Christmas Shopping on Main Streets Will Help Keep Businesses in Business
NEWS December 8, 2020
BRANTFORD —Ontario is encouraging people to support smaller, local businesses in Brantford-Brant this holiday season to help them regain revenues lost due to COVID-19. This season is an important and critical time for small businesses, and shopping locally — whether in-store or online — can have tremendous impact in securing the futures of these businesses.
“Ontario’s small businesses are essential to our economy, our communities and our way of life,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. “This has been a year unlike any other, but we can help keep our local businesses in business by choosing to spend our dollars in our communities, purchasing creative and unique gifts from local artisans, ordering takeout from our favourite restaurants, buying gift cards and supporting our local markets. Supporting local business today, means we’re helping them to see a brighter tomorrow.”
The province is encouraging consumers to explore their community businesses when shopping, as many of these local shops and businesses have handmade brands and one-of-a-kind items available. These small businesses have adapted their operations to offer more ways to serve their customers, including online stores, delivery and curbside pick-up. Businesses open for in-store shopping and curbside pick-up have put in place best practices to keep shoppers safe.
“Now more than ever in Brant and Brantford, it’s important to shop locally and support the businesses that work so hard to serve our communities,” said Will Bouma MPP for Brantford-Brant. “Let’s give the gift of shopping local this holiday and make wishes come true for small businesses this holiday season and into the New Year.”
The province is also asking Ontarians to support their community restaurants and bars by ordering takeout and purchasing gift cards. Last month, Ontario introduced the Supporting Local Restaurants Act, 2020 that will temporarily reduce fees charged by food delivery companies in areas where indoor dining is prohibited to help more small and independent restaurants stay in business.
Ontario is also providing support to small businesses and restaurants through its Main Street Recovery Plan. This includes an investment of $60 million through the Main Street Relief Grant that provides up to $1,000 to help eligible small businesses for the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE). The Main Street Relief Grant is available to small businesses with two to nine employees in retail, accommodations and food services, repair and maintenance, gyms and yoga studios, and personal and laundry services.
The Main Street Recovery Plan is also helping nearly 23,000 small businesses create and enhance their online presence with $2,500 grants through Digital Main Street.
Small business can access all Government of Ontario supports at www.ontario.ca/smallbusiness.
QUICK FACTS
- The Ontario government is providing $600 million in relief for local businesses required to close or significantly restrict services in areas categorized as Control or Lockdown. This is helping them with fixed costs, including property taxes, hydro and natural gas bills.
- In October, the government launched Ontario’s Main Street Recovery Plan, and recently passed the Main Street Recovery Act, 2020, legislation that will support small businesses and modernize rules to allow them to innovate and meet the challenges of today. The act will remove hurdles faced by small businesses and allow them to pursue new opportunities — while maintaining or enhancing protections for public health, safety and the environment.
- Eligible businesses can apply for the Main Street Relief Grant and temporary property tax and energy cost rebates through a single online application portal.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Learn more about Rebuilding Main Street
- Learn about resources available to help grow online through Digital Main Street
- Find out how you can help stop the spread of COVID-19
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For more information, contact MPP Will Bouma at 519-759-0361 or will.bouma@pc.ola.org