LONDON - The London Downtown Business Association (LDBA) has launched its 2027–2031 Strategic Plan, setting a clear direction for the organization’s work on behalf of downtown businesses and property owners over the next five years. The plan aligns with the City of London’s Downtown Plan and 2026–2030 Economic Development Strategy, establishing how LDBA will contribute to shared priorities for downtown growth, revitalization and economic development. Building on the foundation of its previous strategic plan, the new framework reflects how downtown London continues to evolve and identifies where LDBA can have the greatest impact in supporting member success, strengthening the business environment and contributing to a vibrant, welcoming downtown. Developed through collaboration with the LDBA Board and staff, business and property owners, community organizations, institutional partners, City staff and civic leaders, the plan establishes priorities for advocacy, programs, partnerships and organizational decision-making. “The Strategic Plan gives the BIA a clear direction for the next five years and keeps its focus on what matters most to our members,” said Kristin Nielsen, Board Chair of the London Downtown Business Association. “Downtown is changing, and we need to continue adapting while staying grounded in our role as the voice of downtown businesses. This plan helps us focus our efforts, work toward shared priorities with our partners and remain accountable for the work we do on behalf of our members.” **A plan for a changing downtown** Downtown London is a major centre for employment, business, culture, entertainment, education and civic life. New residential and mixed-use development, changing patterns of work, evolving business needs and continued public and private investment are reshaping the downtown environment, creating both challenges and opportunities for businesses. The 2027–2031 Strategic Plan establishes four goals to guide LDBA’s work over the next five years. **Welcoming: A Clean, Safe, and Well-Cared-For Downtown Environment** LDBA will focus on cleanliness, maintenance and the stewardship of downtown’s public realm. This includes coordinated litter and waste collection, graffiti removal, beautification, public art and placemaking, alongside work with municipal, police and community partners on initiatives that support safety and community wellbeing. **Thriving: A Strong and Growing Downtown Business Base** Supporting business success remains central to LDBA’s work. The plan prioritizes business growth and retention, a diverse and complementary mix of businesses, coordinated marketing and promotion, and research that helps inform business and investment decisions. LDBA will also work with partners to support investment and initiatives that bring more people to live, work, learn and visit downtown. **Compelling: A Positive Everyday Experience** A successful downtown needs reasons for people to visit, return and spend time here throughout the year. LDBA will deliver events and promotions in coordination with members and partners, while advancing convenient, affordable parking, everyday amenities, placemaking and small-scale enhancements that encourage people to spend more time downtown. The plan also emphasizes creative use and activation of public and private spaces. **Collaborative: Partnerships and Stewardship** Many of the issues and opportunities facing downtown extend beyond the responsibility of any one organization. LDBA will strengthen coordination among municipal, institutional, community and business partners, identify opportunities to advance shared priorities, and draw on BIA networks and industry best practices to strengthen downtown management. Research, performance information and member feedback will help guide decisions and support evidence-based advocacy. **Working alongside the City's plans** LDBA’s Strategic Plan comes at an important time for downtown London. The City of London’s Downtown Plan establishes a broader, long-term direction for downtown growth and revitalization, while the City’s 2026–2030 Economic Development Strategy, The Centre of Opportunity, outlines priorities for economic growth, investment, business development, talent and innovation. LDBA’s plan complements both, defining how the organization will contribute within its own role and mandate while working with the City and other partners toward shared priorities. The City’s Economic Development Strategy identifies downtown as an economic and cultural driver and includes actions to support downtown businesses, encourage investment in underutilized properties and strengthen London’s creative economy. Downtown London is identified as a partner in several of these areas. By aligning its work with these broader plans, LDBA can help connect city-building priorities with the needs of downtown businesses, support coordination among partners and advocate for the resources and actions needed to strengthen downtown. The shared direction creates opportunities to make the most of public and private investment and work toward meaningful outcomes for downtown London. “The plan gives us a practical framework for turning priorities into action,” said Vicki Smith, Interim Executive Director of the London Downtown Business Association. “We’ll use it to guide our programs, advocacy, partnerships and decisions about where to