A program matching small business owners with downtown Dayton property owners is looking for new prospective tenants. The Activated Spaces Pop-up Project is part of a larger initiative to fill downtown storefronts by connecting entrepreneurs with low-cost short-term commercial leases.
Val Beerbower from the Downtown Dayton Partnership says organizers are inviting applications from people with a range of small business experience.
"Even if they’ve never been in business, if they can identify a need and they have a strong brand presence, those are all indicators that this would be a good potential match for the program," she says.
Beerbower says business owners selected for the project also receive a small stipend to help off-set startup costs. The volunteer-driven program also provides assistance with promotion during special events.
This is the Pop-up Project’s fifth year. Organizers say since it began, it has filled more than 21,000 square feet of previously vacant commercial space and created more than 40 new jobs.