What is GBA?

Revised 08/16/2008

The Govanstowne Business Association (GBA) was established in 1980 as one of nine Retail Business Districts throughout the City of Baltimore. The GBA district boundaries include businesses that are in the area that extends from the city/county line to 43rd street, along the York Road corridor. A portion of the Retail Business District License (RBDL) fees paid by the businesses to Baltimore City are provided to the nine RBDL districts, to be used for business promotions, to encourage shopping and for part-time staffing.

Refer to GBA Work Plan (http://www.govanstowne.org/gba_work_plan), and Annual Summaries (http://www.govanstowne.org/annual_summary) for more information.

The following is a list of some of the GBA projects and activities:

• GBA represents the businesses at community meetings or other meetings concerning matters that affect the business community. GBA is available to assist any individual business with a specific concern. Just contact GBA (410) 433-8289, Govanstowne@aol.com) or any Board member.
• GBA engages in promotional activities designed to bring customers into our businesses, including publishing and distributing the annual GBA Directories and working with community members to award Good Neighbor Awards that acknowledge streetscape appearance improvements by businesses. Past GBA promotional projects include a 2-day SeptemberFest street festival, parade, coupon books, Thanksgiving dinner and Holiday events. Events are now being planned, so let us know your suggestions!
• GBA promotes programs to help GBA business members, including: Façade Improvement Grant, Signs for Success Grant, Shop Baltimore Loan Program, architectural services provided through the Affiliate Main Street designation, Enterprise Zone Tax Credits, and the Community Block Watch program. Call for more information about any of these programs offered, to find out how your business can benefit.
• GBA promotes communication by publishing the GBA Gazette newsletter and other mailings, and GBA also communicates with the residential community. GBA is currently working on developing a GBA business e-mail (or fax) distribution list, which will further communication to more GBA members.
• GBA works to improve the appearance of York Road in many ways, including: hiring area teenagers (GBA-CARES) weekly for trash clean-up and beautification efforts; Streetscape improvement projects, including benches, lights, trash cans, new sidewalks; and various grant applications for plantings, improvements and maintenance.
• GBA acts as a proponent for new commercial endeavors along the York Road corridor, including: support for the Walgreens and Eckerds development proposals, parking improvement efforts, as well as support for redevelopment of Belvedere Square (except when a proposal included condemnation of homes against a community's wishes!). GBA participates in all Charettes regarding the GBA business district.
• GBA believes in supporting the community in many ways, including SAX Summer Music and Dance Camp; National Night Out Against Crime; Sponsorship of Police Athletic League (PAL) and other youth groups; and GBA/CARES program, which is our exciting new joint venture between the Civic and Religious Emergency Services, or CARES (a division of Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation, or GEDCO), this program provides work opportunities for Govans area youths, while also assisting businesses, neighbors, schools and religious organizations with part-time assistance.