Labour MP David Lepper paid tribute in the House of Commons to Brighton and Hove's city centre business forum.
He said manager Tony Mernagh, chairman Derek Maddison and members had done great work in making the city a safe and pleasant place in which to shop.
But Mr Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said more could be done through business improvement districts where businesses agreed to make progress by allowing a levy to be imposed on them.
The money would be devoted to agreed improvements, which would make areas safer and cleaner, dealing with crime and grime.
Mr Lepper said in parts of the United States, including New York, business improvement districts had been a big success.
He said: "This is new territory, bringing together the public and the private sectors."
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