NS News: Communities to Benefit from New Main Street Program –South Shore

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.

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.

“Families and seniors have great pride in the areas where they live, and the original main street program was a great success, helping support a few small improvements with big impact,” said Lunenburg West MLA Gary Ramey, on behalf of Communities Culture and Heritage Minister Leonard Preyra. “With strong fiscal management, Nova Scotians now have a balanced budget, and the province is now 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 main streets are the centerpieces of our communities,” said Mr. Ramey. “A town can use a grant to purchase flower beds, art murals, or a new coat of paint for doors or benches. The province is pleased to stand with local communities and bring this program back.”

“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.”

“Nova Scotia could benefit from more accessible grants that encourage citizens to take action on matters that are important to them and their neigbourhoods,” said Bridgewater resident Brian Braganza. “This initiative appears to do just that for our main streets and I’m excited to see it unfold.”

Program applications will be available this winter and grants will be approved in the spring.

Source: Release

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