The Dufferin Finch Business Improvement Area represents the area bounded by Sheppard Avenue, Keele Street, Steeles Ave and Dufferin Street. It is a remarkable organization with 2,500 businesses employing over 32,000 people. The BIA has been in operation since May 2014 and is already having a strong positive impact. It is well on the way to improving the lives of those who make a living here as well as the lives of the residential neighbourhoods to its east and west.The importance of this area has not been obvious in the past. Successful businesses worked individually and the advantages of working together were not exploited. This has all changed thanks to the visionary leadership of the local City of Toronto Councillor, Anthony Perruzza and the members of the Dufferin Finch BIA Board of Directors.The Dufferin Finch BIA provides practically everything needed to carry on life. Here you can find ergonomically and attractive workplace furniture at Teknion, a wide array of medical and recreational facilities at the Champagne Centre, nutritious foods through retail outlets and wholesalers such as Fiera Foods, lawyers, building contractors, real estate brokers, packaging companies such as Luv2Pak‎, fuels, cars, clothing and almost anything else you can think of.The Dufferin Finch BIA's importance has always been facilitated by a well-developed and easily accessible system of local roads, arterial roads and highways (Allen Road, Hwy 400, and Hwy 401).All three orders of government have provided basic public transit and soon we will see significant improvements through the Finch West LRT with its Keele Street terminus and the new GO Station close to the Chesswood and Sheppard intersection, provided by Metrolinx. The TTC's University-Spadina Subway Extension to York University will greatly improve speeds and comfort for riders as well. Importantly, these new connections will transform the area into a hub for commuters and will attract new investment into the area.There is much going on within the Dufferin Finch BIA area and its surroundings. It is well worth taking notice and appreciating.For more information: http://dufferinfinchbia.ca/index.htmlEditor: Joe Pantalone