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My Main Street is a $23.35 million investment by the federal government to provide 65 neighbourhoods/main streets/downtowns in southern Ontario (excluding the City of Toronto) with support to maintain and expand the economy on their core “main streets.”

Sixty-five main streets or downtown areas will be able to apply for a 12-month grant to have a Local Business Accelerator Program in their community that is administered by EDCO. The Accelerator Program provides a main street or downtown with a Main Street Ambassador, market research & analytics to identify market gaps in the local community and 10 business grants of $10,000 each. (Please note, 5 of the $10,000 grants are for existing businesses to take on filling in gaps identified in research, while the other 5 grants at $10,000 are to attract new businesses to the area).

Applications for the Local Business Accelerator Program will be opening on October 1st and will be on a first come first served basis or until March 31, 2022 whatever comes first. BIAs, not-for-profits and municipalities are eligible for the program, but non-municipalities should provide some type of proof (i.e. letter of support or council motion) showing that the local municipality is aware of the program and supports it. Applications must have a specific geographic area defined and show that the program does not duplicate the activities of the local Small Business Enterprise Centre and Community Development Corporation. Twenty-five percent of the grants have been reserved for communities under 50,000 and ethnic communities will be given preference in funding.

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