Michelle Groulx

Menu

Tag: Economic Development

‘Placemakers’: How BIAs are high-powered catalysts for the local cultural economy

Read here: https://obj.ca/how-bias-are-catalysts-for-the-local-cultural-economy/ Ottawa Business JournalApril 1, 2026 Article excerpt: “Our local businesses and BIAs are catalysts of culture in our neighbourhoods,” explains Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA) Chief Advocate Michelle Groulx. “BIAs help build places that reflect the culture and identity of the businesses in their neighbourhood, but they also bring people together with cultural events and festivals. 

Ottawa Business Journal: Some Ottawa ‘food desert’ neighbourhoods to benefit from city zoning change

Read More: https://obj.ca/some-ottawa-food-deserts-to-benefit-from-city-zoning-change Some Ottawa ‘food desert’ neighbourhoods to benefit from city zoning changeOttawa Business JournalJuly 12, 2023Written by: Mia Jensen Article excerpt: It’s an amendment deemed “wonderful” by Michelle Groulx, executive director of the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas (OCOBIA). “(It) addresses the 15-minute neighbourhood strategy in Ottawa’s official plan,” she said. “We hope to see more small to mid-size independent food retailers in our city, as well as larger ones to bring food – a necessity – to various parts of Ottawa where it’s missing.”

CityNews: City looks at creating ‘night mayor’ position to help develop Ottawa’s nightlife economy

Read here: https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2023/04/24/city-looks-at-creating-night-mayor-position-to-help-develop-ottawas-nightlife-economy/ City looks at creating ‘night mayor’ position to help develop Ottawa’s nightlife economy City NewsApril 24, 2023By: Alex Black Article excerpt: Groulx says while it’s important to grow and develop local nightlife, the city also needs to raise awareness of what’s already out there. “We have actual nightlife,” she says. “There are little pockets of activity and entertainment happening throughout our city, but the thing is nobody knows about it. So, our reputation, globally I guess somewhat, is that we’re the city that goes to bed at 5 p.m.”

Ottawa Business Journal: Park this: Business owners push back on parking fee hike scheme

Read here: https://obj.ca/park-this-business-owners-push-back-on-parking-fee-hike-scheme-2 Ottawa Business JournalSeptember 30, 2022By: David Sali Article excerpt: Michelle Groulx, the executive director of the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas, said raising parking rates could backfire by discouraging motorists from coming downtown, leading to less money flowing into city coffers in the long run. “If you up (parking) prices, people won’t come downtown. The people that are going to suffer from increased parking (fees) will be small businesses.”