Question Period Note: FedDev Ontario Investments in My Main Street

FedDev Ontario Investments in My Main Street

• The Government of Canada recognizes that small businesses are the lifeblood of main streets and that their vibrancy is critical for building strong communities.

• This is why we put in place the My Main Street initiative, which will help main street businesses and organizations bring people back to local shops and restaurants, while creating new employment opportunities in communities.

• In January, the Government of Canada announced a $15 million investment for the Canadian Urban Institute to continue the recovery and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario through the My Main Street initiative.

• The My Main Street initiative was first announced in August 2021, to support the recovery and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario. FedDev Ontario invested up to $23.25 million in the initiative which was delivered through a partnership between the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO). From 2021 through 2023, this investment supported over 4,000 businesses and organizations and over 7,000 jobs, and it leveraged over $18 million in additional investment.

• The My Main Street initiative was delivered through two program streams: The My Main Street Local Business Accelerator (LBA), and the My Main Street Community Activator (CA):

o LBA, which was delivered by EDCO, provided support to hire Main Street Ambassadors to engage with local businesses and entrepreneurs in communities across the region. It also supported customized marketing research and data analysis (on behalf of Business Improvement Districts, municipalities and other My Main Street host organizations) and made available non-repayable funding contributions for small businesses.

o CA, which was delivered by CUI, worked with not-for-profit organizations in communities across southern Ontario to help reanimate neighbourhoods, through installations, events and activities that provided local communities with safe, outdoor experiences to enjoy and helped drive foot traffic back to main streets.

• Building on the 2021 investment, in January 2024, CUI is delivering two program streams for businesses and community not-for-profit organizations in support of main streets:

o My Main Street Business Sustainability Stream: will provide non-repayable contributions of up to $20,000 in direct-to-business funding to support productivity enhancements for over 325 businesses located on main streets across southern Ontario.
o My Main Street Community Activator Stream: will provide non-repayable contributions of up to $250,000 to support over 75 community not-for-profit projects across southern Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area, focused on high-impact placemaking activities.

• The intake is currently closed and CUI is engaging with selected recipients.

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