February 10, 2005
Main streets across Middlesex County are getting a facelift, thanks to a new initiative aimed at revitalizing downtowns.
The Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) of Middlesex County has embarked on a two and a half year project to rehabilitate historic commercial downtowns throughout the county. And businesses are getting behind this initiative to revitalize their communities.
“The stakeholders are very excited,” says Cara Finn, General Manager of the CFDC. “When we started this initiative we listened to them and got their feedback, and we have developed the program around their needs.”
Main Street Middlesex, as the program is known, is modeled after The Main Street approach that was developed in the United States, and has been successfully followed in over 1,700 communities in that country. Now Middlesex is the first county to implement the Main Street philosophy north of the border.
Plans for the project began in early 2003, and Main Street Middlesex was officially launched in November 2004. In total, seven of the eight municipalities within Middlesex County are participating in the first year of the initiative, and 10 communities have been designated for revitalization efforts. These communities range in population from 250 to 13,000.
There are three keys to success in the Main Street program. The first is a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization, including organization, promotion, design and economic development. In order to address each of these areas, four working committees have been formed with representatives from each of the participating communities. The work of the committees is already underway. These working committees are responsible for: promoting the area to potential investors, customers and tourists, and sponsoring special events; raising awareness of the historical significance of downtown areas, providing funds for the restoration of core buildings, and developing strategies to encourage development of the downtown core; and economic development, including business training, networking opportunities and providing resources to retain and attract business.
The second key to success is ensuring an innovative program design. As the first county to implement this approach in Canada, Middlesex is being watched closely by communities across the country who hope to initiate their own Main Street program.
The third key to success is multi-partner project development. Project partners include the CFDC, Industry Canada, County of Middlesex, municipalities within the county and Fanshawe College. Students from the College will work directly with the communities in their revitalization efforts, and an accredited course in the development of small town Ontario will be available through the College this spring.
To measure the success of the program, the CFDC is tracking economic benefits, job creation, business retention, and new dollars coming into the community. They will also be watching for links between events in the community and spin-offs for retailers. “We want to find out if cash registers are ringing,” says Finn. A granting program is now in place, and eligible projects range from storefront signage to beautification and streetscape projects. Special events grants are also available, and are giving businesses the needed incentive to take on necessary improvements.
If the program is successful, downtowns across the county will see an increase in tourists, customers, investors and benefits for local businesses … and you could see the rollout of this approach coming soon to a main street near you.