Local businesses are still trying to hang on during an extended provincial lockdown.
Charla Robinson is with the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce and says while the new Small Business Support Grant is nice it’s only a short-term solution.
“If this continues and businesses are continuing to reduce their operations in order to protect the health of Ontarians then they’re going to need more support and how can we work together to ensure that those supports are there.”
Robinson states businesses who provide a service rather than a product have been especially hit hard.
“They had very little time to try to make back the losses from the Spring and now to be shutdown again and back to zero revenue is a huge concern for all businesses but especially for those who have a service versus a product.”
The province unveiled the Ontario Small Business Support program two weeks ago.
It provides eligible applicants with a $10,000-$20,000 grant.
The Ontario government has received more than 42,000 applications as of January 22.
