The District of 100 Mile House Council voted unanimously on Oct. 22 to apply for a grant from the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) to fund the 2025 Business Face Improvement Program.
The program, which was started by the district in 2014 - had originally been the initiative of the NDIT, according to Joanne Doddridge, the director of economic planning and development with the District of 100 Mile House. Each year the district applies for a $20,000 grant.
"It's a program they have and they built the program to try to help communities in the north spur economic development by having some of their businesses in their downtowns refurbished," said Doddridge.
Mayor Maureen Pinkney expanded on this point, noting the District of 100 Mile House needs this program because the town's image is one of the most important things in selling the community to visitors.
"First impressions, what people see, whether they're a tourist driving through, someone looking to relocate, someone wanting to set up a business, they'll look at our streets and our buildings and go - Wow, this is a place where I want to be! Or, I don't know if I want to be there," Pinkney said.
Over the last decade, around 18 businesses in 100 Mile House have applied to the Business Facade Improvement Program for funding to upgrade their facades including the Red Rock Grill, The Kitchen Corner and the Red Cross. Only four applications can be submitted to the District every year, as the district can only fund 50 per cent of the upgrades, or up to $5,000 per project.
"So for a lot of people, a $10,000 facelift to their building might not be affordable, right?" explained Pinkney.
It should be noted that only businesses along the Highway 97 corridor or along Birch Avenue can apply for the program. Doddridge said this is because the NDIT has certain design guidelines that only businesses within these areas meet.
Pinkney says that it is amazing that such a program will continue, citing that in 2023 the program was temporarily discontinued by NDIT.
"That was very sad, because our businesses definitely do need help when it comes to these upgrades, a lot of landlords may not be able to afford it, and when we want to keep rent affordable, this enables that to happen, otherwise, that cost of that upgrade would be born by the tenant," Pinkney remarked.
The district will accept applications for the program when the grant is approved. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis with anyone looking for more information invited to call the district office at 250-395-2434.
