CENTRE WELLINGTON – The township has created a new grant program to support local businesses as they face the challenges of reopening under COVID-19 restrictions.
The township announced the Support Local Centre Wellington Recovery Grant Program on June 30 after council unanimously gave final approval at its meeting on June 29.
“Getting our Centre Wellington businesses back up and running is absolutely critical to the re-emergence of our local economy,” said Mayor Linton in a press release.
“We need to get people back to work and our businesses back in business. The Support Local Centre Wellington initiative will help our local businesses get the help they need to successfully begin their reopening stages.”
The township has created a $50,000 fund and applications and grants will be administered through Wellington Waterloo Community Futures.
Grants to a maximum of $3,000 will be awarded to applicants, that can be used for marketing assistance, online promotion and, in the case of restaurants, outdoor patios.
Businesses are required to contribute an additional 50 per cent of the grant amount for their approved project.
Wellington Waterloo Community Futures may also provide no-interest loans.
“I would like to thank Centre Wellington bcouncil for unanimous support of the Support Local Centre Wellington Recovery Grand Program,” said Don Vallery, Chair of the Economic Development Task Force.
“This program supports small businesses in CW with a partial grant, participation and no-interest loan. We are very excited to be a part of this innovative grant program.”
Having local businesses re-open and increase employment numbers is key to economic recovery in Centre Wellington, officials say, and the task force has developed an economic recovery plan with four objectives:
- safe access to businesses (exterior);
- safe customer experience (interior);
- financial assistance; and
- marketing and promotional support.
The new grant program checks many of those boxes, officials say.
For more information on the Support Local Centre Wellington Recovery Grant Program, contact Paula Baker, office coordinator for WWCF, at 519-846-9839, ext. 221or email paula@wwcf.ca.
