Businesses are critical anchors on main streets and My Main Street supports businesses that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability and present a clear business case for how the investment will strengthen their capacity, drive growth, and contribute to the vitality of their main street community.
The Business Sustainability Initiative is currently closed. Subscribe below to be the first to know of the next My Main Street intake.
SUPPORTED BUSINESS TYPES INCLUDE
Food Services
Food services include restaurants, cafés, and bakeries, along with other establishments that offer meals, snacks, or beverages to the public.
Retail
Retail establishments include clothing stores, specialty food shops, and other businesses that sell goods directly to customers in-store.
Personal Services
Personal services may include hair and nail salons, health resources like physiotherapists and pharmacies, and much more.
Eligible applicants could receive up to 25% of their approved project costs in advance, ensuring financial support to jumpstart their initiatives.
Projects are selected based on their ability to support xxx and deliver lasting economic and social benefits, particularly for equity-deserving groups.
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

Customized Market Research and Strategic Insights
Each business gained access to tailored market research reports that provided deep insights into local customer demographics, spending patterns, and market gaps—enabling data-driven decision-making.

One-on-One Advisory Support From Portfolio Managers
Businesses were paired with experienced Portfolio Managers who offered personalized guidance on investment planning, ROI optimization, and strategic growth—helping maximize the value of the funding.

Operational and Infrastructure Enhancements
Funding supported critical improvements such as storefront upgrades, leasehold improvements, and technology modernization—strengthening the customer experience and increasing competitiveness.

Capacity Building for Long-Term Business Resilience
Business investments not only addressed immediate needs but also built long-term capacity—enhancing productivity, diversifying revenue streams, and strengthening resilience in the face of changing market conditions.
MY MAIN STREET BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY RECIPIENTS DEMONSTRATE
Vision
Successful recipients must clearly define their business model and long-term sustainability strategy, outlining how their operations will remain viable and competitive. Projects should demonstrate a clear vision for growth, innovation, and impact on the broader main street economy. The proposal should also highlight how the business contributes to a thriving, inclusive, and dynamic commercial environment.
Capacity
Applicants must showcase their ability to implement the proposed project effectively, detailing the resources, expertise, and team structure in place to support success. A fully costed budget and a clear plan for tracking outcomes are essential. Additionally, businesses should explain how the investment will enhance productivity, create jobs, and support long-term operational improvements.
Community Need
Proposals should demonstrate a strong understanding of the main street’s economic and social landscape, including the challenges and opportunities present in the community. Businesses must articulate how their project addresses local needs, contributes to economic growth, and supports equity-deserving groups. Applications will also be assessed for their alignment with equitable regional and rural distribution goals, ensuring that investments drive inclusive and lasting community impact.
Market Research Reports
Community organizations receive a customized Market Research Report on their community to support their application, and successful projects.
The data insights from the report can be leveraged to strengthen project applications with local context specific to their community. Within the report, community organizations will get insights into their community’s:
- Demographic data
- Household spending
- Media behaviors of customers
- Psychographic data
- Mobile data
The research report can help the organization understand their community’s customer base, including where customers are from, their demographics, how to communicate to them through various media channels, and how they spend their money. Overall, the data within the report can help organizations uncover community needs, market gaps and improve their marketing strategy.
Eligible organizations will receive a one-on-one consultation with a Portfolio Manager to review how to use the analysis to understand their community’s insights based on the report.
The data within these reports includes census information from Statistics Canada and proprietary licensed data from our partner Environics Analytics.
My Main Street Is Currently Closed
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PARTNERS
My Main Street is operated by the Canadian Urban Institute and funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

