WELLINGTON COUNTY – The county’s economic development department is advising local business groups and non-profits of an opportunity to fund projects to enhance their communities.
In its latest In Business News newsletter, the department notes the My Main Street Community Activator Program, funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, is making available $25,000 to $250,000 in funding to approximately 140 individual projects occurring between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022.
The program is currently accepting applications for reimbursements against costs of projects incurred between those dates.
My Mainstreet Community Activator funds are available for projects which “help to revitalize neighbourhoods and reimagine public spaces,” the newsletter states.
The program offers funding for the following categories:
- events and activations: short, limited or repeating community events or activations;
- community improvements: above-grade enhancements to streetscape, design, landscaping and amenities that support the transformation of a specific geographic area; and
- policy and capacity building: strategies, partnerships and capacities that will facilitate a focused, deliberate path to revitalizing or strengthening a downtown or commercial district’s economy.
For-profit businesses (on their own) are not eligible to apply for this program, but representatives of the following groups are eligible:
- municipality, local or regional government;
- business improvement areas (BIAs);
- Indigenous governing body or development corporation;
- federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit; and
- other community organizations that apply with another organization that is listed as eligible.
My Main Street is a partnership between the Economic Development Council of Ontario and the Canadian Urban Institute.
For information or to apply go to mymainstreet.ca. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 1.
