WELLINGTON NORTH – Downtown streets in Arthur and Mount Forest will be closed on alternating August weekends to promote local shopping.
Wellington North council supported the concept, presented in a report from economic development officer Dale Small, at its July 13 meeting.
In an effort to promote downtown shopping and ensure physical distancing “in a safe and comfortable environment” council authorized the closure of George Street in Arthur on Aug. 15 and 29 and Main Street in Mount Forest on Aug. 8 and 22.
Also at the July 13 meeting, council, in order to continue to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and to help stimulate the economic recovery, approved an additional allocation of $25,000 to the municipality’s Community Improvement Program in 2020.
Council also approved several Community Improvement Program grants, including:
- $500 for a façade improvement grant (new signage) at 101 Main Street North in Mount Forest, new home to B & A Gardens;
- $2,500 façade improvement grant at 212 Main Street North in Mount Forest, location of The Co-operators;
- $2,500 façade Improvement grant and a $2,500 façade improvement loan for improvements at 9103 Highway 6 in Kenilworth (new owner Marc McCrae);
- 2,500 façade improvement grant at 274 Main Street South in Mount Forest, home to Dufferin Mutual Insurance and a vacant unit;
- $246 for a façade improvement grant and $630 blade sign grant at 257 Main Street South in Mount Forest, new home to The Imagination Space; and
- $2,500 façade improvement grant at 9128 Highway 6 in Kenilworth, home to Epoch’s Garage.
“I think this is a great program; always happy to see that businesses are still interested in this program. It’s had some longevity,” noted councillor Sherry Burke.
Burke asked Small if the requested $25,000 is “because we know more projects are coming in and this will be eaten up fairly quickly?”
“I’m sure that this $25,00, councillor Burke, will actually be enough, but I think it will hopefully get us through to the end of the year,” replied Small.
“I have about six more businesses that I’m working with applications on.”
Small noted that the projects presented for approval at the meeting would deplete the remaining CIP dollars allocated for 2020.
“So I think another $20,000 … It’s a great sign to our businesses that council supports the community improvement program and we’re doing what we can to try and support businesses through the pandemic,” he said.
Mayor Andy Lennox said he is impressed with the uptake on the program from businesses, especially through the current difficult economic times.
He said the program has “built very dramatically over the last couple of years,” and represents an investment in the future.
“While our business are struggling to deal with the pandemic and its results, the willingness to invest in this is not only helps them recover today but it will help them build for the future as well,” said Lennox.
“These are improvements that will enhance our downtowns and our business areas for a number of years to come.”
Street closures
In a written report, Small explained the closures of George Street in Arthur (Aug. 15 and 29) and Main Street in Mount Forest (Aug. 8 and 22) will allow downtown businesses to display merchandise on sidewalks, offer curbside pickup and adhere to physical distancing requirements.
Traffic will be detoured from 7:30am to 5pm.
Small added retail businesses not located downtown will be allowed to set up a location if they wish and staff will work with community service and not-for-profits groups to arrange for entertainment and food as allowed under pandemic restrictions.
Councillor Lisa Hern noted the Arthur Lions Club had advised her “they would like to sell hot dogs and stuff as long as they can meet the health requirements to raise funds for the BMX park.”
The report notes local Chambers of Commerce and Business Improvement Associations are “in total support of this program and will actively support the marketing and promotion that is required to make it a successful time.”
“To say that they are in total support of this is probably understating it. They were all very excited and offering to help … I think it will be a great day,” said Hern.
Small noted the recent announcement that Wellington County will be moving to stage three of the province’s reopening plan will alleviate some of the concerns about promoting public gathering.
“There had been some concerns around numbers of people and stuff like that,” he pointed out.
Mayor Andy Lennox said, “I look forward to these events to try to support those downtown businesses. Certainly this past year has been very difficult for them.”
