The City of Kingston Council has approved the provision of a historic building in the Village of Portsmouth neighbourhood for use as an incubator at no charge for five years.

In partnership with Innovate Kingston, a new not-for-profit group of volunteer entrepreneurs, the building will be renovated and retrofitted to meet the needs of technology startups.

“The City is backing up their pledge to make Kingston a place where history and innovation thrive,” says Innovate Kingston board member Grant Goodwin. “This is the first time a city has provided a building free of charge in this way, and we are so pleased with the commitment they have made to help businesses thrive here in Kingston.”

Innovate Kingston will manage the building and provide additional supporting services to high-growth companies in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Additional support will include free advice from local law and accounting firms, free mentoring from a pool of seasoned entrepreneurs and business experts, and events to encourage collaboration among business owners and staff.

“Promoting innovation and fostering entrepreneurship are key elements of council’s vision to make Kingston a smart and livable 21st century city,” says Mayor Bryan Paterson. “The transformation of old Portsmouth Town Hall into a new small business acceleration centre in partnership with Innovate Kingston is a great example of how working together as a community we can advance our vision and take meaningful steps in supporting local entrepreneurs.”

Businesses who are interested in moving into the new space are invited to contact Innovate Kingston.

Applications can be completed on their website.

The City of Kingston and Innovate Kingston hope to attract businesses in Kingston as well as those in other areas who are looking for the financial and collaborative advantages that are being offered.

“We intend to help create a lot of companies and hope that more than one of these companies can cross the $100 million annual revenue threshold and help reshape the business narrative here in Kingston,” says Mr. Goodwin. “The City has stepped up to the plate in a big way here, and we intend to carry their momentum forward creating a lot of jobs along the way.”