A CCDA program allows downtown business owners to get a rebate to offset the cost of security light installation. (Photo Courtesy of Colton McKee)

By Chris Brown

Up to $400 rebate available

Lighting program to beef up downtown safety and security

Sep 21, 2020 | 4:40 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The City Centre Development Agency wants to shine more light on downtown Medicine Hat.

“In talks with downtown businesses and Medicine Hat Police Service, we identified that extra lighting in a lot of the back alleys and parking lots was a pretty critical need,” said CCDA board member Kaleb Motz. “One of our goals as the CCDA is to help improve the safety and security of downtown so we thought that putting some extra lights in would be a great way to do that.”

Through the Downtown Security Lighting Rebate Program, businesses are eligible for a rebate of up $400 after sufficient security lighting has been installed.

The CCDA is allocating $10,000 to the program and the rebate will be available until Dec. 31 or until the $10,000 has been spent.

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Motz said downtown stakeholders are hopeful more lighting will reduce loitering and crime as some of the darker spots have become hot spots for illegal activity.

“We hope that if people feel more safe and more secure and people know that improvements are being made for safety and security that they’re going to be more likely to come downtown,” he said. “Especially after hours, I mean there’s lots of great stuff to do here once the sun goes down and if we can make it feel safer and better for everyone then that’s an awesome thing to have.”

Motz adds there’s been a lot of initial interest in the program, particularly for the alley between Second Street and the parking lot of 603 First Street, and that a handful of business owners have already applied to the program.