A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined commercial corridor where business and property owners come together to enhance both their business and the community they serve through additional services, events,and collaborative marketing. The South Shore BID in particular includes more than 300 businesses located in the towns and Annadale, Eltingville, and Great Kills. The organization recei
ves funding through each of its members which is then used to fuel special initiatives. Some of these include private security in each of the towns, free community events, holiday lighting, additional sanitation services, and marketing. The organization got its start in 2010 as a Merchants Group which was funded by Councilman Vincent Ignizio, SIEDC, and Richmond County Savings Foundation to address the needs of small business owners in the towns. The success of the Merchant Program lead to the creation of the South Shore LDC and ultimately the pursuit of forming a Business Improvement District which was than officially signed into law on April 20th of 2015.
