Many businesses in the area are family-owned and operate as small enterprises, presenting a valuable opportunity to support them through collaborative initiatives that strengthen and enhance the Town Centre. 

A Community Improvement District (CID) is a place-based partnership between local government and the community, led by local businesses, to support and grow local economies, town centres and main streets. Within a CID, stakeholders work together for a common goal of improving local spaces. CIDs can be a way to enhance the local trading environment, foster community collaboration and enable economic growth. 

Council has identified Guildford Town Centre as a ideal location to use grant funding and bring businesses together to support revitalisation as a Community Improvement District (CID). The Guildford Town Centre CID boundary runs from Railway Terrace in the west (parallel to the train tracks), extending eastward to Bolton Street as the eastern boundary (the exact area may be adjusted as part of early project planning). The Guildford Town Centre CID will focus on bringing together tenants and landowners situated on Guildford Road to be involved and help guide the vision and direction. 

Council has received funding from the NSW Government’s Community Improvement District Pilot Program (Round 2) to deliver a series of initiatives designed to celebrate Guildford’s character, diversity, and cultural richness. The funding can be used for physical improvements to the area including outdoor furniture, signage, lighting, greening (such as planting trees) and, ‘smart’ furniture and poles (that use digital technology such as sensors).

Involvement of local business is a vital component of a CID with its focus on support and grow local economies, town centres and main streets. The Guildford Town Centre CID is an opportunity to make improvements that will support greater economic activity and growth for the existing businesses and encourage opportunities for new businesses. As the program develops, Council will be working directly with local business to become involved in the CID. If you are a local business owner, you can sign up to stay up to date on development of the program and be informed of upcoming events.

The broader community can contribute to the CID by letting us know about their experiences and aspirations for Guildford Town Centre by filling our the survey below.

The development of the CID will have a positive impact for everyone that visits Guildford Town Centre by improving physical and social amenities.