Kitchener Council to approve $1M partnership with Communitech to bring business back to DT core

The City of Kitchener with partner Communitech is set to approve nearly $1 million to fund local, in-person businesses over the next two years.

The funding will be split into $500,000 portions over the next two years, through a renewed funding partnership with the tech incubator.

The hope is to bring more business back into the downtown core and address the growing problem of unprecedented office vacancy rates, something many municipalities are still struggling with post-COVID.

The city notes that the partnership with Communitech could be extended another two years, following future discussions.

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said the plan, “is an important step in the continued support of our local technology and innovation businesses while reinvigorating the office culture downtown to create more opportunities for collaboration and interaction between businesses and our broader community.”

The plan still has to be finalized in an upcoming council meeting on Monday, April 29.

Referred to as the “Make it Kitchener” investment, the hope is the program will support start-ups through every stage, with a focus on supporting underrepresented groups in your community as well.

“Our partnership with the City of Kitchener is rooted in collaboration and ignites our vision for a brighter tech future,” Chris Albinson, president and CEO of Communitech, said.

“The city’s trust and support enables us to think big and be bold as we help founders start, grow and succeed, which has been our mission for over 25 years. We’re excited to harness the power of this partnership to continue to empower founders, drive innovation and advance our shared vision for a thriving tech ecosystem in Kitchener.”