Investing in your City: New Main Street Business Support Strategy

Our weekly "Investing in your City" series continues, highlighting some of the significant investments being made in Burlington and that our community will benefit from.

The City is continuing investments through Burlington Economic Development (EcDev) to help support main street businesses through a new support role and strategy.

Burlington EcDev is currently developing a new Main Street Business Support Strategy that it is anticipating to present to Council in December 2024. In late 2023, Burlington EcDev developed a new Main Street Business Support role.

Through Red Tape Red Carpet Engagement, EcDev heard a need for specific business supports for main street businesses. The need for a clear and streamlined process, with a single point of contact to manage the relationships for high economic impact files, for small main street businesses, and support them in navigating the complex development process in Burlington.

These are typically small “mom-and-pop” shops with minimal resources who are investing their savings in opening a new store or restaurant. They require support in both business planning and moving through the complex regulatory processes. Following discussions internally on the best fit for the special business area coordinator role and how to ensure long-term success, this role has been transferred from the City's community planning department to EcDev. The policy planning elements have been removed and the role was reformulated to focus entirely on business supports for mains street businesses and strategy supports for Burlington’s Business Improvement Areas (BIAs).

Expanding the Mandate of EcDev to Support Main Street Businesses

During Q3 2023, Burlington Economic Development engaged with main street business support partners including Business Improvement Association, Halton Region Small Business Enterprise Centre, Burlington Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Burlington. These discussions helped form a new scope for the Economic Development Officer – Main Street Business role. EcDev also engaged with other municipalities to look at best practices in mains street business supports.

Additional information is available in this staff report from Oct. 31, 2023.

Related Links

• Previous Investment Highlights:

  • Investing in your City: Understanding Your Property Tax Bill

  • Investing in your City: Implementing Updated Red Tape Red Carpet Recommendations

  • Investing in your City: Streamlining Permit Application Process

  • Investing in your City: Updating City's Bylaws

  • Investing in your City: Enhancing Online City Services

  • Investing in your City: Burlington's Housing Strategy

  • Investing in your City: Multi-Year Community Investment Plan & Future Amenities Planning

  • Investing in your City: Expanded Low-Income Tax Rebate Program

  • Investing in your City: Continuing Investments in Stormwater Management, Erosion Control & Drainage Improvements

  • Investing in your City: Upgrades to Burlington's Roads

  • Investing in your City: Upgrades to Burlington's Parks

  • Investing in your City: Upgrades to Community Centres, Arenas & Amenities

  • Investing in your City: Continued Investments in Robert Bateman Community Centre

  • Investing in your City: Continued Investments in Updated Skyway Community Centre & Arena

  • Investing in your City: Free All-Day Transit for Seniors, Review a Free Transit for All Program

  • Investing in your City: More Buses, Drivers & Updated Burlington Transit Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

  • Joint Statement from Mayor & Deputy Mayor for Strategy & Budgets: Joint Statement on Burlington’s 2024 Budget: Focusing on Essentials, Frontline Services & Planning for Future Growth

  • City of Burlington News Release: Burlington Council Finalizes Budget Focused on Essentials, Frontline Services & Preparing for Growth