Business owners back Sligo BID

SLIGO businesses have voted overwhelmingly for a continuation of Sligo BID from 2021 – 2025. Over the past few weeks, businesses received ballot papers to vote on extending the BID scheme. The results of the ballot saw a vote of 80% in favour of continuation.

Sligo made history in 2016 by becoming the first Business Improvement District (BID) in the West of Ireland. Since 2016, Sligo BID has been helping the town reinvent itself, tackle issues and thrive as a tourism and business hub. A BID is a defined area within which businesses pay a levy to fund projects within the district’s boundaries. There are five BIDs in Ireland. Over the next five years, Sligo BID had many plans including increasing the promotion of Sligo to attract new business and increase footfall as well as supporting events that drive Sligo’s brand. It will be working on ensuring urban renewal and regeneration alongside promoting Sligo’s retail, hospitality, cultural and social attributes.

Sligo BID CEO Gail McGibbon said: “We know that the past year in particular has been extraordinarily difficult and all businesses have suffered, some significantly more than others, and there are still tough times ahead. But we are determined to help Sligo recover from the current economic downturn and to continue to thrive as a tourism and business hub.”

Sligo BID Ballot Committee Chair, Ann Clinton, said: “Because of Covid-19, we were not able to visit businesses or hold public meetings in the way we would have normally done. Instead, we reached out to our members through letters, phone calls and social media which proved very effective. We are delighted that Sligo businesses have put their confidence in us and this vote empowers us to continue the work that we started.”