One of Birmingham's business improvement districts has launched its official bid to secure a fourth term of office.
Colmore BID says it wants to deliver creative and cultural places and increase accessibility and sustainability if it wins the backing of businesses.
The vote will run from September 28 to October 26 and, if successful, Colmore BID's fourth five-year term will start in April. Known as the BID4 Business Plan, it will focus on seven key areas.
Among the ideas are the launch of a new creative and cultural strategy to support businesses and organisations in the sector, a new funding round of at least £10 million for green initiatives and public realm and a plan to maximise opportunities for the leisure and hospitality sectors.
Colmore BID also wants to help nurture the next generation of business leaders through events, workshops, mentoring and work placements and host its first ever Festival of Business.
It said it would also work with the city council on a long-term strategy for freight and delivery vehicles entering the business district. Investment into the area is expected to be around £7.5 million.
A consultation was launched in January with local businesses and tenants involving more than 2,000 people ahead of the preparation of the business plan which was unveiled at an event in Birmingham last night.
A BID is a precisely defined geographic area in which companies pay an extra levy on top of their business rates to fund additional services such as events and initiatives.
Colmore BID is one of several across Birmingham city centre and its area covers Colmore Row and the surrounding streets, Snow Hill and the new Paradise estate.
It runs an annual food festival, which returns next month after a four-year hiatus, employs a team of security officers to work in the district and delivered the public realm work in Church Street.
BID chairwoman Nicola Fleet-Milne said: "It is our vision as a BID to make the Colmore Business District a desirable place for everyone who works, visits or lives here.
"We strive for businesses and their employees to have lots of ways to communicate with one another to allow for innovation and communication.
"Following the launch of the business plan, we are now focused on the execution of our BID4 promises and the start of the postal ballot in September.
"The ballot will determine Colmore BID's future and will hopefully lead to the continued success of the district and the broader city."
The result will be announced on October 30.
