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OUR STORY

In the heart of St. John’s, there exists a vibrant hub that pulses with energy, possibilities, and community spirit. Meet Downtown St. John’s, a non-profit business association that, for over 50 years, has been dedicated to building a strong business community and connecting the public with all there is to love downtown.

Founded in 1966, Downtown St. John’s is run by full-time staff and governed by a Board of Management consisting of downtown business owners who understand the needs of their community. Together, we collaborate with downtown businesses, property owners, and the public to ensure the health and prosperity of the downtown district. Our goal is to make downtown a more attractive place to live, work, shop & visit.

As we celebrate the growth and success of the downtown, we remain deeply rooted in its heritage and traditional character. From the revitalization of George Street years ago to the recently established Pedestrian Mall, we regularly partner with the City of St. John’s and other organizations on projects that balance both progress and heritage. We understand the need to unite the office, retail, hotel, food and drink, and entertainment sectors in which all of our members operate and we cherish the area’s unique history and spirit.

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OUR FUNDING

Downtown St. John’s is a Business Improvement Area (BIA) association.

The organization is funded by a special tax or levy placed on all businesses located within the Business Improvement Area (BIA)

As of January 1, 2020, the BIA Levy is now combined as part of the commercial mill rate. This process ensures the fair and equitable distribution of the levy throughout the BIA. Commercial property owners may collect the BIA Levy from business tenants or bill separately throughout the year as part of the Business Realty tax cycle. A vacancy allowance will be applied to the additional BIA levy mill rate portion for commercial properties.

The BIA Levy goes directly into the downtown core to enhance, beautify and promote the area.