Local MPPs promote new grant opportunity for local businesses

** Press release from Doug Downey, MPP (Barrie - Springwater - Oro-Medonte), Andrea Khanjin, MPP (Barrie - Innisfil), and Jill Dunlop, MPP (Simcoe North) **

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Today the provincial government announced a Province-wide Shutdown, on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams. The Province-wide Shutdown puts in place time-limited public health and workplace safety measures similar to those in other jurisdictions. It would help stop the trend of high COVID-19 transmission in communities, preserve health system capacity, safeguard vulnerable populations and those who care for them, and save lives.

During this time, it is crucial to ensure tangible support is available for our local, small businesses. That is why the government is announcing the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will provide a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to eligible small business owners to help navigate this challenging period. The government recognizes that small businesses impacted by these necessary public health measures will require additional support so they can continue serving their communities and employing people in Ontario once the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I know that these are exceptionally difficult circumstances for people; for families and businesses who are doing their absolute best to follow all guidelines while keeping businesses open and families supported,” said Doug Downey. “We truly understand the challenges people face, and do not take these decisions lightly. This small business grant is an additional relief measure that I know will help local businesses in Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte until we turn the corner on this pandemic.”

“With an increasing surgical backlog and our healthcare workers overwhelmed in all our care settings, short term strict measures will benefit everyone as we continue to reduce the spread of Covid-19,” said MPP Andrea Khanjin. “These measures taken for 28 days will help ensure that the health of our community is intact, so we can have a healthy local economy afterwards and help local businesses thrive again.”

“The Covid-19 numbers across Ontario are growing and we need to stop the spread. This includes spread from travelling through different regions,” said MPP Jill Dunlop. “We are asking all Ontarians to stay home as much as possible, with trips only for necessities. I look forward to seeing everyone from all regions again, but first we must do our part to lower transmission and protect health system capacity by staying home.”

Small businesses required to close or restrict services under the Province-wide Shutdown will be able to apply for this one-time grant. Each small business will be able to use the support in whatever way makes the most sense for their individual business. For example, some businesses will need support paying employee wages or rent, while others will need support maintaining their inventory. Eligible small businesses include those that:

• Are required to close or significantly restrict services subject to the Province-wide Shutdown

effective 12:01 a.m. on December 26, 2020;

• Have less than 100 employees at the enterprise level; and

• Have experienced a minimum of 20 per cent revenue decline in April 2020 compared to April

2019.

Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with dollar for dollar funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Province- wide Shutdown. The business must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 percent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses.

Helpful Links:

https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59790/ontario-announces-provincewide-shutdown-to-stop-spread-

of-covid-19-and-save-lives

https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/59788/post-4

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