Under the BIA concept, a business community can request to be designated as an improvement area by its municipal council. Once this is done, the BIA can develop and undertake programs to improve and beautify the Improvement Area. Tree planting, street furniture, improved parking, flower boxes and baskets, and street banners are typical examples of commercial area public improvements which can be implemented by a BIA. In addition, BIAs promote their areas as business and/or shopping areas, not just as a group of individual shops, restaurants and offices. Promotional activities may include special events and ongoing advertising programs which aim to keep the BIA area foremost in the public’s mind as an attractive, pleasant place to shop, to be entertained, to work and to live.

An area of importance to many BIAs is the introduction of social programs and community work programs. Many BIAs are initiating programs that deal specifically with homelessness in downtowns, graffiti, panhandling, youth and anti crime related programs, safety, traffic and green space issues. In addition, BIAs have expanded their roles to include community planning and business recruitment to their list of goals.

The formal designation as a BIA provides a forum for business member participation through the Board of Directors and its committees. It also allows for a planned program to be developed with an annual budget contributed to by all its members. The cumulative effect of BIA activities will attract and maintain customers, clients, and shoppers to the commercial area as well as attracting new business to the market.

BIAs respond to and reflect the needs of individual areas. They can act as merchant associations, initiators of revitalization projects, coordinators of civic planning processes, a key spoke in economic development teams, and a positive voice when addressing street issues.