The United Way and the Windsor-Essex Economic Development Corporation hope a series of grants to new small businesses will create a return on the investment for four key neighbourhoods.
The grants, for $5,000 each, are targeted at entrepreneurs in West Windsor, Downtown Windsor, the Glengarry-Marentette area and Ford City. In the county, grants will be awarded in Uptown Leamington, Essex Centre and Harrow.
The corporation's Small Business Centre will accept applications up until July 1, and the grants will be awarded throughout the year.
The United Way says it has been supporting neighbourhood and revitalization activities across Windsor-Essex for the past seven years. Through that engagement, a similar theme emerged that while there is an appreciation for the support, there are gaps in the social fabric of those neighbourhoods that small businesses could close.
The grants are meant to help new businesses start up, and grow. Submissions must include a business plan with financial information and evidence of a lease for commercial space.
A selection committee of residents, local business improvement association representatives, local politicians and staff from the United Way and the Small Business Centre will evaluate the applications. A regional table will evaluate the top submissions.
The full eligibility criteria is available on the United Way's website.
