Nova Scotia’s main streets will be lined with new flower beds or a freshly painted bench as part of the province’s community revitalization program, Mainstreet 2.0, announced today, July 26.
Mainstreet 2.0 is a companion to the First Impressions program that is part of the province’s tourism strategy.
Both aim to support the development of attractive, distinctive and visitor-friendly downtowns and main streets.
“Nova Scotians are proud of where they live and the original main street program was a wonderful way to help support a few small projects that had created big impact,” said Truro-Bible Hill MLA Lenore Zann, on behalf of Communities Culture and Heritage Minister Leonard Preyra. “Nova Scotians now have a balanced budget and the province is looking to the future to support initiatives that help make life better for families and their communities.”
Mainstreet 2.0 will provide grants of up to $1,000 to help community groups and municipalities beautify their main streets. Total funding for the program will be $1.5 million a year.
“Our downtowns represent the heart and soul of our communities and are crucial to the economic and cultural success of the province as a whole,” said Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities president Russell Walker. “Reinstating the Mainstreet Program demonstrates the province’s commitment to maintaining and reinvigorating our downtowns.”
Program applications will be available this winter and grants will be approved in the spring.
Source: Release