Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Receives Funding Through The Rural Economic Development Program

The Ontario government is committing nearly $1 million in cost-share funding to help communities like Peterborough-Kawartha diversify their economies, retain skilled workers and create jobs, through a new targeted intake of the Rural Economic Development (RED) program.  

The intake is directed at not-for-profit organizations with a mandate towards regional economic development, and Peterborough is among those benefitting from support for local projects funded under the RED program, as the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is receiving $23,921 for decorative lighting to entice more people downtown.

MPP Dave Smith pictured with Terry Guiel, DBIA Executive Director

“Our downtown has faced unprecedented challenges in the last several months”, says MPP Dave Smith. “Critical investments in making the downtown brighter, safer and more inviting for the Christmas season is another step forward in our economic recovery.”   

"I am very grateful that with the combination of the RED funding that we were able to secure along with installation support from the City of Peterborough, the DBIA will be able to bring a record amount of decorative holiday lights to the downtown,” says Terry “Mr. Downtown” Guiel. “These new holiday lights will bring a bright, yet more warm ambience to the downtown than the previous ones".

"With all the stresses our community has been under this past year, we could sure all use something to help brighten the spirit and these beautiful lights should help with that while hopefully attracting some holiday shoppers to the area,” adds Guiel.

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