The City of Toronto says it is “working with the local Indigenous community to develop the Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE).”
The ICIE, it adds, is a “space designed to give the Indigenous community an opportunity to explore their entrepreneurial aspirations by providing space, business programming, advisory services, mentorship supports, shared co-workspace, community event space and connections to business networks.
“The City is committed to (it) being run by an Indigenous organization. A Leadership Advisory Circle including local Indigenous entrepreneurs and leaders has been established to provide advice and guidance to the City through the construction and business planning.”
The facility will be located at 200 Dundas St. E. and is currently under construction with a planned opening of early 2022. The ICIE space comprises over 22,000 sq. ft. of commercial space spread over three floors and includes:
- Ground floor: Retail (4,789 sq. ft.)
- Second floor: Event space (10,933 sq. ft.)
- Third floor: Office/Workspaces (7,673 sq. ft.).
There will be short and long-term leased office spaces available, boardrooms and meeting rooms available to rent, kitchen facilities for catering, a knowledge centre, a lounge area and event space, among other amenities, the municipality said.
On her web site, Toronto councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam states that when it opens, “the ICIE will be a culturally and technology-rich environment to support the incubation of start-ups led by Indigenous majority-owned businesses, enhancing economic development by making it a physical hub and meeting place for Indigenous entrepreneurs, industry partners, customers and more.
“(It) will also serve as an anchor for what could become Canada’s first-ever urban Indigenous Business and Cultural District, accelerating the transformation of the Dundas St. E. corridor into a world leader for Indigenous innovation and business leadership.
“The Indigenous District will enable businesses and entrepreneurs to work with the community to access Indigenous-led innovation, technology and talent through virtual and physical co-working locations.”
Additional information is available via this link
