July 27 Council Notes: Murals, the Downtown Langley Business Association and Discovery Langley City

Last night, Langley City Council heard a presentation from the Downtown Langley Business Association (DLBA) and Discovery Langley City, which the DLBA operates under a contract with the City.

Both organizations support efforts to grow the local economy in Langley City. The DLBA does this by encouraging people to visit Downtown Langley City and shop at local businesses. Discovery Langley City does this by encouraging people to stay overnight in Langley City and enjoy our many amenities.

Chris Parsons, who is the Executive Director of the DLBA, outlined some of the ways that the DLBA supports local businesses, including holding events to draw people to the Downtown, programs that help businesses spruce up their storefronts, the Downtown Dollar program, and the street cleaning team.

Taryn Antalek, the Operations Manager for Discovery Langley City, discussed how they promote experiences in Langley City, including activities and dining options. She was very excited about the upcoming Langley Christmas Market and the opportunity to encourage people to visit and stay in Langley City.

Both Mr. Parson and Ms. Antalek highlight the murals in our community as a major draw for people to visit Langley City and as a key part of both their marketing efforts.

The DLBA is funded by a special business property tax within the Business Improvement Area, as shown in the following map. Discovery Langley City is funded through a tax applied to all hotel and short-term accommodation providers in the City. Council also gives community grants to the DLBA, including a $16,935.00 grant this year to support the Art Alive Festival. In the past, the City also partnered with the DLBA to partially cover the cost of some projects, such as the aerial display in McBurney Plaza.

Business improvement area in blue. Select the map to enlarge.

When asked by a member of Council about the Fraser Highway renewal project, Mr. Parsons noted that it has been a positive for the Downtown and has encouraged people to rediscover Downtown Langley City, supporting local businesses.