Downtown BIZ seeks more funds

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This article was published 22/11/2024 (561 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Local non-profit Brandon Downtown BIZ has requested the City of Brandon earmark an additional $150,000 in funding for 2025 to support its continuing efforts to revitalize the city’s downtown core and the businesses operating in the area.

In a presentation pitch to the city earlier this week, Brandon Downtown BIZ Director Emmy Sanderson outlined how the funding would help support the various initiatives her organization is currently working on to support local businesses, foster a vibrant downtown community, and to transform current perceptions about the city’s downtown.

“If granted, the fund would support our operating costs, programming, and initiatives to attract visitors downtown. We plan to establish a Downtown Events Grant to encourage events that bring life to the area. Instead of hosting events ourselves, we aim to empower groups and organizations that want to activate downtown spaces.”

Terming 2024 as a productive first year for the organization, Sanderson said Brandon Downtown BIZ stands out for playing a “unique role” in fostering business collaboration in the community and is different from formal business entities, such as the Chamber of Commerce or the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (BNRC).

Over the course of this year, it has built a membership base of over 100, maximized grants from the city, supported countless events, and created a support network for downtown businesses. “After researching other businesses, we found it is a common practice to tailor event support based on factors like expected attendance or specific criteria,” Sanderson said.

She added that $30,000 has been set aside for supporting other organizations’ events and $10,000 for general programming needs. “Our goal is to open a storefront office, which would serve as a downtown tourism hub and resource center for businesses, residents, and visitors.”

Mayor Jeff Fawcett and council members, including Bruce Luebke, Shaun Cameron, and Kris Desjarlais commended Downtown BIZ’s progress and its future potential.

“Downtown BIZ isn’t just about identifying problems; it’s about making impacts and creating change,” Fawcett said.

In response to a query about its budget for next year, Sanderson explained that in addition to the $150,000 granted by the city, the organization would also count on additional grants and membership fees to round off its operating budget at $190,000. In addition to the businesses located downtown, the organization is also actively engaged in prospecting businesses located in other parts of the city.

In January this year, Brandon Downtown BIZ had sought $150,000 in funding from the city to help kick-start its operations. It has received $120,000 from the city so far, which has been used for various support and advocacy activities aimed at supporting local businesses. Sanderson said, “it is important to maintain this momentum.”

“We’ve worked to ensure there is no duplication of effort by partnering with other stakeholders and learning from their mandates. Downtown BIZ is the final missing piece in Brandon’s downtown revitalization puzzle.”

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