Downtown St. Stephen (DSS) is a non-profit Business Improvement Area (BIA) organization, which aims to encourage and sustain economic growth and enhance the commercial viability of St. Stephen’s non-residential downtown area. Downtown St. Stephen is one of many BIA organizations that were created in New Brunswick after the Provincial Government passed the Business Improvement Areas Act in 1981. This Act gave local municipal councils the authority to establish a BIA, by by-law, when their local business community petitions them to do so. When such a by-law is passed owners of commercial property within the designated BIA form a non-trading corporation to represent the BIA’s interests. BIAs usually encompass the “downtown” area of a municipality.

Once a BIA organization is established, its board of directors can request that the local municipal council impose a levy on all non-residential property within the boundaries of the BIA. Money generated by this levy can be used to establish an operating office, implement promotional campaigns, and undertake improvement and beautification projects within the BIA. St. Stephen’s BIA includes all non-residential property on King Street beginning at the St. Stephen Inn, down Milltown Boulevard to Water Street, including customs, Budd Avenue, and the Waterfront. The Waterfront includes all businesses on the river and wharf area.