By Staff
October 17th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The small “main street” retail operations, especially the hospitality sector have been badly hurt by the restrictions COVID-19 has placed on the way we live our lives and the things we can and cannot do.
The Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Downtown Business Association, Aldershot Village BIA and Tourism Burlington gave themselves the collective title – Team Burlington and went about looking for ways to help those who really needed the help.
City Council set aside $125,000 that would be made available and is leaning on the Regional government to match that amount. There were 95 applications with 59 commercial operations getting a grant.
Carla Nell, President and CEO of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce
The five organizations teamed up with the city and the POST Promise to deliver an innovative new program to provide financial support to Burlington’s small business community during COVID-19.
A direct outcome of the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN) also led by Team Burlington, is the one-time grant of up to $2500 to be used towards related COVID-19 costs such as purchasing PPE, renovating a physical space to adhere to public health guidelines, purchasing of signage and/or barriers.
Carla Nell, President and CEO of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce said: “As a result of COVID-19, public-facing businesses, such as food services and retail stores, have seen a decline in revenues anywhere from 60-70%.
“ These businesses are under tremendous pressure to adapt their physical spaces to adhere to reopening guidelines. Through speaking with stakeholders, it became clear that the City could support in restarting the economy and rebuilding consumer and employee trust by offering financial support to adapt to the reopening guidelines laid out by the Province. We are very proud that Burlington is the first municipality we know of to launch a program of this kind, and to be taking actionable steps toward helping businesses reopen safely.”
This graphic in the window or door of an organization means they have signed a pledge to observe and enforce the five practices that limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
The Burlington Safe Restart Program has partnered with POST Promise, a private-sector initiative, in collaboration with various levels of government, designed to help Canadians confidently and safely visit public spaces and the workplace. Businesses who apply for the Burlington Safe Restart grant are required to make the POST Promise, which provides education and training on how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Grant recipients will be able to display Burlington Safe Restart signage as well as the POST Promise logo in their storefront window, demonstrating their commitment to doing their part to protect the public’s health during COVID-19.
Applications for the Burlington Safe Restart program were accepted from eligible businesses between September 29 to October 13. More information on the program including eligibility requirements and the application form can be found at www.investburlington.ca/covid19.
Funds available for the first phase of the $250,000 program were paid out to:
A & S Mixed Martial Arts $1,500
A & Z INC $2,500
Agenzia Delicata Inc o/a Mirella’s Ladies Boutique $1,100
Aldershot Dental Hygiene $2,500
Athabasca Coffee House $2,500
Babaz $2,500
Barra Fion $2,500
Barry’s Jewellers $1,500
Beauty Destination spa $2,500
Beaver & Bulldog Burlington $2,500
Blo Blow Dry Bar $2,500
Boon Burger $1,900
Brant Pump & Patio $2,500
Brodie Chiropracitc Professional Corporation $1,500
Burlington Laser Eye Centre $2,500
Centro Garden Limited $2,000
Chickadee Kids Company Inc. $2,500
CineStarz Upper Canada Place $2,500
Culaccino $2,500
Dermetics $2,500
Downtown Bistro $2,500
Dr. Roman Galkin Dentistry Professional Corp. $2,500
Eye Focus $1,063
Eyes Childcare Burlington $2,500
Familia Fine Foods $2,000
HealthView Chiropractic Wellness $326
Industria Pizzeria $2,500
Jans Awnings $1,200
Lifestyles For Life $2,500
Lil’ Monkeys Indoor Playgrounds Inc. $2,500
Lingerie D’Amour inc. $2,500
Loch Side Hospitality Ltd. $2,500
Modern Hearing $2,500
On The Cusp Dental Hygiene $1,500
Orman G. Bush Ltd. $2,300
Pedlar Dentistry Professional Corporation (Dental Life) $1,000 Pepperwood $2,500
Pluckers $2,500
Posh couture $2,500
R Powered Fitness Inc $1,000
Ridgeview Restaurant Limited $2,000
Specs on Pearl Inc. $2,500
Styled Inc $2,000
Tamp Coffee co $2,200
The Dickens $900
The Follicle Spa Inc $2,500
The Golfer’s Academy Inc. $2,500
The Lashery $2,500
The Martini House $2,500
The North Coal Inc $1,000
The Olive Oil Dispensary Inc $2,500
The Platter Company Inc. $2,500
The Spa in the Village Inc. $1,000
The Tell Tale Heart Tattoo $2,500
Tread Well Inc. $700
Viking’s Landing Entertainment Inc $2,500
Walker’s Chocolates $2,500
Waterfront Hotel $2,500
Ye Olde Squire $2,500
Total distributed: $124,689.00
“Businesses who apply for the Burlington Safe Restart grant are required to make the POST Promise, which provides education and training on how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
So what does it say about those downtown businesses, particularly several of the restaurants absent from the list, if they did not receive the grant? Everything done. no need for improvement or something entirely different? If a restaurant does not have a Post promise logo prominently displayed, I would ask the manager/owner why not?