focus our resources. Working alongside the City and our other partners, we want to help maximize the impact of investments in downtown and support the conditions businesses need to grow and succeed.” **Measuring progress and turning strategy into action** The 2027–2031 Strategic Plan includes 14 strategic objectives supported by a measurement framework. LDBA will establish baselines using the most reliable information available, monitor progress and review results with the Board annually. Measures will draw on information such as program and operational data, business and market information, visitation, marketing analytics, member feedback and relevant municipal and third-party data. The findings will help inform annual priorities, programming, advocacy, partnerships and resource allocation as downtown conditions continue to change. The framework will also allow LDBA to refine its measures and data sources as better information becomes available, while maintaining alignment with the plan’s goals and objectives. Reporting will consider both the work LDBA delivers and, where reliable data are available, changes in downtown conditions. Through this approach, the Board and staff are committing to using the Strategic Plan as an active tool for decision-making, evaluating progress and adapting LDBA’s work as downtown evolves. Read the 2027–2031 Strategic Plan: [https://www.downtownlondon.ca/reports/](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___https://www.downtownlondon.ca/reports/___.YXYyYzpsZWRjOmE6bzplM2I2NmVjMDU3N2Q0ZTQ5ZDlhZWZkYmNhZDRiYzg5MTo3OjJmOWU6MzFhM2NjYjI2ODk2OWM3ZWU5M2QyZDk2OTA3OTI4ZTg0ZWM5ZDJkMWNlNDU1MDI4OTU3ODQyYjFkZGM2MzViNTpoOlQ6Tg "https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___https://www.downtownlondon.ca/reports/___.YXYyYzpsZWRjOmE6bzplM2I2NmVjMDU3N2Q0ZTQ5ZDlhZWZkYmNhZDRiYzg5MTo3OjJmOWU6MzFhM2NjYjI2ODk2OWM3ZWU5M2QyZDk2OTA3OTI4ZTg0ZWM5ZDJkMWNlNDU1MDI4OTU3ODQyYjFkZGM2MzViNTpoOlQ6Tg") **Background:** Link to City of London’s Downtown Plan: [https://hdp-ca-prod-app-ldnca-getinvolved-files.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/2917/8344/6571/2026-06-30\_London\_Downtown\_Plan\_AODA-compressed.pdf](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___https://hdp-ca-prod-app-ldnca-getinvolved-files.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/2917/8344/6571/2026-06-30_London_Downtown_Plan_AODA-compressed.pdf___.YXYyYzpsZWRjOmE6bzplM2I2NmVjMDU3N2Q0ZTQ5ZDlhZWZkYmNhZDRiYzg5MTo3OjZkYWE6NzQyY2I1Njc2N2MzZjA0ZWNiOTQ5Yjc2ZGI0NTUyZmFlNThhZTc2MDAwMTA4MjMxNmYwODIxZTVkYzlmOWQ3YjpoOlQ6Tg "https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___https://hdp-ca-prod-app-ldnca-getinvolved-files.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/2917/8344/6571/2026-06-30_London_Downtown_Plan_AODA-compressed.pdf___.YXYyYzpsZWRjOmE6bzplM2I2NmVjMDU3N2Q0ZTQ5ZDlhZWZkYmNhZDRiYzg5MTo3OjZkYWE6NzQyY2I1Njc2N2MzZjA0ZWNiOTQ5Yjc2ZGI0NTUyZmFlNThhZTc2MDAwMTA4MjMxNmYwODIxZTVkYzlmOWQ3YjpoOlQ6Tg") Link to City of London’s Economic Plan: [https://hdp-ca-prod-app-ldnca-getinvolved-files.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/5217/8109/7936/The\_Centre\_of\_Opportunity\_-\_strategy\_and\_implementation\_plan\_2.pdf](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___https://hdp-ca-prod-app-ldnca-getinvolved-files.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/5217/8109/7936/The_Centre_of_Opportunity_-_strategy_and_implementation_plan_2.pdf___.YXYyYzpsZWRjOmE6bzplM2I2NmVjMDU3N2Q0ZTQ5ZDlhZWZkYmNhZDRiYzg5MTo3Ojk4NmE6ZGE4ZWYzYmJlZWJhOGExMDkxYTQwNjcxOTdiZjE5NThmYWQyNTc4ZWQwYzZkZWY4NjQ3NDE2MGRkZGQ2YzUxMDpoOlQ6Tg "https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___https://hdp-ca-prod-app-ldnca-getinvolved-files.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/5217/8109/7936/The_Centre_of_Opportunity_-_strategy_and_implementation_plan_2.pdf___.YXYyYzpsZWRjOmE6bzplM2I2NmVjMDU3N2Q0ZTQ5ZDlhZWZkYmNhZDRiYzg5MTo3Ojk4NmE6ZGE4ZWYzYmJlZWJhOGExMDkxYTQwNjcxOTdiZjE5NThmYWQyNTc4ZWQwYzZkZWY4NjQ3NDE2MGRkZGQ2YzUxMDpoOlQ6Tg") **For more information or comments, please contact:** **Vicki Smith** Interim Executive Director Downtown London [Vicki@downtownlondon.ca](mailto:Vicki@downtownlondon.ca "mailto:Vicki@downtownlondon.ca") 519-663-2002 **Brent Hodson** Marketing and Communications Manager Downtown London [Brent@downtownlondon.ca](mailto:Brent@downtownlondon.ca "mailto:Brent@downtownlondon.ca") 519-663-2002 **About Downtown London** [Downtown London](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___http://www.downtownlondon.ca/___.YXYyYzpsZWRjOmE6bzplM2I2NmVjMDU3N2Q0ZTQ5ZDlhZWZkYmNhZDRiYzg5MTo3OmFhMmU6NDAwNzM4MTU3NDkxNGI4NmNmY2EyYTFjOTJiNGJhNjk3YzIyN2M3ZmJlMjU5ZmE1MWEyNzk5ZTE0ZDQ5Y2UxZDpoOlQ6Tg "https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___http://www.downtownlondon.ca/___.YXYyYzpsZWRjOmE6bzplM2I2NmVjMDU3N2Q0ZTQ5ZDlhZWZkYmNhZDRiYzg5MTo3OmFhMmU6NDAwNzM4MTU3NDkxNGI4NmNmY2EyYTFjOTJiNGJhNjk3YzIyN2M3ZmJlMjU5ZmE1MWEyNzk5ZTE0ZDQ5Y2UxZDpoOlQ6Tg") is the catalyst and connector for a shared community vision of London’s downtown, on behalf of members, in partnership with the City of London and in support of major economic development, cultural, educational, and private sector stakeholders. Downtown London’s mission supports member success, vibrant streets, and a safe, welcoming downtown through public realm care, promotion, advocacy, and partnerships.