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Downtown Canton Partnership outlines events, grants and rental assistance to boost downtown
Summary
The Downtown Canton Partnership described 2025 activities and 2026 priorities including events (First Fridays, Blues Fest), a farmers market that draws about 1,000 people weekly in summer, storefront renovation grants, and a rental assistance program to attract small-business tenants to downtown storefronts.
Todd Herbigs, executive director of the Downtown Canton Partnership (DCP), and Ryan Miller, the board chair, told council the organization is focused on events, marketing and small-business support to shift perceptions and attract investment in downtown Canton.
Herbigs said DCP runs recurring events including First Fridays and helped bring back Barbecue and Blues; he noted the farmers market draws about 1,000 people each Saturday in the summer and that the DCP allocates $11,500 from senior-nutrition funds to help market and serve downtown residents. "We're the group that does a lot of the events downtown," Herbigs said.
Ryan Miller described a rental assistance program launched in 2025 that provides incentives to businesses that sign multi-year leases, and both presenters said storefront renovation and public-realm grants have been used to activate blighted properties and attract new businesses. Herbigs said the DCP leverages city investment with sponsorships, special-improvement-district revenue and grants to expand programming.
Council members praised the work and asked about details; presenters said the Palace will continue summer-movie programming during a planned construction period and that DCP is coordinating with the mayor's office and Civic Center on programming and outreach.
No formal vote was taken; presenters were invited back for a committee meeting and to provide additional detail at second reading.
