(AGENPARL) – lun 18 luglio 2022 News Release
July 18, 2022
PROVINCE PARTNERS WITH MANITOBA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
TO FUND DOWNTOWN BUILDING BUSINESS PROGRAM
illion in
andemic
elief and
ecovery
unds
llocated
upport of Downtown Winnipeg
ecovery
fforts
Manitoba government is partnering with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) to
fund the Downtown Building Business Program, which will help businesses in downtown in
their recovery efforts from the pandemic, Economic Development, Investment and Trade
inister Cliff Cullen announced today.
“A strong and vibrant downtown Winnipeg means new jobs will be created as new and existing
businesses open or relocate to the area, supporting our province’s economic recovery from the
pandemic,” said Cullen. “This in
vestment will provide funding for creative ideas that will help
make downtown an attractive place to live, work and play, every day.”
The $2.5
million Building Business Fund will be delivered and administered by the Downtown
Action Team in conjunction wi
th the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, with the
Manitoba
government
providing the funding as part of
million Pandemic Long
Term Recovery
Fund.
“The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is so proud to recommend funding and working with the
Downtown Action
Team in executing on this critical proposal, and to continue upholding a
commitment to accelerating downtown revitalization,” said Chuck Davidson, president and CEO
Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. “This fund will create and maintain jobs, support existing
businesses and attract new businesses to support downtown growth.”
The Downtown Building Business Program includes three funding streams:
Business Improvement Grants, which will support existing businesses through space
improvements and business developme
nt. Grants may include, but are not limited to:
digitization support, business strategy development, exterior and interior updates and repairs,
technology improvements, marketing and advertising and human resource support. Twenty
per cent of gra
nts will be
allocated for BIPOC
owned businesses and 20 per c
ent will be
allocated for woman
owned businesses.
more
Ground Floor Incubation Strategy and Program, which will mentor and connect emerging
entrepreneurs with empt
y downtown storefront locations
and support them to redress
dilapidated storefronts.
‘Support Downtown’ marketing campaign, which will focus on economic development,
business attraction and supporting local.
“The pandemic has acutely affected Winnipeg’s downtown and although recovery is
happening,
downtown is taking longer to recover than other neighbourhoods. Overcoming the impact
requires immediate and long
term commitment, visionary leadership, and collective action,
” said
Kate Fenske, CEO
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. “The Building Busines
s Program will support the
business owners who are integral to our downtown’s vibrancy and unique character and provide
opportunities for entrepreneurs to create new experiences for people who live, shop and explore
downtown.”
The Downtown Action Team is
comprised of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Exchange District BIZ,
West End BIZ, City of Winnipeg, CentreVenture, Economic Development Winnipeg, Downtown
Community Safety Partnership, End Homelessness Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Arts Council.
Applications for the
Business Improvement Grant and the Ground Floor Incubation progr
will open later this summer, the minister noted.
More information can be found on the
Downtown Recovery Strategy
website.