BID4Oban uses part of the levy it collects from the business community to help support local events, festivals and community organisations. Since its inception, £212k has been invested in the Oban community ensuring events can function and are supported financially; with the organisation supporting festivals, clubs and community organisations.
Oban Live has been supported from the start and now generates in excess of £1.4M in economic benefit to the businesses in the town. Daniel Gillespie of Decade Events Ltd who organise Oban Live said: ‘Without the outstanding support of BID4Oban in terms of their financial contribution and in-kind support from the BID4Oban employees it would make the event more difficult to organise.
BID4Oban work in tandem with our team to ensure Oban Live is the success it is today.’ Another event that has benefited from financial and in-kind support is The Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival held in May each year generating an economic benefit to Oban of £1.2M. Motorfest has grown since small beginnings in 2015. Now held in September, it attracted in excess of 70 vehicles on display, many from outwith the local area. Combined with a mountain bike stunt show in 2018 it brought in excess of 2,500 visitors.