Hamilton, Ontario – February 16, 2022 — Today, the City of Hamilton is pleased to announce that it has been approved for a $945,000 non-repayable contribution and will be participating in the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program to help revitalize our 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.
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.
Six of Hamilton’s main street communities will be supported by dedicated Main Street Ambassadors, customized market research, data analysis and non-repayable funding contributions for new and existing small businesses.
The participating main street areas are:
- International Village BIA and King Street East Corridor
- James Street Corridor
- Waterdown BIA
- Western Downtown (Locke Street BIA/Main West BIA/Hess Village/King West BIA)
- Stoney Creek/East Hamilton
- Concession Street BIA
“The Government of Canada is proud to support our local main street businesses and ensure they have the tools they need to innovate and recover. The My Main Street program offers critical funding and services for local businesses as they find ways to adapt and create new and inclusive economic opportunities that will help them rebuild and restore vibrancy to our main streets.”
– The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“We are truly appreciative for this federal funding and hope it is another effective tool to help our businesses navigate and ultimately emerge from this pandemic.”
– His Worship Fred Eisenberger, Mayor, City of Hamilton
“This is the latest in a number of efforts to help Hamilton small businesses. Clearly, the Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Recovery points to funding sources such as this one to help our small businesses, and we will continue to search out more programs and financial assistance in the days and weeks ahead.”
– Norm Schleehahn, Director of Economic Development, City of Hamilton.
For program details and further information, please visit https://mymainstreet.ca/accelerator-program.
About FedDev Ontario:
For more than 12 years, FedDev Ontario has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation and growth in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving their productivity, growing their revenues, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects.
Media Contacts:
My Main Street – media@mymainstreet.ca
Monica Granados
Press Secretary, Office of the Hon. Helena Jaczek
Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
monica.granados@feddevontario.gc.ca