Arran-Elderslie is starting a Paisley Community Working Group to drive economic development in downtown Paisley.
The municipality recently started working groups for Tara and Chesley to strengthen and revitalize their downtowns.
A release from Arran-Elderslie says the Paisley Community Working Group will serve as a collaborative platform for business owners, community stakeholders, and municipal staff and council to exchange ideas, address challenges, and propose solutions that enhance economic growth and revitalization efforts.
Paisley came together in a similar way back in 2017 to rebrand itself as the Artistic River Village. It was part of an effort to boost the economy, attract new residents and businesses and protect its local school from closure at a time when the Kathleen Wynne provincial liberal government was closing rural schools in the area. The result was a success story for Paisley which gave its downtown a boost, and attracted new people and businesses.
In more recent years, Chesley has seen some of its downtown storefronts go vacant, its local CIBC branch closed, and its hospital, just behind the downtown has struggled to stay open, with overnight ER closures. Since the working group was started in 2024, there have been a number of new businesses that have opened in downtown Chesley.
The Chesley and Tara working groups priorities are business attraction and retention, increasing their capacity to compete, and developing a vibrant downtown. They have looked at planting trees, adding new garbage cans, wrapping empty storefront windows, murals, banners, advertising and attracting new businesses to fill underused commercial space and more.
Community members interested in joining the Paisley group can find the Terms of Reference and Application Form on Arran-Elderslie’s website or pick up an application at the Paisley Community Centre. Applications will be accepted until April 14, 2025, and can be submitted in person at the municipal office in Chesley, or via email to cfraser@arran-elderslie.ca.
