RENEW NEW TECUMSETH ARTS & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

RENEW NEW TECUMSETH ARTS & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Even though we have a strong economy due to the Honda Plant and farming in the area, our downtowns have suffered and struggled. Big box stores located just outside of city limits and 2 large metropolitan areas within driving distance provided many challenges and concerns.

Our Renew Program has been successful from the start. We have filled vacant spaces, revitalized our downtowns, and provided businesses with an opportunity to be more successful.

BENEFITS FOR EVERYONE The vision of a Renew Program is to connect downtown property owners with home based business people, artists, cultural projects, and service providers. Our Program takes downtown empty shops, offices, and commercial buildings and transforms them into marketable operations which builds community renewal throughout Ontario.

OVERVIEW OF OUR SUCCESSES (IN ONLY 28 MONTHS) Leases 10 Long Term leases with 9 different owners. Storefronts 14 empty storefronts acquired from 9 different owners. Time Frame to Fill Spaces 59 days to fill an empty storefront on average. New Businesses 15 new businesses started with 11 still operating 2 within the Program, 5 signed long-term leases, and 4 operating outside the Program.

OVERVIEW OF OUR SUCCESSES (IN ONLY 28 MONTHS) Revenue Generates $600 per month, on average, in Fees collected from Participants. Capital Investments Over $72K has been invested within the Renew Program and another $48K being done by other downtown stores and owners. Downtown Rejuvenation Our Anchor stores report an average increase of 20% in sales and foot traffic. Development Time and Costs It took 8 months and over $50K to create this Renew Program.

OUR FIRST SUCCESS We started work in October 2012. Renew placed the South Simcoe Arts Council s Christmas Market in a vacant storefront from November 30, 2012 to January 7, 2013. There was a huge increase in shopper traffic, sales, and exposure to the benefits of a downtown location to the artists.

OUR FIRST SUCCESS There was an increase of over $9,000.00 in revenue opening on the main street compared to a previous space. IN ONLY 6 WEEKS There was an increase of over 1,000 visitors on the main street since launching this program.

While the Pop Up Market was operating, a long term lease was entered into in which the entrepreneur acquired the space for March 1, 2013. OUR FIRST SUCCESS

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL We acquired our first official location on March 20, 2013 at 7 Paris St, Alliston. The space was empty for 1 month. The owner had no inquiries. We filled the space in 29 days.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL The Participant approached Renew with a brand new business idea. She was passionate and had a solid business plan. Now she has her own show on Rogers TV, joint ventures with other businesses in Alliston & classes 7 days per week.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL A long-term lease was signed with the owner after only 6 months with our Program. She states that she would never have gotten a storefront if not for Renew and is still in operation.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL Our 2nd location was acquired April 25, 2013 at 96 Victoria St, Alliston. The space was empty for over 2 ½ years and had 8 10 inquiries during that time. We filled the space in 29 days.

Since it was a large space it housed 3 businesses over 6 months Mark Evers Photography, Carolin Watt of All Things Poepee s & Tails, and Patricia Easton of Jordash Inc. SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL

BUILDING BUSINESS FOR THE LONG TERM Poepee s & Tails signed a lease with the owner after only 4 months on our Program. Out of town customers and referrals are keeping the store very busy.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL Our 3 rd location was acquired on June 21, 2013 and is located at 54 Queen St, South, Tottenham. The space was empty for 8 months with 1 3 inquiries. We filled the space in 5 days.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL We originally placed an Art Gallery and School in the location. They have moved on and the owner has signed a long term lease with the local Chamber of Commerce, after only 6 months.

Our 4 th location was acquired on October 4, 2013 and is located at 103 Victoria Street, Alliston. The 3 spaces were: 1 st - Empty for 11 months We filled in 27 days; 2 nd Empty for 11 months We filled in 57 days; 3 rd Empty as of 30NOV13 Filled as of 17FEB14 in 79 days. SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL The 1 st space had 2 interested Participants of which Mia Nagasaki of Lifebeats First Aid acquired it on November 1, 2013. She is running her successful First Aid, CPR, and babysitting classes in this space.

