Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Shoppers continue to spend their dollars close to home as they make an effort to avoid travel outside of the Lennox and Addington ‘bubble’ and into larger cities with higher COVID-19 case numbers.
L&A County’s economic development team is helping businesses to capitalize on the increased interest in shopping local by launching a series of programs.
“We’ve been really active, talking to every business working with everybody as much as we can to let them know we’re here to support them and help them through all the programs that the federal government has been doing,” said Tracey Snow, economic development officer with Lennox and Addington County.
Among those programs is Digital Main Street, which provides a grant for training, advisory support and dollars to small businesses looking to expand through digital transformation. Approved businesses are eligible for up to $2,500.
“We are in the process of getting some grant dollars to hire a digital service squad member who will work with all our businesses in Lennox and Addington County to support them with digital marketing needs,” said Snow. “(Once hired they will) review (a business’) digital marketing, help support them in what are they doing right in regards to their social media or online presence, what are they doing wrong, what do they need some help with.”
Business owners can apply through Nov. 30, 2020 at www.DigitalMainStreet.ca.
A more specific program is known as Rebuild-Reopen-Revive (R3), which is geared towards women-led businesses.
“It’s a funding program for up to $5,000, clear money, there’s no matching, it’s a grant that is being submitted by the federal government,” said Snow. “It’s being funneled through the Northumberland CFDC.”
Up to $2 million is available for businesses in all sectors, from agricultural to retail to manufacturing to tourism.
“If you’re a female entrepreneur and you own more than 51 per cent of your company, you would qualify,” explains Snow. “The pieces of that qualification is removing barriers because of COVID, if you’re a retail business are you changing to online retail? There’s a business recovery section, what kind of activity do you need to add to your business, say for example you’re a clothing store and you’ve never done online, this grant would help you to make a digital website or Shopify account or something that would help you create an online component to help your sales. It’s really adapting to what COVID has done to the industry.”
L&A County’s economic development team is available to help local businesses owners through the grant application process.
The county is also in the process of updating its website to better serve both business owners and residents.
As for shoppers, the county has put together an online database to help customers find stores that offer what they’re looking for right within the county. It can be found at https://naturallyla.ca/local/.
The database is updated constantly and allows shoppers to know which stores provide curbside pick up or online shopping, as well as those that are open to in store shopping.