Rural Economic Development (RED) Program

Main Street Ontario Expression of Interest

1. 
   This expression of interest form is a tool to make an initial assessment of an applicant's potential eligibility for Main Street Ontario economic development tools, training and funding. Main Street Ontario guidelines can be found at your closest OMAFRA Regional Economic Development or Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) office.
2. OMAFRA Economic Development Consultants or MNDM Northern Development Officers are available to assist with questions about your Expression of Interest submission. For any general enquiries related to Main Street Ontario, please contact the Main Street Ontario office at 519-888-588-4111.
   Please forward the completed Expression of Interest form to Main Street Ontario for further determination of eligibility by Tuesday, May 5th 2009.
   Email: mainstreet.omafra@ontario.ca
   Fax: 519-826-4336

Applicant Information

Name of Lead Applicant: ________________
Organization (full legal name): ________________
Contact Information
First Name: ________________
Last Name: ________________
Position: ________________
Mailing Address (street): ________________
City/Town: ________________
Province: ________________
Region/County: ________________
Postal Code: ________________
Telephone Number: ________________
Fax: ________________
Email: ________________
Name of Co-applicant: ________________
Organization (full legal name): ________________

Contact Information
First Name: ________________
Last Name: ________________
Position: ________________
Mailing Address (street): ________________
City/Town: ________________
Province: ________________
Region/County: ________________
Postal Code: ________________
Telephone Number: ________________
Fax: ________________
Email: ________________

Project Information
Project Title: __________________
Description of Project (approx. 100 word limit):
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

Estimated Main Street Funding Request (total over 3 years):
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

Eligibility Information

A. General Guidelines:

1. Is your project proposed for a community with at least 50 businesses or 70 commercial structures/storefronts in the downtown? Yes No
2. Is your project proposed for a community under 100,000 in population?
   Yes No
   
   

B. Please Describe Downtown Need:

1. Describe the business vacancy rate in your downtown (the number of empty storefronts as a proportion or the total) and other challenges such as bankruptcies, closures and high turnover.
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
2. Describe other downtown barriers such as a lack of cooperative business practices (limited or incompatible business hours), lack of diversity in business mix (e.g. predominantly low price-point businesses), neglected public spaces or safety issues.
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
3. Describe any additional barriers or rationale for conducting this project at this time (e.g. loss of key downtown retail anchor, newly developed commercial zone outside the downtown, significant planned investment or new infrastructure/facilities).
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________

Main Street is a time-consuming process that requires significant leadership with local support. Potential applicants are asked to present evidence of your capacity to deliver a 3-year comprehensive downtown revitalization project.

C. Please Demonstrate Community Capacity:

1. Describe your downtown community's past experience in economic development.
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
2. Demonstrate earlier effort towards downtown revitalization.
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
3. Describe initiatives that demonstrate your community's appreciation of its historic commercial assets.
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
4. Demonstrate how your community has worked effectively together.
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
5. Describe long-term community efforts that have resulted in success.
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________
   

Name of Ministry Contacts Consulted
Name of Ministry contacts who you have consulted on this project.

1. Name of Contact:_______________
   Ministry Name:________________
   Name of Contact:______________
   Ministry Name:________________
2. Name of Contact:_______________
   Ministry Name:________________
   Name of Contact:______________
   Ministry Name:________________
   

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-888-588-4111
Fax:1-519-826-4336
E-mail: rural.omafra@ontario.ca