New crowdfunding platform to save small businesses launches
Why It Matters
Two in five independent businesses in Canada are worried about permanent closure from the impacts of COVID-19. As they struggle to stay afloat, a pilot project hopes to boost their chances with community crowdfunding, which has emerged as a vital tool for the social impact sector. Could it provide a model for Main Streets across Canada?
On her crowdfunding page, Summer Baird has listed items to redeem when her pub reopens, like brunch for two, a wine tasting session, and paintings from a local artist. Her business, The Hintonburg Public House in Wellington West, Ottawa, has lost all of its business to the COVID-19 outbreak.
One of the weirder items is a giant horse head in the dining room. โI put it out to the community to see what people wanted,โ Baird explained. It has sentimental value so she put a high price on it. โIf somebody really, really wants it then Iโll have to let it go,โ she said.
The Hintonburg Public House is one of the first participants in a new pilot campaign called LOVE.WellingtonWest.ca, run by the Wellington West Business Improvement Area (BIA) and Crowdfund Canada. Created by the McConnell Foundation, the pilot is
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