Business owners looking to relocate to downtown Dryden have an opportunity to win a year’s worth of rent through a new attraction initiative.
The Dryden District Chamber of Commerce, the City of Dryden and Patricia Area Community Endeavours (PACE) are jointly sponsoring a “Win This Space” contest to attract new business to the downtown and fill a vacant storefront.
It follows in the footsteps of communities like Sudbury and North Bay, which have held similar contests, although Dryden is believed to be the first community in northwestern Ontario to hold this kind of promotion.
“What a great way to start a new business,” chamber manger Lorna Wood said in a release. “To not only receive 12 months of rent, plus sponsorships, but to have such tremendous support from other local businesses.
“We could not have offered this contest without the sponsors and would like to thank each of them for their commitment to our great little City of Dryden. I encourage anyone with a good idea for a new business in downtown Dryden to submit it by July 31 and be entered into the contest at www.drydenchamber.ca – and let the best idea win.”
Interested business owners submit a short pitch, which will be vetted by a panel of judges. The winner will receive a year’s worth of rent (up to $1,000 per month) in a downtown location, plus in-kind professional service sponsorships.
In Sudbury, a pastry chef was awarded the prize in July, while North Bay’s winner has yet to be chosen, as the contest runs until September.
View a promotional video about the contest here.
