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The City of Orillia is pleased to launch its My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program for the 2022-2023 year.
Through the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program, led by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO), in partnership with the City of Orillia, businesses and entrepreneurs in the City of Orillia Business Improvement Area (Downtown Orillia) will have access to a dedicated My Main Street Ambassador who will provide insight and support to help revitalize the downtown core.
“There are more than 200 businesses in Orillia’s downtown core, many of which are independently owned,” said Coun. Ted Emond, Chair of the City’s Economic Recovery Task Force. “We were fortunate to receive the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program funding, which will focus on revitalizing our downtown core and overcoming the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the dedicated Main Street Ambassador will allow Orillia to concentrate on future growth and diversification opportunities for businesses within the downtown.”
Amber Elliott, the City’s new Main Street Ambassador, will be working over the next year to help grow existing downtown businesses and welcome new entrepreneurs to the area. Through the My Main Street program, Downtown Orillia business owners will be eligible for detailed market research, data analysis, wrap-around business support and more.
“I am looking forward to working closely with the downtown businesses on current challenges and future opportunities while watching the community grow together,” said Elliott. “Through the help of the My Main Street program, I can see a lot of opportunity for expansion and diversification within the downtown community, complemented by the City’s ongoing business development and economic recovery initiatives.”
In addition to the dedicated Main Street Ambassador, five existing businesses and five new businesses within the Downtown Orillia Business Improvement Area will be eligible to apply to receive up to $10,000 as a non-repayable contribution to support their local businesses.
For more information on the program, reach out to Elliott at aelliott@orillia.ca and visit the My Main Street website.
The My Main Street Local Business Accelerator Program is supporting the revitalization of 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.
The year-long initiative will leverage the services of the Downtown Orillia Management Board, the Orillia Area CDC and the City of Orillia Business Development Office. The creation of the Main Street Ambassador role was supported by the City of Orillia’s Emergency Management Committee, which committed approximately $15,000 from the COVID-19 Social and Economic Recovery Fund towards the grant application.
For further information about the City of Orillia’s participation in the My Main Street program visit orillia.ca/MyMainStreet.
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Amber Elliott
Main Street Ambassador
705-330-6631
aelliott@orillia.ca
Melissa Gowanlock
Manager of Communications
705-330-1951 (cell)
magowanlock@orillia.ca
