The Downtown Dig in Paris, Ontario demonstrates a unique approach to supporting businesses, residents and visitors during a major infrastructure renewal project. While major infrastructure projects can create significate disruptions for nearby small businesses, early engagement, collaboration and thoughtful planning can help reduce impacts and support the community thought-out constriction.

Supported through the Rural Ontario Development Program in 2024, the project received up to $122,500 in funding. It was recognized earlier this year by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO), receiving awards for Business Attraction and Retention and Excellence in Rural Economic Development.

“The Downtown Dig has always been about more than replacing infrastructure. Our goal was to ensure businesses remained supported, residents stayed engaged, and visitors continued to experience everything that makes downtown Paris special while construction was underway. Through support from the Rural Ontario Development Program, we were able to implement creative initiatives that kept our community connected, promoted local businesses, and helped maintain the vibrancy of our downtown throughout a period of significant change.”
— Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, County of Brant

While the Downtown Dig is centred on a reconstruction project in downtown Paris, it has become much more than a construction initiative. Through collaboration with the Downtown Paris BIA, the project focused on maintaining community connections, supporting local businesses and encouraging residents and visitors to continue exploring in the downtown core throughout construction.

These efforts have contributed to a thriving downtown environment, with vacancy rates decreasing through the duration of “The Downtown Dig”, 8.6% in 2023 to 3.3% in 2026. Since the beginning of 2025, 12 new businesses have opened in the downtown core, including six new businesses opening in 2026 alone.

A dedicated Downtown Dig brand, signage, social media channels campaigns helped make sure residents stayed up to date while making sure that downtown businesses remained open and accessible.

Community engagement was at the heart of the project. Initiatives such as the Golden Shovel campaign, Downtown Dig Explorer Kits, public open houses and business blog series encouraged residents and visitors to remain connected to downtown Paris during construction.

The Downtown Dig demonstrates how infrastructure projects can be paired with creative communications, business support and community engagement to create positive outcomes beyond construction itself. Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to the community, the project helped maintain downtown vibrancy while preparing the area for future growth.

Building on that momentum, the Downtown Paris Promenade launched in July, transforming an area previously occupied by construction into a welcoming gathering space for the community.

As the Downtown Dig continues, it stands as an example of how collaboration, innovation and communication can help communities thrive through change.