Lifebeats First Aid signed a long term lease on 1OCT14 after 11 months on the Program and is still running very successfully. SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL The 2 nd space had Kevin Herrington of Armms Publishing Company move in on December 1, 2013. This space was long term leased as of March 1, 2014 by an outside entrepreneur, after only 3 months.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL This space became available again in Jan 2015 when the business moved to the empty space down the hall. Our Participant, Jennifer Friendorf of Genesee Counselling Services, moved from her Unit next door to this one since it better serves her business.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL The 3 rd space now has Sally Petros of Petros Family Services as of February 23, 2015. This space was filled after 1 day of being empty. This Participant will be providing counseling services different from the other Participant.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL Our 5 th location was acquired on November 5, 2013 and is located at 8 Main Street West, Beeton. The space was empty for 7 months with 4 7 inquiries. William and Shirley Joyce of Creative Arts & Music moved in May 1, 2014 after 176 days.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL The Participants signed a long-term lease for Aug 1, 2014 after only 3 months. They run classes for both Music and Art as well as hosting other Artists.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL Our 6 th and 7 th locations were acquired on March 10, 2014 and are located at 4 & 6 Mill Street, Tottenham. Store #4 was empty for 2 months.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL Store #6 which was empty for 2 years was filled in only 38 days on April 15, 2014. The Participant, Pat Snell, ran her Special Events Decorating Service called Lasting Impressions Décor from this space for 6 months until October 2014.

SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL Stores #7, #8 & #9 were recently acquired. We are looking for entrepreneurs to fill these spaces!!

Stores #7, was empty for 8 months and was recently filled by an outside business after only 31 days. SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL

Stores #8 was empty for 14 months and was recently filled by a new Participant Michelle Rakowski of Alliston Resolutions after only 60 days. SUCCESS OF OUR WORKING MODEL

OUR SUCCESSES ONGOING The Baroque Pearl had 5 inquiries of their property over the 2 years it was advertised available. During the 6-week Pop Up Art Market, they had 6-8 inquiries. Utilities of $680.00 were paid to the owner saving them money. The property is now leased by a person that went into the store during the Pop Up Art Market and loved the new look. Both the Realtor and the Owner believe this quick success is due entirely to our Renew Program.

OUR SUCCESSES ONGOING We have had a 50% decrease in vacant stores in just 28 months from 42 in October 2012 - to 21 as of January 2015. We have placed 15 Participants in our spaces of which 2 are still active with our Program, 4 have continued their businesses in their home, and 5 have signed long-term leases. Even the 4 Participants that didn t continue in a storefront have increased their exposure, networking connections, and found it very helpful to test out a storefront without the financial commitment.

OUR SUCCESSES ONGOING There have been 148 inquiries by interested Candidates. Over 88% of our Participants state they wouldn t have opened their businesses downtown if not for Renew. That is 13 businesses that wouldn t have existed in the downtown core. Our Anchor stores confirm that they have noticed a 50% increase in sales and 25% increase in foot traffic compared to the same time last year overall. All 9 owners have confirmed that they would immediately use the Renew Program when another space of theirs becomes vacant.

HOW OUR PROGRAM WORKS FOR BUILDING OWNERS There is an agreement between Renew and the building owner/realtor for the use of the space. It is a 30 day rolling agreement - our Program moves out when the owner wishes to be out of the program. The owner continues to receive their Vacancy Rebate, as approved by the Municipality. The owner decides what can and can t be placed in their space as well as what can and can t be done to the space.

HOW OUR PROGRAM WORKS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS For Lease signage remains up and in full view; we put our signage up which indicates the Participant is a part of our Program and temporary. The owner only gets their utilities paid but receive no remuneration from the Participants or the Program. We have been able to get long-term leases for owners within 6 months of using our Program.

Participants pay their own utilities. They are responsible for security and taking care of the space. They provide insurance for the space. The Participants pay a Participation Fee that increases every 3 months to encourage their sustainability. A Sales Percentage Fee is also charged to the Participants to track success and encourage long-term leases. HOW OUR PROGRAM WORKS FOR PARTICIPANTS

OUR PROGRAM WORKS We have endeavoured to create a model that works within the Provincial legislation and is successful for not only the Owners and the Participants but for the community as a whole. We are offering Trillium supported packages that fit with communities to save the time, extensive costs, and struggles to get a Renew Program up and running immediately.

OUR TEMPLATES The Program took 8 months to develop and time valued at $50,188.22, from the following resources to become operational: VOLUNTEER HOURS 360 hours from several organizations and individuals. PAID HOURS 840 hours by the Project Coordinator. LEGAL WORK 48 hours and costs associated to develop the contracts, which ensure the following..

OUR TEMPLATES Legal Acknowledgement for this type of Program: There are significant legal relationships that create issues that must be considered. Think of commercial landlord and tenant or land owners and personal injury claims. There are legal issues in Ontario that focus on commercial tenancies, occupiers liability, agency law etc. The challenge is to make these agreements readable and relatively short but protect the entities involved.

CONTACT Lisa Morrison Project Coordinator 705-440-8923 info@renewnewtecumseth.ca www.renewnewtecumseth.ca Follow us on Twitter @RenewNewTec & Facebook Thank you for your time!!