City of Lethbridge launches “Re-Imagine Downtown Activation” grant

May 26, 2021 | 2:03 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Applications have opened for an initiative that aims to revitalize downtown Lethbridge.

The city’s Heart of Our City Committee (HOCC) has been working behind the scenes to come up with ways of enhancing the vibrancy of the downtown core “in the context of the pandemic and post-pandemic realities.”

The Re-Imagine Downtown Activation grant gives funding to businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations, and community-minded people looking to implement initiatives, events, or programs that would utilize vacant, underutilized, or under programmed private and public spaces.

Successful applicants would receive up to $25,000 through the Downtown Redevelopment Fund.

The $150,000 fund has supported 20-25 events and festivals each year, which the city claims have attracted anywhere from 45,000 to 65,000 people.

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The HOCC felt it important to do as much as possible to safely encourage people back into the vacant and underutilized spaces of Downtown by supporting initiatives that look to create a critical mass of activity that supports local businesses, fosters healthy and safe social settings, and provides a feeling of safety and security through positivity,” says HOCC Chair Lorien Johansen.

The first intake of grant applications will be open until June 25.

More information, including how to apply, can be found here.

by David Opinko