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.

Direct investment in small businesses boosts local economies by creating jobs, keeping money circulating in the community, and strengthening main streets. It also supports local identity, fosters inclusion, and builds resilience—making communities more vibrant, diverse, and adaptable.

A small business is generally defined as any business that is independently owned and operated, typically with fewer than 50 employees, and usually with less than $10 million in annual revenue. For this program, a small business was defined as a business that:

• Has between 1 to 50 employees;

• Is a registered business paying commercial property tax;

• Is owned by an Ontario resident operating a business in Ontario; and

• Is not a franchise, including those individually owned and operated.

The Business Sustainability Initiative supports enhancements for small, independently owned brick-and-mortar businesses located on main streets in the form of custom market research data delivered by the My Main Street team, business training opportunities and non-repayable contributions of up to $20,000.

Learn more about the Business Sustainability initiative by visiting the success stories page

My Main Street recognizes the power of placemaking to strengthen communities, draw visitors, boost local vibrancy, and help revitalize neighbourhoods. By reimagining public spaces, community activations foster social connection, encourages economic activity, and builds stronger ties between people and the places they share.

Eligible placemaking and community projects include but are not limited to:

Events and Activations: Community events of a short, limited or repeating duration intended to draw visitors or create a new local offering, helping position a specific geographic area as a hub of community and economic activity.

Community enhancements: Above grade improvements to a specific geographic area that will enhance its physical and visual appeal, draw people in and increase feelings of safety, connection and community enjoyment.

Streetscape Improvements: Projects that facilitate a focused, deliberate path to revitalizing or strengthening a downtown or commercial district’s economy through intentional and creative placemaking.

The Community Activator Initiative supports community and placemaking projects through custom market research data delivered by the My Main Street team and non-repayable contributions of up to $250,000.

Projects are all designed to draw visitors and increase local vibrancy, revitalize neighborhoods and reimagine public spaces including main streets, downtown strips and plazas.

Learn more about the Community Activator initiative by visiting the success stories page