The City of Oshawa and Business Advisory Centre Durham Inc. have announced the revitalization of downtown Oshawa through partnership with My Main Street.
Sections of Simcoe Street South, Bond Street East and King Street West in the City of Oshawa 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.
Under the project, downtown Oshawa will be participating in the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program to help revitalize the main streets, providing a total of $157,500 in non-repayable contributions to support local businesses, said a city media release.
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.
“Downtown businesses are an essential component of Oshawa’s dynamic economy and their post-pandemic recovery is critical to our community. We are excited to bring the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program to Oshawa as part of our economic recovery efforts. I would like to thank The Government of Canada, CUI and EDCO for developing this beneficial program and to the Business Advisory Centre Durham for helping to deliver it to downtown Oshawa. The My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program will enhance the revitalization efforts of many downtown businesses. Our downtown is a cultural hub, major employment district and a significant asset within the eastern Greater Toronto Area. We continue to strive towards creating a vibrant, attractive and animated downtown where people come together to live, work, learn, shop, meet and engage,” said Mayor Dan Carter.
For program details and further information, visit the My Main Street website or email business@oshawa.ca.