APICA supports 2027-2030 funding plan for business associations
Jude Osmond
The City of Gatineau has unveiled a new framework to support commercial hubs and strengthen its position with small enterprises, offering smaller market establishments a chance to make a name for themselves in the coming years. The businesses and neighbourhoods in Gatineau will work together to attract more citizens and tourists to enjoy the atmosphere, allowing more events, such as small markets, to take place and bringing more people to local shops.
The framework originates from the Commercial Development Policy adopted in October 2025 to strengthen local businesses and support a better economy across the city. This new structure strengthens Gatineau as a facilitator, planner, and catalyst for commercial development. It offers a variety of clear, equitable, and collaborative approaches to enhance the vitality of the region's commercial hubs. “I think we have reached something that will stabilize and secure activities and actions taken over the next three years,” said Pauline Bouchard, General Manager of AGAP Du Vieux-Gatineau.
“With this support framework, Gatineau is giving itself the means to provide concrete support to its non-profit organizations and business associations, in addition to supporting the development of various commercial hubs while respecting their identity,” said Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent, Chair of the Economic Development Commission and City Councillor for the Touraine district. “This is an important lever for revitalizing our communities, encouraging local purchasing, and strengthening the local economy for the benefit of the entire community.”
This new framework has goals attached to it that are widely achievable, including stimulating the economic vitality of commercial hubs, ensuring consistency with other city measures and efforts, encouraging local consumption, fostering collaborative projects among retailers, respecting the identities and unique characteristics of different areas, and recognizing hubs operating with diverse commercial frameworks. The City Council will vote on the framework at its meeting on Tuesday, July 7. If accepted, this framework could be made available to non-profit organizations and business associations during the fall.
Pauline Bouchard told the Bulletin that the new framework for commercial hubs will help stabilize large and small events at places like the Marché Notre-Dame, as it allows for different types of markets and activities, with a more varied selection of small and large market establishments. “For public markets,” she said, “it's always a question of the number of exhibitors and also the variety… and the idea of the framework for commercial hubs can help stabilize certain activities.”
The Aylmer sector will contribute to and capitalize on the new framework, with many activities and markets happening in Aylmer throughout the summer and fall, many of which APICA has hosted and served the Old Aylmer business community for 46 years. “The goal of these investments is to enhance the attractiveness of Old Aylmer, to support existing businesses and to encourage the establishment of new businesses in the heart of this historic and dynamic sector,” General Manager of APICA Nathalie Lavergne said.
Lavergne told the Bulletin that APICA is enthusiastically embracing the proposals and opportunities for collaboration presented by the City of Gatineau for the 2027-2030 protocol agreement.