Ontario has launched a recovery program for Northern businesses impacted by COVID-19.A new Northern Ontario Economic Recovery program has been unveiled to support small and medium sized businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Minister of Northern Development Greg Rickford says the program is the result of extensive consultations with those hit hard by the pandemic.
Rickford says $20-million in grants are being made available and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation will be administering the program.
“An opportunity for your business to apply for up to $25,000 in grants. So not a loan component to this. To help you run and make your business better as we face what is still, especially with the second wave, an uncertain future.”
Money can be used for building renovations, new constructions, marketing, equipment purchases, including personal protective equipment, business restructuring and customer and employee safety installations.
Rickford provided some examples while rolling out the program early Monday morning.
“Construction of new space for increased social distancing measures. New patio construction for outdoor services. If that’s an opportunity for your business, this will qualify. We will be very generous in our efforts to make sure we are supporting our businesses.”
He adds “Redesigning current space to allow for increased social distancing and customer flows. This could be your dining room at a tourist camp or a dock that now have to have much bigger because of social distancing as parties stay separate.”
Applications will be accepted starting on Thursday and last until the end of December.
The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says the government wants to put business owners in a better place now and in the future.
