The next few months will be pivotal for an organization that supports the development for Melfort’s Main Street as it looks to secure more stable funding.
The Melfort Business Revitalization Corporation, which runs the Main Street Melfort program, has been hit hard by the suspension of provincial funding to the Main Street Saskatchewan program and funding cuts from the city.
Tim Hoenmans, the president of the corporation, said they have received positive feedback about the program’s accomplishments, which include monthly street events during the summer and the renovations of three storefronts right on Main Street.
“Right now, we’re exploring opportunities with any type of funding we can set up to continue the program,” he said. “We’re going to continue to try to do what we do and provide events and contributions to Melfort in the same way we’ve been doing. Right now, it’s going to be business as usual to the extent we can keep business as usual.”
That could be hard, as due to the funding cuts, the corporation has had to let go of their co-ordinator, Kirby Hardwick. Hoenmans said Hardwick went over and above what they expected of her and will feel her loss.
“To ask what it’s going to be like losing her, she was the go-to point man for the entire offense,” he said. “She was kind of the pivotal person and it’s going to be a huge loss.”
There are a few possibilities the corporation is looking at to secure new funding. The Saskatchewan Economic Development Association is in the early stages of looking at creating a new program to supplement programs that received funding from the provincial Main Street program. The corporation is looking at the possibility of corporate sponsorships. It’s even looking at a proposal to create a business improvement district where businesses pay a fee to the corporation.
“If the business community feels what we’re providing is of value and it’s good for business and it’s good for the community, if they’re on board then we’ll look at asking council to institute a levy and move forward from there,” said Hoenmans, who’s also a city councillor.
The key problem with any of those funding sources is they are uncertain and depend on what’s happening with the economy, provincial government – or even how changes to federal corporate taxes pan out.
“Not going to lie, it’s probably going to be a little bit of a difficult couple of months, but we have a great board here,” Hoenmans said.
The president said over the coming month, the corporation is going to talk to local businesses and the community.
“We’re going to be soliciting feedback, and looking for business and community input for the next month or two to see what our direction forward should be. We welcome everybody’s input, we want to know what we did right, what we did wrong and what their suggestions are.”
