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The popular annual Westfest might have to move after the local Business Improvement Area has voted to cancel their annual $125,000 grant.

Westfest founder and executive director Elaina Martin says she was informed of the BIA’s decision by email during her holidays. The email came just as positive reviews of this year’s festival were pouring in.

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The essence of the email was that the BIA was invoking its opt out clause and was moving in a different direction. The decision has caused consternation among businesses in Westboro who have benefited from the $500,000 festival every June since 2004.

Martin says the BIA and the festival had concluded a five-year contract in July 2014. At that time Martin was told that the BIA needed to cut back. She says she cut $25,000 from her budget and signed a new two-year agreement.

This past June’s event was the first under the new deal.

“Everything was great, our surveys went out and came back and everyone was happy and I actually went on holiday. They even sent us a letter saying the event was so good. The next thing I knew I was getting an email sent to me from my office which said essentially the BIA was exercising their opt out.”