Saint John opens second round of funding for businesses affected by crime

Saint John businesses affected by crime are getting a second chance at funding for repairs and security upgrades.

Earlier this month, the city of Saint John opened the second round of applications for its community resilience fund.

The fund, approved by council in December last year, was launched as a two-year pilot program with up to $250,000 available annually to support small businesses and non-profits affected by crime, including property damage, safety concerns and increased security needs.

The city introduced the program along with its Community Safety and Security Team, another two-year pilot program created in response to residents’ concerns about safety and disorder in Waterloo Village, uptown Saint John and the Thorne Avenue–Rothesay Avenue corridor.

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The city awarded the first round of funding in April, approving 13 out of 18 applications, and granting the organizations roughly $48,000.

Some of the businesses and non-profits that received the funding include excursion provider Aquila Tours, container village Area 506, poverty reduction non-profit Kaleidoscope Social Impact, among others.

The maximum reimbursement organizations are eligible for is $7,500.

Round two will be open until Aug. 31.