The City of Stratford, Perth County and St. Marys issued a letter yesterday to ask the Province to modify the provincial criteria for Covid-19 relief funding to apply to dozens of accommodation providers and small businesses in their Region who hadn’t qualified for financial supports under current criteria.
The Small Business Support Grant has been seen as a necessary lifeline for many tourism related small businesses within the Region but due to it’s eligibility, area B&Bs, Inns and Hotels/Motels are deemed ineligible.
The Provincial Pandemic Health and Safety policies have prevented thse small but essential businesses to operate during the Province-wide shutdowns.
In addition, the seasonal nature of tourism in the Region uses April sales as the criteria month for eligibility also precludes many of these businesses from essential support.
The Regional Tourism sector has been devastated by Covid and many accommodation providers require support to survive until the tourism economy recovers to pre-pandemic levels.
The Ontario Small Business Support Grant application deadline is March 31st and the adjustment of criteria would provide a lifeline to these businesses.
