By Hayley Ferguson

Downtown Development Incentive

Grant money still available from city for downtown businesses

Oct 31, 2019 | 12:28 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – Since 2011, the City of Medicine Hat’s Downtown Development Incentive Program has helped business open or complete upgrades with a number of different grants.

While the grant money is usually all spoken for within the first four months of the program opening each year, this year there is still money left after six months.

“This year we’ve got about $76,000 that is still remaining in the pot. So we’re just letting folks know that get your applications in. The program operates as a first-come-first-serve situation,” said city business support officer Sandra Blyth.

In years past, a total of $200,000 in grants have been available.

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Blyth says this year that has gone up.

“We’ve had some extra money put into the program due to money that was transferred out of the 603 First Street development initiative that never advanced. So we took those dollars and popped it into the incentive,” she explained.

Blyth says the money transferred was about $84,000.

She believes that is the main reason it all been claimed but says it has been a tougher year for businesses.

“There could be other things as well. The economy affects things as well with how much businesses can spend,” she said.

There are five categories of grants including commercial development (up to $25,000 available), multifamily development (up to $25,000 available), live/work residential development (up to $5,000 available), architectural/visual enhancements (up to $5,000 available) and environmental site assessment and remedial/risk management (up to $20,000 available).

“I would encourage anybody that is looking at a new development or redevelopment of a property in the downtown area to fill in the application and get it in at least so then you’re in the line,” Blyth said. “Depending on availability we will accept applications until the end of December 31st. But at this stage in the game if you apply you have a full year until December 31, 2020, to get your invoices and receipts in.”