Business owners are taking advantage of a Blind River program to upgrade their building facades with grants of up to 50 per cent available from the town.
Known as the Community Improvement Program (CIP), it works with the applicant at the applicant’s pace to ensure projects are a success. Owners and merchants have flexible work schedules and windows to complete projects. Reimbursements are available for many streams of funding.
The program, which became part of the town’s strategic plan in 2018, is designed to spruce up building facades along the main business core on Woodward Avenue, Causley Street and throughout Blind River. CIP came about through council recognizing that it could benefit all businesses and has grown the program from a downtown initiative into a community-wide opportunity. The intent is to attract visitors to the town’s variety of businesses.
“The Community Improvement Plan focused on downtown in its first year,” said Garnet Young, president of the Blind River Chamber of Commerce. “Many businesses used this to enhance signage, paint, and more. 2021 includes downtown and any business located within eyesight along Causley Street. 2022 will open to all businesses in Blind River wishing to enhance their accessibility, curb appeal, save energy, and more. We encourage anyone interested to email [email protected] for information.”
“The community improvement program proves Blind River council’s commitment to partnering on projects with our local owners and operators,” said Mayor Sally Hagman. “We are proving our commitment to your success.”
The town’s director of facilities and community services, Karen Bittner has been spearheading CIP by assisting business owners with grant applications and planning.
“To date, we have had 10 submissions, however, the applications have impacted 13 businesses (some have multiple units within a property),” Bittner said. “The program supports both the property owner as well as the tenant as both have different needs and priorities. To date, we have a merchant/owner total of 26 grant opportunities.”
Bittner said many businesses have initiated upgrades despite COVID-19 restrictions that have limited business hours and also forced temporary closures.
“Our downtown merchants, despite being faced with ongoing COVID-19 challenges, recognized the value in enhancing their storefronts. Bare -The Salon is painting, updating windows and more. Le Beau Corset and The Birch Tree installed stunning new signs that boast their brands,” Bittner said. “The Well has enhanced signage that made its facility pop. Many other downtown owners and merchants are mulling over opportunities for their business post-pandemic.”
Le Beau Corset owner Sherri Blanchet, in an interview with Elliot Lake Today, said the building she owns also is home for her and her husband who live on the upper floor. The building also has a second business adjacent to her business.
She had earlier replaced the storefront windows on her building, but CIP was not in place at the time. Blanchet took advantage of CIP when she replaced the sign out front with a new sign.
“The sign was $1,200-$1,300 and the town paid half of that which was a win-win situation,” she said.
Bittner also assisted Blanchet with small business COVID-19 grants for her business which she has operated for five years after working at the hospital as a personal support worker for 27 years.
The Birch Tree owner Carolyn Kingsley also applied for a CIP grant to put up a new sign which installed last October. The sign cost around $930 with the town picking up half the cost.
“It was something I was thinking about doing anyway but it was pricey so when they offered the program I said why not,” Kingsley.
She said her business has weathered pandemic restrictions, creating a website to fill orders. She is encouraged by easing restrictions that, as of Saturday, allowed for 15 per cent of customer capacity coming into the store and expects the number will go to 25 per cent by early July.
Two larger projects are also occurring this year along Causley Street (Highway 17) resulting in updated facades, stonework, accessibility updates, landscaping, and more.
Other Downtown merchants continue to work on projects that were difficult to carry out through winter and the pandemic.
“We are thrilled to see the same attention paid to river-facing properties as those improving our downtown strip,” Bittner added.
“When visitors return to Blind River, they will be blown away by the enhancements along our corridor,” Mayor Hagman added.
“It is recognized that 2020 proved to be a year of adversity; one challenge after another restricted our business community. Some were able to shift to online and curbside, while others have been at the mercy of restrictions lifting before they can operate.” Bittner said.
“Every single owner and merchant should be commended for investment in their space, completely reformatting how they do business, and determination to reopen. Staff in all sectors throughout Blind River have shown incredible resilience as their workspace changed without notice.”
A link to the program guide can be found here.