Growth Committee Discussion, at a glance – April 13, 2021

During today’s City of Saint John Growth Committee meeting, the following topics were discussed: 

Succeed and Stay: Entering the final phase of the succeed and stay project, a three-year research project to study the reasons why immigrants succeed and stay in Saint John. The study will identify gaps and create a strategy for improving settlement and retention outcomes in Greater Saint John.   

Next steps will include a report of findings, public engagement sessions and an immigration strategy. 

Municipal ENCORE Program - Open Streets: City staff will not be leading open streets this summer; however, the City will be accepting applications from third-party organizers who want to host an open street event, provided they can abide by the Provincial mandatory order, and obtain all necessary approvals.  

The City looks forward to exploring options for pedestrianization of City Streets post-pandemic and will be engaging with the public and local businesses about models that may work for our community.  

Applications will be available soon. 

Municipal ENCORE Program - Spotlight Arts Creative Community Economy Initiative: The Spotlight Program will stimulate the local economy and create programs that will lead to long-lasting approaches for creative problem solving. This will be a community-driven initiative.  

Artists will be invited to participate in community engagement training sessions and submit proposals for art projects in partnership with businesses. The artists will work with community organizations to create the art. Some installations will be temporary, while others could be permanent. The art will drive people to visit businesses in the City and experience their neighborhoods in new and exciting ways.  

Development Activity: Growth and development activity remains steady in Saint John. The One Stop Development Shop received 51 building and development permits in March, with a total project value of $3.6 million.  

For more details on action items from the Growth Committee meeting, please visit www.saintjohn.ca