WHO WE ARE: We are a 501c6 non-profit merchant association comprised of business owners and residents of the South Wedge area of Rochester, New York. We were founded in 2003 with the mission of improving the commercial district on behalf of the business owners in the area. There are eight people on our board of directors, all of whom live in the South Wedge area neighborhoods.

WHAT WE DO: Our mission has developed into a broader one that includes promotion of the South Wedge area through group advertising, public art, beautification, and cultural events in the commercial districts of South Avenue, Gregory Street, and Mt. Hope Avenue. We also maintain and install street banners, benches, planters, and other streetscape enhancements. We have two websites that we maintain, www.baswa.org for business owners and www.southwedge.com for community residents and visitors. The latter site is a business directory site that features all businesses within our service area.

WHAT IS OUR SERVICE AREA: Our service area is located primarily on the commercial strips of South Avenue from Byron Street to Highland Avenue, Mt. Hope Avenue from Byron Street to Highland Avenue, S. Clinton Avenue from Byron Street to Gregory Street, and Gregory Street. We welcome any businesses within this area or in the surrounding areas to join us; however our projects will most often be focused within this service area. We have expanded these boundaries slightly on our website,www.southwedge.com, to include the southern portion of South Clinton Avenue to Goodman Street, in order to accommodate some additional business listings to enhance the usability of the website.

WHEN DO WE MEET: We meet on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM at the Swedge Shop at 732 South Avenue. We communicate primarily via email; sending out meeting notices, project updates, promotional opportunities, and information and news from area businesses, neighborhood groups, and city hall several times each month.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST: BASWA memberships are renewed annually and run from July 1st through June 30th. Membership dues are $100 for commercial businesses or property owners and $50 for non-profit businesses. You may join BASWA at any time during the fiscal year however; we prorate memberships on a monthly basis by deducting $8.33 for each month past July. For example, if you join November 15th your membership will begin December 1st and your membership fee will be $58.35 and will expire June 30th of the following year.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP: Besides the intangible but vitally important outcome of helping us to beautify and promote the South Wedge area through marketing, events, landscaping, and streetscape enhancements, we also offer the following benefits to members:

• 25% Discount - BASWA Event Tickets
• Discounted Membership - Visit Rochester
• Free Real Estate Postings - southwedge.com
• Half-Price Advertising on Clock Tower
• Discounted Advertising - The Wedge
• Free Advertising - City E-Newsletter (subject to availability)
• 25% Discount - Swedge Shop merchandise
• Wholesale case prices - Swedge Shop
• $15 Swag Bags - Swedge Shop (regular price $25)

HOW DO I JOIN: Fill out the form located here and mail it or drop it off to the address below with your membership dues in the form of cash or check made out to BASWA. We will email you a paid invoice upon receipt of this and you will be added to our distribution list to receive our email notifications and you will be eligible for all member benefits. A board member will contact you to get your business set up onwww.southwedge.com and we hope you’ll join us at meetings and participate in our projects. The address to mail or drop off your membership dues and the form below: Business Association of the South Wedge Area 732 South Avenue Rochester, NY 14620

CURRENT MEMBERS: ABVI Caverly’s Irish Pub Cheesy Eddie’s Cheryl Stevens & Doug Root Conifer Dave Halter Echo-Tone Music Emanuel Church Episcopal SeniorLife Community Flower City Management Full Moon Vista Genesee Co-op Genesee Heating Gordon Corp. Groove Juice Swing Hedonist Artisan Chocolates Highland Hospital Highland Park Bodyworks Historic Houseparts John’s Tex-Mex Kenron Konar Real Estate Lutheran Church of Peace Lux Lounge Midland Management NeighborWorks Open Face Sandwich Eatery Postler & Jaeckle Premier Pastry Rochester Childfirst Network Rose O’Keefe Ryan Heating South Wedge Colony Southview Towers St. Boniface St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center Stanley Steemer Stonelove Masonry Tap and Mallet Wedge Redux, LLC Renewing Massage