonplace.com
MAY
2015 PAGE 2
“Mobile-geddon” has arrived!
Mike Cimilyan is a BIA Board member and owner of
Paradime IT Solutions and the host of the BIA website. Mike will be working with the BIA in the
upcoming months to provide BIA Member technology tips and suggestions so that you can update
and control your online business presence. “Mobile-geddon” is the term being used to described
significant changes in the way Google ranks web sites that started on April 21, 2015.
Google is now checking to see whether a web site is mobile-friendly or not. If your site is not responsive Google will start to omit or significantly down rank your site with searches performed on
mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
How serious is this? Very! Especially for businesses that rely on tourists and other visitors to town.
To quote a recent article from Business Insider: “Google is making a giant change this week that
could crush millions of small businesses.”
The Carleton Place BIA's own web site is mobile-friendly and 35% of visitors were using mobile
devices to access the site. However, a sample survey of Carleton Place businesses showed that
roughly half had web sites that were not mobile friendly.
Is your web site mobile-friendly? Take a look:
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/
If your site fails Google's test, please contact your website manager ASAP to get your site fixed. If
you are confused and need help contact Mike Cimilyan CP BIA Board member at 613-807-4343
http://www.paradime.com
Welcome to the Carleton Place and District Chamber of Commerce to the
Downtown! The NEW location is 170 Bridge Street the “Information Center at the Moore
House”.
Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday from 9 am until 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10 am until 4pm
For current information on the Chamber of Commerce you can call 613-257-1976 or
www.cpchamber.com.
Farmers Market Opens Saturday mornings 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Saturday May 9th for the summer/fall season.
Cruise Night begins Wednesday May 13th until September at the Market Square.
www.downtowncarletonplace.com
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MAY 2015 PAGE 3
www.downtowncarletonplace.com
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MAY
4
2015 PAGE 4
BIA Businesses are asked to review the
www.downtowncarletonplace.com website .
If your business information is not correct please email the BIA office with complete updated details. If you would like your business logo attached to the site please send this too. All BIA businesses are able to provide a written profile which will be
added to your business information on www.downtowncarletonplace.com.
The 2015 Carleton Place BIA Floral Beautification Program. The Carleton Place BIA has purchased 100 hanging floral baskets for the BIA district as well as plants for the planters. Carleton Place in Bloom and Town of Carleton Place staff will work hard in planting. Town staff will
ensuring the benches, garbage cans, bike racks and planters are all positioned securely.
The hanging baskets will be installed by Carleton Place Nursery the last weekend in May weather
permitting.
BUSINESS SIGN SPACE
AVAILABLE AT THE MARKET
SQUARE Payment for your Market
Square signage space was due February
28th. Business who have purchase a sign for
only $226 each year with a five year commitment will receive one.
There are a few sign spaces still available if
your business is interested in purchasing one
contact us today.
Further information about the sign requirements, specifications and applications are
available at the BIA Office. If you have any
questions about the program or wish to obtain
an application
Accessibility
- Does your business have Questions
about Accessibility Guidelines for Ontario?
1-866-515-2025 or 1-416-325-3407 or visit ontario.ca/
accessON
Important web sites for your Business to
Know!
www.downtowncarletonplace.com
www.Valleycfdc.com
www.lnlenterprisecentre.ca
www.smallbizcentre.ca/currentseminar
www.canadabusiness.ca/Ontario
www.carletonplace.ca
The BIA office is located in the Town Hall at 175 Bridge Street
Cathie McOrmond
Carleton Place BIA Project Manager
Town Hall
175 Bridge Street
613-257-8049
cmcormond@carletonplace.ca
www.downtowncarletonplace.com