Calgary mayoral candidate Jan Damery wants to fork over cash to help ailing restaurants and live music performers, to the tune of $52.7 million.
One part of Damery’s economic plan, announced Monday, would use the surplus from 2020 to invest in Calgary’s post-pandemic recovery. Damery announced her candidacy for mayor earlier this month.
“We cannot undo the harm that individuals and businesses have experienced over the last year. But we can be a catalyst for a better future,” Damery said, in a prepared media release.
“Post-COVID, we must rebuild our economy, ensuring that local businesses have a chance to thrive and that our city is vibrant and accessible.”
According to the Damery campaign, some of the incentives from the program would include:
- Lowering the barrier to entry for trialing new restaurant concepts and incentivizing the start-up of restaurants in under-used spaces.
- Providing additional funding to be split between landlords and restaurateurs to incentivise new permanent tenants who license and open a restaurant.
- Covering 50 per cent of the cost of hiring live performance artists, which will attract Calgarians and visitors to Calgary’s bars, restaurants, and other music venues.
The plan includes $10 million for restaurants, $5 million for live music and performances, and $36.5 million for other initiatives. Administration costs for the program are an estimated $1.2 million.
“Post-COVID, we must rebuild our economy and ensure that local businesses have a chance to thrive,” said Damery.
