Revitalization program for downtown and Merritton neighbourhoods

Today, the City of St. Catharines is pleased to announce that the downtown and Merritton neighbourhoods will be participating in the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program to help revitalize main streets.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced a $23.25-million investment to the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) to establish My Main Street — a two-year program to support the recovery and revitalization of main streets and local businesses in southern Ontario through two program streams.

“The My Main Street Business Accelerator program will play an important role in supporting new and existing businesses in our downtown and Merritton neighbourhoods,” said City Director of Economic Development and Tourism Services Brian York. “In particular, this program will support BIPOC, women-led and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and businesses to ensure that our main streets remain vibrant and reflect our City’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”

EDCO is delivering the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program stream, which supports the revitalization of 65 main street communities, and provides non-repayable contributions for more than 650 local businesses across southern Ontario. The program focuses on creating and maintaining vibrant and inclusive local main streets while providing residents, new entrepreneurs, and existing businesses with economic opportunities in our main street communities.

The City of St. Catharines’ Economic Development and Tourism Services department will administer the program locally with the support of the EDCO.

The downtown and Merritton main street communities in St. Catharines will be supported with a dedicated main street ambassador, customized market research, data analysis and non-repayable funding contributions for new and existing small businesses.

For program details and further information, please visit https://mymainstreet.ca/accelerator-program.