Frequently Asked Questions
My Main Street is a two-year program that aims to revitalize neighbourhood main streets with a healthy retail mix while generating inclusive economic opportunities. The program is funded with a $23.25-million Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to spur local economic recovery. My Main Street is collaboratively delivered by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) and the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) to help support the revitalization of approximately 200 neighbourhoods across southern Ontario. The program features two streams – the Local Business Accelerator stream and the Community Activator stream.
The Local Business Accelerator stream provides main street business owners within 65 designated My Main Street communities access to My Main Street Ambassadors, customized market research reports, and non-repayable funding contributions. Businesses in main street communities outside of these 65 communities are not eligible to receive the full level of program supports, nor the non-repayable funding contributions, but may access a free on-demand business training video series and free online business training webinar sessions.
Please note that the Local Business Accelerator stream has been completed and, as such, the market research report and non-repayable funding contribution application portals are closed.
You can view a map displaying the 65 designated My Main Street communities here: https://mymainstreet.ca/community-map.
The Local Business Accelerator stream has been completed and, as such, the market research report and non-repayable funding contribution application portals are closed. My Main Street is not accepting applications from businesses for the Local Business Accelerator stream at this time.
My Main Street Ambassadors are program representatives who connect with main street business owners to assist and support their participation through the Local Business Accelerator stream and guide them through the application process for the non-repayable funding contribution. Ambassadors also provide additional resources offered by My Main Street and other community partners.
Please note that the Local Business Accelerator stream has been completed and, as such, there are no My Main Street Ambassadors active at this time.
My Main Street has partnered with Environics Analytics to provide businesses within the 65 designated My Main Street communities with customized market research reports that include data on local market demographics, psychographics and consumer spending behaviours. The market research reports provide insight into the local market to help business owners identify potential opportunities for business growth and must be used to inform a business’ application for the non-repayable funding contribution.
Please note that the Local Business Accelerator stream has been completed and, as such, the market research report application portal is closed.
The Local Business Accelerator stream provides 10 non-repayable funding contributions of $10,000 to five existing and five new businesses within each of the 65 designated My Main Street communities. The approved non-repayable funding contribution must be used to implement a business growth plan proposed in the business’ My Main Street application. The proposed business growth plan must leverage data from the market research report to inform the plan.
Please note that the Local Business Accelerator stream has been completed and, as such, the non-repayable funding contribution application portal is closed.
The business training video series and the online business training webinar sessions are free resources available for all business owners to access. In both the video series and the webinar sessions, the presenters provide instruction and guidance on a range of small business management topics including finance, recruitment, marketing, sales, and more.
To access the video series and recordings of the webinar sessions, create an account on the My Main Street website here: https://mymainstreet.ca/user-register. The videos and recordings can be found here: https://mymainstreet.ca/accelerator-program/online-training.
The Community Improvements category of the Activator program will fund above grade enhancements to a streetscape, design, landscaping and amenities that support the transformation of a specific geographic area by enhancing the physical and visual assets that can set the area apart. To discuss the details of your specific application with us, please reach out to placemaking@mymainstreet.ca
Activator projects should focus on a defined geographic areas. Applications that propose to undertake programs in multiple defined geographic areas (e.g., on multiple main streets) are also eligible.
It would qualify if the project was submitted by en eligible organization, and meets the program's eligibility criteria, including having a specific and measurable goal for community placemaking that supports connections between people and places, drives economic activity and supports the inclusion, safety and prosperity of equity-seeking groups. Projects must be in the public interest by operating in publicly accessible space, open for anyone from the public to attend, and for public benefit.
All above ground supplies related to temporary placemaking activites are eligible. Renovations to existing buildings and ndirect and overhead costs unrelated to the proposed project are ineligible. Kitchen supplies could be eligible if they are directly related to the proposed placemaking project. Please refer to the Eligibity and Criteria section of the Community Activator Applicant Guide and ensure that your project identifies how it will contribute to sustainable economic and social vibrancy, and support the inclusion, safety and prosperity of equity seeking groups.
No, projects in the city of Toronto is not eligible. Find out more about Toronto’s main street recovery programs.
Community-led organizations or community groups not listed as eligible may indirectly apply to the Community Activator program by entering into an intermediary relationship or by finding a collaborator on the project who is an eligible organization. The eligible applicant must submit the application. If the application receives funding, the eligible organization enters into the funding agreement with CUI. Eligible organizations include:
– Municipality, local or regional government;
– Business improvement areas (BIAs);
– Indigenous governing body or development corporation;
– Federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit;
Should you apply with multiple partners, please provide details of each partner's roles in your application. We encourage collaboration on placemaking projects. Scoring will reward projects that have the capacity and appropriate partners to deliver the project.
Yes, events taking place after December 31, 2021 are eligible for the first intake, but only expenses incurred during the eligibility period (June 8, 2021 - December 31, 2021) will be eligible for reimbursment.
We will aim to fund projects in their entirety though there may be circumstances where partial funding is awarded on a case-by-case basis by our independent assessment committees.
All applications for Round 1 of the Community Accelerator will be reviewed and assessed by independent assessment committees in November 2021, after the application deadline has passed.
The Community Index is being developed to validate and benchmark applicant projects and to help guide our assessment of different regional applications against one another. Using aggregate data, it looks at the impact of the pandemic related to on the ground retail spend and mobility patterns, and at demographic representation. The Index will contribute to but not be determinative of award decisions. For more information on the Community Index, please see the Applicant Guide.