WHO: Entrepreneurs   WHAT: Free rent for a year   WHEN: 2019-2020    WHERE: Downtown Cornwall

Cornwall, ON – Starting a business is exciting but scary at the same time and Cornwall’s Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has partnered with the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre, to launch the second “Win This Space”.  A Dragon’s Den type of competition which will give a lucky entrepreneur the chance to win up to $1,000 a month FREE rent for an entire year in a downtown vacant store location of their choice.

At the launch, held on Friday, March 29th, Todd Lihou, Centretown Coordinator with Heart of the City, explained how this venture will work. Applications can be picked up at the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce or can be found at www.downtowncornwall.com

Candidates have until 4pm on April 26th, 2019 to submit their entries. Up to 25 finalists will then be selected and they will receive training by the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre to develop their business ideas.

Semi-finalists must submit business plans and all required documents to the DBIA for consideration as a finalist by 4pm on June 21, 2019. Finalists must submit business plans to the Cornwall DBIA by 4pm on August 30, 2019.

5 chosen finalists will then present their business concepts to a judging panel on September 10th in a Dragon’s Den Type of Competition which will be televised by YourTV. At this event the winner of the Space will be chosen.

Last years winner of the “Win This Space” competition was Fairy Sweet, a home based bakery for 6 years which now has a storefront in a busy location on Second Street. One of the owners, Sue-Anne Heitmann, (in photo above) was on hand to explain how winning the space last year has allowed the business to receive great visibility  and to expand considerably to the point that they will now have to hire someone to help with production of the baked goods. Also seen in the photo above from left to right are Martha Woods, Chair of the Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA), Michelle Longtin, DBIA Vice-Chair, Todd Lihou, Centretown Coordinator with Heart of the City, Candy Pollard of Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre and Sue-Anne Heitmann of Fairy Sweet.

If you have any questions about “Win This Space” please contact Todd Lihou at 613-933-4004, ext 224 or email him at: [email protected]