Revitalizing Vaughan’s main street businesses
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City of Vaughan is participating in My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program
In efforts to continue to support local business owners, the City of Vaughan is participating in the Government of Canada’s My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program, providing a total of $115,000 in non-repayable contributions to help revitalize main street businesses.
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, announced a $23.5-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 across southern Ontario.
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 downtowns while providing residents, new entrepreneurs, jobs and existing businesses with economic opportunities in our communities.
Thornhill’s Yonge Street and Centre Street corridors, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and Highway 7 West will be supported with dedicated Main Street Ambassadors, customized market research, data analysis and non-repayable funding contributions for new and existing small businesses.
The My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program contributes to achieving the mandate of the City’s Advantage Vaughan initiative. In February 2022, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and members of Council took the next step in supporting the business community by endorsing Advantage Vaughan, Phase 3 of the City’s economic development response to COVID-19. This proposes a series of programs to support four strategic pillars of the economy, including:
- local small business owners and entrepreneurs.
- Vaughan’s residents who make up the city’s talent base.
- Vaughan’s local organizations which animate the community and foster local destination development opportunities.
- community branding and marketing to demonstrate the advantages of doing business in Vaughan.
In addition, Vaughan’s Economic Development team provides other services to the business community, including advisory consultations to entrepreneurs and businesses of all stages and sizes via tele- or video-conference, email and phone, and training and education to move businesses online, pivot strategies or start anew. Vaughan businesses are also eligible to participate in the City’s Starter Company Plus program, which offers training to brick and mortar and start-up entrepreneurs in developing their business plan, marketing strategies and budgeting and financial forecasts.
QUOTES
“Throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Vaughan has remained steadfast in our shared commitment to deliver Service Excellence by ensuring city businesses continue to thrive. Being ready, resilient and resourceful are the values that have guided our efforts through these unprecedented times. In Vaughan, we believe in providing entrepreneurs with the tools that are required to drive innovation and achieve the ultimate goal of creating a successful and environmentally sustainable business. The City’s Economic Development department launched the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program to help revitalize main street businesses and provide opportunities that facilitate business growth. Creating the right environment to help professionals unleash their full potential is a top priority as we work to ensure Vaughan’s business community remains resilient and prosperous. We remain committed to supporting small businesses because we understand our strength lies in their success.”
- His Worship Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor, City of Vaughan
“The Government of Canada recognizes the vital role that local businesses and main streets play in the Canadian economy. The My Main Street program offers critical funding and services for local businesses to find new ways to adapt and to create new economic opportunities for local communities to help them recover and grow.”
- The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“Main street businesses have endured unprecedented adversity over the past two years. The My Main Street program not only provides access to a range of valuable supports and services, but also the hope that small businesses will find new and exciting ways to bring customers back to their communities.”
- Francesco Sorbara, Member of Parliament, Vaughan-Woodbridge
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