BONNYVILLE – Town and MD of Bonnyville offering a helping hand to small and medium-sized businesses in the area.
The finer details for a regional COVID-19 relief grant program are being ironed out after both councils approved moving forward with it during their Feb. 9 and 10 meetings.
Each municipality will contribute $30,000 to the program for a total of $60,000 being available for local entrepreneurs.
Small and medium-sized businesses along with provincially registered non-government organizations that employ less than 40 employees within the town or MD will be eligible for up to $1,000 upon submitting proof of incurred costs or revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the ways local businesses can use the funding include creating a website for customers to place online orders, and purchasing PPE.
“The details are still being fine tuned with both administrations, but it’s the intention that this program is as broad as possible with direct benefit to small and medium-sized businesses,” detailed Town of Bonnyville CAO Bill Rogers.
He added, “The idea is to come up with as many ideas as we can to make it as broad as possible with the general idea in mind that it is to mostly benefit small to medium-sized businesses.”
Both the MD and town will fund their portions through the money they received from the Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST) grant funds, which were provided by the province to assist the municipalities with expenses that are a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Rogers described the money as an "unconditional grant."
“We received an unconditional grant from the province to help us with COVID-19 related expenses and we’ve allocated most of the funding, but we do have some leftover.”
The official launch of the program is still up in the air as both municipalities work to confirm the finer details, however, applications will be received on a first-come, first-serve basis until March 31.
“The reason for this short time frame is in order to utilize our funding through the MOST grant, all expenses incurred against that must be made by March 21, 2021,” explained Esther Quiambao, manager of legislative and information services for the MD.
The regional economic committee recommended the municipality’s partner to offer the program and both administrations have reached out to local organizations, such as Community Futures, for further research on how to best launch it.
Town of Bonnyville Coun. Elisa Brosseau was glad they would be able to offer support to local businesses.
“Initially, it was the federal government who were going to start helping out so we were kind of a little hands-off. Then the province started stepping in, but I think it’s been going on so long that it’s incumbent of us as a municipality to start helping the small and medium businesses in our region.”
The $1,000 cap per applicant was described as a "pretty small number" by MD of Bonnyville Coun. Ed Duchesne.
“In light of the length of time we’ve been dealing with this problem and outbreak, I think $1,000 is a little bit shy of what will help people in reality.”
MD of Bonnyville Coun. Marc Jubinville noted it could offer some relief to local businesses who qualify.
“It certainly touches the tip of the iceberg and as far as the $1,000, you’re going to be able to offer it to a few more people than if you change the amount.”
Administration for the Town and MD of Bonnyville will be putting the details into place over the coming weeks. Quiambao estimated applications could begin to be accepted by March 1.