Government of Canada announces $15 million for My Main Street Program
My Main Street joined the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDevOntario to announce a $15-million investment for the Canadian Urban Institute to continue the My Main Street program in 2024.
The investment supports the stabilization and revitalization of main streets and neighbourhoods that continue to attract people to southern Ontario’s communities. Since 2022, My Main Street has provided direct-to-business and community support on southern Ontario’s main streets, recognizing their vital role in Canada’s culture and economic prosperity.
My Main Street will once again include the Community Activator stream, supporting 75 communities’ high-impact placemaking projects that seek to revitalize neighbourhoods and reimagine public spaces including main streets, downtown strips and plazas as vibrant and inclusive places that work for everyone.
The Business Sustainability stream will provide up to $6.5 million of non-repayable contributions up to $20,000 in direct-to-business funding to support productivity enhancements for brick-and-mortar businesses located on main streets across southern Ontario.
Funding will be made available to businesses that employ between 1 and 50 staff, have demonstrated revenue growth, and provide a business case on how the funding will strengthen their existing capacity and support their growth.
The Business Sustainability stream is open for applications between February 22 and March 31, 2024.
ELIGIBILITY
Depending on the type of business applying, there are additional eligibility criteria; however, the following provides an overview of the program criteria that applies to each applicant:
- Must be located within southern Ontario. The full list of eligible regions surrounding municipalities can be found here.
- Must be a business with a bricks-and-mortar location.
- Must be located on a main street.
- Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received funding through the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program.
- Is owned by an Ontario resident operating a business in Ontario who is:
- 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Is employing 1 to 50 employees.
- Is paying commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent.
- Is a registered business.
- Is open to the public for walk-in and onsite purchases of goods and services.
- Is not a franchise, including those individually owned and operated.
- Is not in a shared workspace such as a hot desk or dedicated desk.
- Is not a consulting or professional services company.
- Is not purely an online business.
- Has completed the online application.
- Priority will be given to applicants who are members of equity-seeking groups, including Francophone, women, Indigenous, racialized groups, Black communities, newcomers, youth (39 and under), people living with disabilities, Trans, Non-binary and 2SLGBQIA+.
- Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received funding through the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program.
HOW TO APPLY
- Determine your businesses eligibility; all eligibility criteria is listed in the Applicant Guide.
- Review the eligible expenses list to see if your project is eligible for funding; all eligible expenses are listed in the Applicant Guide. (Requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill.)
- Download and prepare your Application Form.
- Fill out, save and submit the submission form with all of the required documents by clicking Apply Now below.
Documents you will need to provide:
- Completed Application Form
- Copies of Business Registration
(Letters of Incorporation, Partnership Agreement, or Master Business License) - Verification of Commercial Property Taxes
(copy of a Commercial Tax Bill or Lease Agreement highlighting its inclusion in the rent) - Storefront photo
(high resolution photo of your storefront)
