Business in Alloa

Alloa First is a business-led initiative where businesses work together with the sole objective of collectively investing in the town centre with the aim of creating a brighter future for the business environment.

Our Board of Directors are made up of local business owners, managers and people with a vested interest in the town centre, they bring an invaluable wealth of knowledge and experience.

The crucial benefit of Alloa First is that the goals and actions are set by the business community and the investment is spent locally.

What is a BID (Business Improvement District)?

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a geographically-defined area, where businesses come together and agree to invest collectively in projects and services that the businesses believe will improve their trading environment. BID projects are new and additional projects and services; they do not replace services that are already provided by Clackmannanshire Council and other statutory bodies.

BIDs are developed, managed and paid for by the non-domestic sector by means of a compulsory levy, which the eligible persons in the proposed BID area must vote in favour of before the BID can be established. Each eligible person liable to pay the BID levy will be able to vote on whether the BID goes ahead.

For the ballot to be successful there must be a minimum turnout of 25% by number of eligible voters (the headcount) and rateable value, with the majority voting in favour by both number and rateable value. This protects the small and large businesses as the voting system requires all four conditions to be met.

Alloa’s Town Centre BID first became operational in October 2008. Over the past 15 years, the BID has invested over £1,500,000 of levy payer’s money into Alloa town centre.