United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County and the Small Business Centre – a department of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation – announce new regional grant program – Neighbourhood Small Business Grant
The United Way/Centraide has been supporting neighbourhood engagement and revitalization activities across Windsor-Essex since 2010. A common theme that has emerged from this engagement is while there is an appreciation for the support, they recognize the gaps that a lack of small business poses to their neighbourhoods‘ overall vitality. Therefore, a partnership with the Small Business Centre was formed, who since 1992, has provided thousands of entrepreneurs with the training and support necessary to start and grow successful businesses, from concept through start-up and early growth stages of business.
The Neighbourhood Small Business Grant is financially supported with an equal partnership between United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County and the WindsorEssex Small Business Centre. The purpose of these grants is to encourage new and existing businesses to locate in Priority Neighbourhoods across WindsorEssex County and is a part of a broad-based community and economic revitalization and provide training opportunities to applicants by the Small Business Centre. Through this partnership, four – $5,000 grants will be awarded throughout 2017 and is now open to receive applications up to July 1, 2017.
To access the eligibility criteria, links to the application and more detailed information visit the websites of small business centre and the United Way.
The Neighbourhood Small Business Grant will support businesses looking to open in West Windsor, Downtown Windsor, the Glengarry-Marentette area, the Ford City neighbourhood and targeted areas in the County – Uptown Leamington, Essex Centre and Harrow.
“This new and innovative Neighbourhood Small Business Grant is a perfect example of community-building through a collaboration between business, public, and non-profit sectors,” says Lorraine Goddard, CEO of United Way. “We hope it’s just the beginning of working together to build strong communities across Windsor and Essex County.”
Stephen MacKenzie, CEO of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation added, “We are excited to partner with the United Way on this initiative in order to foster community and enterprise development at the neighborhood level. The Small Business Centre works with individuals across all demographics and supports business in all sectors of the economy. SBC actively promotes its programs and services through a variety of community outreach activities and has a strong history of working collaboratively. A culture of entrepreneurship and innovation is paramount as the Small Business Centre runs a number of programs to inspire youth to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and to launch businesses of their own. As partners we will leverage the strengths of our organizations to benefit all applicants, and to benefit the community.”
Two representatives of BIA’s targeted for the grant money were present to share their experiences. Tamara Kowalska is the Director of the Windsor Youth Centre on Wyandotte and President of the Wyandotte Town Centre BIA, and Cindy Newman is the owner of Einstein’s edibles at 1067 Drouillard Rd and member of Ford City Residents In Action.
Though the BIA’s are not contributing money to this grant initiative, Newman has found the Ford City BIA very supportive of her efforts as a new entrepreneur, “the BIA reached out to me in every way possible; helped with the printing of business cards and whatever else I required. They were extremely supportive.”
And Kowalski, in her work with the Windsor Youth Centre and Wyandotte Town Centre BIA, stresses that there is not so much a need for revitalization – because there are plenty of residents with great ideas and creativity willing to share them – but for leveraging resources to assist them. “This project sends a message that this community is not just paying lip service to the forgotten and under-resourced neighbourhoods” says Kowalski, “The project shows that the community is willing to act with care, compassion and with a commitment to a true understanding of what it means to be a citizen. This project definitely demonstrates good citizenship.”
Feature photo: ( L-R) Tamara Kowalska (Director of Windsor Youth Centre & President of Wyandotte Town Centre BIA); Frazier Fathers; Sabrina Demarco (WE EDC Small Business Centre); Lorraine Goddard (United Way); Tom Bain (Warden – Essex County); Cindy Newman owner of Einstein’s Edibles and member of Ford City Residents In Action); Stephen MacKenzie (WE EDC)
Story photos and video by Joe McParland – Biz X magazine
