Downtown Sudbury business group changing focus
The Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Association (BIA) says it is getting away from hosting big events and putting its focus on supporting its members in other ways, boosting its offerings and bridging the gap with vulnerable populations.
Last weekend, Sudbury's annual Ribfest was held in Bell Park by Ramsey Lake instead of downtown as the BIA passed the event on to a new promoter.
Kyle Marcus, the BIA's managing director, told CTV News in an interview lots of downtown business groups are moving away from large-scale events "and trying to facilitate, empower and sponsor those whose job it actually is to throw" them.
"By doing so, we can use our funds to invest on a more regular basis through the community to see a better return on investment," Marcus said.
"Whether it's community money or in-kind contributions, our marketing capacity, those sort of things …. We just need to work hard for our members and make sure everything that we do is absolutely in their best interest."
Several initiatives such as the zero vacancy and patio programs are seeing some success, he said.
"Zero Vacancy is probably our shining star of the year. It's a program we started just about a year ago, last November. And, we took over five spaces in the downtown core and we actually work with the landlords themselves," Marcus said.
"We essentially went to them and asked them what their carrying costs for a month was, we added a bit of money to that for kind of usage, of utilities and then thought that we could move in non-traditional renters, makers, vendors, artists those sort of things to try to stimulate foot traffic."
While the program helps people test their business idea in a low-cost retail space, it helps local property owners and other nearby units become more marketable, he said.
"Through the patio program, we've incentivized a rebate of up to $220,000 into members' pockets so they can make it beautiful, accessible," Marcus said.
Issues of homelessness and addictions in the downtown core can often be a deterrent for people to visit the area, but he said the BIA is working with people facing employability challenges.
"Our clean-up program has actually brought our vulnerable populations into our community as opposed to kind of pushing them away," Marcus said.
"And what's been really neat to see is, as we see an increase in visitors and our businesses get back on our feet, that playing field between our vulnerable populations and our businesses get smaller. And what we've seen is an increased level of compassion and increased level of advocacy and an increase in pride in our community."
The BIA is also working on finding a new, indoor site for the farmer's market.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.