A business improvement district (BID) is a business led initiative where local businesses and other stakeholders form partnerships to implement local improvements that benefit their business community.
Businesses decide on the issues they want to address, the amount of funding to be raised and the services they want to implement. These must be agreed upon by a majority of businesses in the BID area via a ballot.
Two BIDs operate within Blackburn with Darwen:
- The Blackburn BID aims to develop a dynamic business environment in Blackburn town centre,
- The Economic Development Zone BID covering the Greenbank, Furthergate and Whitebirk business parks funds additional security and environmental improvement activities