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Our Mission is to grow and become a solution to the problems in our society. To grow, we must recognize our strengths. Our strength is those around us. The Belmont Merchant's Association is a non-profit organization focused on improving the commercial corridor of Belmont Avenue. Its primary goal is:

BMA History

A few merchants approached Fresno's Redevelopment Agency seeking assistance in creating an organization to address the business concerns on Belmont's commercial corridor. The BMA started taking shape in early to mid 2009 with merchants meeting regularly to discuss ways to help bring more business to Belmont. In December 2009, the BMA officially became an organization and adopted a non-profit status to benefit all of the business on the street.

The Belmont Merchant's Association currently has 50 formal members. The more members we have, the stronger the voice we carry in the community and the easier it will be to work towards fixing the problems on our street - sidewalks, graffiti, prostitution and crime.

Some of our Participating Businesses:

Information About Belmont

There are approximately 208 businesses on Belmont between Highway 41 and Chestnut Avenue. Fifty-one percent of these businesses are automotive related. Forty three percent of the businesses have been on Belmont over 10 years. Seventy-seven percent of the businesses responded in a survey that their business comes from over 3 miles away. Approximately 21,000 people are located within walking distance of Belmont Avenue.

What can you do?

What the BMA needs now is active members interested in helping the commercial side of Belmont.

By becoming a member, you can help the organization put on events in the community, attend meetings to discuss sidewalk repairs, policing problems, or hear what's going on in the community.

The BMA is here to help the business on Belmont grow stronger. Working together is the necessary step to help Belmont and help our businesses.

2009 -

1. Roger Hanke, President of the BMA, worked with Triangle and Associates to put together the Belmont Merchants Association
2. The Fresno RDA submitted a grant application ($200,000?) for Cal Trans Planning Grant and Roger wrote a support letter on behalf of the BMA. Unfortunately the grant was not awarded but a good learning experience.
3. BMA had a later success in being awarded a COG Transportation and Planning Grant in the amount of $2,500.

2009/2010 -

1. Roger invited a varied group of guest speakers to the BMA meetings including: City of Fresno Code, COF PD, COF PW, Dave Martin re RDA Storefront program and later Valley Small Business whose loan program complimented the RDA store front program to name a few.
2. The Fresno Bee wrote an article about the BMA highlighting the group's goals and brought public recognition to Belmont merchants. An additional article appeared in a Spanish publication.
3. One of the first priorities/issues the BMA discussed was improving the perception of Belmont as being a safe place to visit and do business. In 2010 a street lighting project was completed infusing a total of $1.2 million of improvement dollars to Belmont Avenue. The project began in 2007 and with the support of the BMA was completed in 2010.

2010 -

1. Roger contacted Councilmember Perea's office and spoke with Sherry Vargas about Belmont needing improvements at one of its bus stops near Barton. Because of that call, FAX, which did not have any projects scheduled for the area, did add a bench and trash receptacle.
2. After a tour of Belmont Avenue followed by a roundtable discussion, it was pointed out to Councilmember Perea that there were missing sidewalks. Per a request from the District 7 office, the Public Works department identified seven locations with missing sidewalks/curb cuts and quoted a price of approximately $50,000 to complete. Roger emphasized the importance of getting the sidewalks installed and Henry agreed. District 7 was able to use its remaining infrastructure budget for all 7 locations - completed in August.
3. On August 3rd, Dan Zoldak spoke at the BMA meeting to educated business and property owners about ADA compliance which was quite an eye opener. Following that meeting, Roger Hanke met with the Redevelopment Agency Executive Director, Marlene Murphey, Dave Martin and Sherry Vargas to discuss a possible program to help Belmont businesses. This resulted in a new program to assist businesses in addressing ADA requirements on the outside of their properties. Funding was also set aside by the RDA to hire the services of Dan Zoldak to evaluate and recommend changes to bring properties into ADA compliance.

Future Project

1. A four phrase median upgrade project has been put on hold because of budget constraints.

Summary - Over the past three years, over 1.2 million in improvement dollars has been invested in Belmont Avenue from Freeway 41 to Chestnut Avenue.