The new tenant of the building on Winnipeg's iconic Esplanade Riel promises to bring vibrancy and innovation to the site. Councillors hope it will keep jobs in the city, too.
The city's property and development committee unanimously voted to lease 50 Provencher Blvd. to Manitoba Technology Accelerator for five years. The hub on the bridge that connects The Forks to St. Boniface has housed restaurants, with the most recent being Mon Ami Louis.
"We knew that restaurants don't work," said Coun. Janice Lukes. "We've had some of the absolute best restaurants... they couldn't cut it. Let's look at something else."
Manitoba Technology Accelerator is a non-profit that helps start-ups and technology companies grow. When SkipTheDishes was a two-person operation, it stepped in to mentor and assist with infrastructure and investment.
The organization works with 300 groups internationally, and many come to Winnipeg, said chief executive officer Marshall Ring.
That fits in with the city's goal.
-Winnipeg Free Press