Staff from the Municipality of Kincardine are going to be offering small businesses to apply for community improvement grants in partnership with Spruce the Bruce.
At council’s meeting on January 22nd, council approved that staff use $20,000 from the municipality’s Community Improvement Plan to support local businesses with improvements to facades and signage, as well as accessibility initiatives.
Council adopted a new Community Improvement Plan for the Municipality in 2024 which allows for a broader range of financial incentives.
Councillor Rory Cavanagh offered his compliments to staff for helping local businesses improve their presence, and the municipality as a whole.
“The use of the Community Improvement Plans gives our municipality one of the few legal avenues towards sculpting and encouraging local businesses, and as such I’ve seen great results with the Spruce the Bruce plan to date in the way it’s been used, so I’d like to see that continue.”
Municipal staff, including the Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Lorie Fioze, also met with Bruce County staff in order to collaborate with the Spruce the Bruce initiative.
Originally, the purpose of Spruce the Bruce was to assist businesses in downtown areas to improve things like signage, patio space, or making their small business have more curb appeal. The program is now expanding to smaller communities that may not have a distinct downtown core.
“The whole municipality is now eligible for grants under Spruce the Bruce – they wouldn’t be eligible for downtowns if they don’t have a downtown, but they would be eligible for all of the other programs which are being launched on February 1st.”
Through 2024, Spruce the Bruce provided funding for eight businesses to improve their facades and signage, totalling $25,615 in grant funding.
