Innovation centre to open in Vancouver
It will offer community space and help for business startups in Downtown Eastside
Vancouver is getting a new Technology and Social Innovation Centre on Main Street at the site of the old police station in the Downtown Eastside.
The centre, a collaboration with the Vancouver Economic Commission and the Vancity Community Foundation, will be located at 312/324 Main Street and host a range of social and entrepreneurial activities, from rental space for startups and incubators, to a community space for training, events and services.
The Vancity Community Foundation, which has a 15-year lease from the city for the second floor of the building, will manage the Centre, according to the city’s communications department. The foundation, which earmarked $1.5 million toward the project last year. No date has been set for the opening.
“We believe one of the best ways to support the community and the local economy is through an integrated approach, including increased employment opportunities for residents,” Derek Gent, Executive Director of the Vancity Community Foundation, said in a release. “The new centre will focus on social innovation and involve a diverse mix of people in initiatives that make a positive impact and benefits the community for the long term.”
The centre will include startup incubation and acceleration programming, with business services, financing and training for sectors including technology, sustainability and clean-tech, social enterprise and micro-enterprise.
“We are excited to continue our work on this project with the Vancity Community Foundation and with the many passionate supporters in our business community who would like to see Vancouver become home to a world class Innovation Centre as we see in other cities across the globe,” Ian McKay, CEO of the Vancouver Economic Commission, said in the release. “The VEC views this Innovation Centre as a critical piece of infrastructure aimed at closing gaps in our ecosystem and addressing the needs of our City’s entrepreneurs and innovators.”
The ground floor of the building will be community space.
“Vancouver’s first Technology and Social Innovation Centre is a unique and exciting partnership that will provide significant new support to foster innovation in our community and economy,” Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said. “The centre will further accelerate job growth and investment in Vancouver’s fast-growing social enterprise, technology, and startup sectors, while providing important new resources, gathering space and programming for the community.”
The plan, which was first revealed last spring, met with criticism among Downtown Eastside advocates who called for more social housing and other uses for the site.