Pop-up retail village to be built in downtown Jasper for local businesses

Jasper businesses who lost their brick-and-mortar stores due to last summer’s wildfires will soon have a new temporary home.

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A retail pop-up business village will be built downtown so businesses can resume operating, a news release from PrairiesCan said on Thursday.

“This initiative will help businesses to generate revenue and retain customers during the peak tourism season and into the fall,” it read.

More than $2 million from Ottawa will help establish the business village

Parks Canada and the municipality have already approved this initiative. The site is expected to be operational before the summer tourism season.

“As Jasper moves from the emergency phase into the recovery phase, initiatives like the pop-up business village and support for enhanced visitor experiences will be invaluable in fueling our local economy so our community can recover and build back better than ever,” said Paul Butler, Executive Director of Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce in the release.

Tourism Jasper is also receiving $250,00 from PrairiesCan’s Tourism Growth Program to help attract regional and international visitors to the town.

More than 30 per cent of Jasper’s structures were damaged or destroyed - leaving many residents and businesses in limbo.

Parks Canada and the municipality are currently working to rebuild the town with a higher density to get residents back home.

Earlier this year, Parks Canada secured 100 duplexes for temporary housing in the town.