The Government of Ontario today announced new supports for businesses affected by COVID-related restrictions and closures.
These included the Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant for small businesses subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen. It will provide eligible small businesses with a grant payment of $10,000.
Additional reductions to electricity costs were also announced along with a rebate program.
“This grant will be a significant help to businesses that have been forced to close owing to COVID-related restrictions, and it is most welcome at this difficult time,” said Mishka Balsom, CEO of the GNCC. “However, the program does not cover all the businesses that were restricted on January 3rd, and many will be without help.”
Examples of businesses that will be severely impacted but are ineligible for the relief grant include food suppliers for restaurants, or hair salons and other personal services currently working at 50% capacity.
Additionally, property tax deferrals and energy bill relief are only useful to those businesses which own their premises and/or pay their own energy bills. For businesses that rent a property, the program relies on the goodwill of a landlord to pass the savings on.
The GNCC has called on the Government of Ontario to extend relief to all affected businesses under the Reopening Ontario Act regulations of January 3rd.
The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in Niagara, the largest business organization in the region and the second-largest Chamber of Commerce in Ontario, with 1,500 members representing 50,000 employees. More information on the GNCC is available at gncc.ca.
Contact:
Mishka Balsom, CEO of GNCC
Mishka@gncc.ca or 905-684-2361
