The bel air downtown alliance, inc. Is organized to lessen the burdens of government by improving and strengthening the economic base in the downtown area of the town of bel air through an alliance to aid businesses, real property owners, residents and tenants in the downtown area. The alliance exists to foster and support a vibrant business community and visitor-friendly destination in downtown bel air.

Economic Development

The alliance sponsored 11 community events in the town of bel air, md, serving to strengthen the economic base and sense of community for its businesses and residents. The events conducted were the maryland bbq bash (held annually in august each year), outdoor movies in shamrock park, first fridays (held the first friday during the months of may through october), annual christmas parade, sweets on the streets chocolate and candy festival, chocolate brew tour, girls night out, the belle aire market, bel air beer week, roll out the barrel and a 15th anniversary celebration. These eleven events include three new events, bel air beer week, roll out the barrel and the 15th anniversary celebration, and were in addition to seasonal activities conducted by the alliance such as small business saturday and main street social. A new event, oktoberfest, will be held in the fall of 2017 for which some income was received during this fiscal year ended 06/30/2017. the hearts of harford campaign, begun by the alliance in fiscal-year ended 6/30/2012, as well as the hometown heros banner program, continued in the current fiscal year. The heart of harford campaign commissions a local artist to design and decorate a heart sculpture for placement in the town of bel air. The hometown heroes banner program honors men and women from the harford county area who have served or are currently serving our country. Each banner includes the soldier's picture, branch of service and era of service. All banners are displayed on main street from may to july and again in november for veterans day. The bel air alliance implemented new projects in the current year to increase tourism and civic pride through it's new town beautification and revitalization projects including the a&e sculptural bike rack project, the armory improvement and the facade improvement projects, the keystone bike rack project and the new wayfinding kiosks project. These new projects were funded via five new grants as well as from contributions from participants, sponsors and the town of bel air.