The Town of Whitby has identified 58 actions to support local businesses under a Five-Point plan running till the end of next year.
Whitby Town Council unanimously approved the local Economic Recovery Plan aimed at supporting Whitby business through the pandemic to the end of 2021, said a town statement.
Whitby’s Five-Point Plan for economic recovery is focused on:
- Retaining existing businesses by providing resources and support programs
- Revitalizing and rediscovering Whitby’s downtowns and managing the main street impact
- Fostering and sustaining the innovation economy
- Engaging with post-secondary institutions and other service providers to improve and match people’s skillsets to work opportunities through education and training
- Improving customer service processes and business experiences
The plan identifies 58 action items to help minimize the ongoing impact of mandated Covid-19 shutdowns on local businesses. New actions to be taken include:
- The availability of grants for renovations related to reopening requirements for properties in Downtown Whitby and Downtown Brooklin
- Collaboration with Palette Skills to help provide Whitby businesses with access to skills training programs for new and in-demand job opportunities
- New supports to help local businesses navigate the government procurement process and more easily bid on local infrastructure projects and business service opportunities
In addition, the town said it will continue to support local businesses through:
- The What’s Open Whitby portal to help encourage residents to #ShopLocal
- A dedicated webpage for Covid-19 business resources to make it easier for businesses to access information like available financial supports
- Free parking and 15-minute parking spaces in downtowns to support safe curbside pick-up
- A fast-tracked outdoor patio permit process
- Free business development webinars and virtual events to share best practices and help keep businesses connected virtually
To read the full Economic Recovery Plan, visit whitby.ca/businessresources.
“As a Council, we recognize the significant and ongoing impact Covid-19 has had on local business, especially in the restaurant, hospitality, fitness and personal service sectors. It’s more important than ever that we collaborate with and support them as we work toward recovery. This plan provides a roadmap and specific actions for how we will get there. It’s important that we continue to do our part to keep our local businesses open: please remember to shop local wherever possible and follow public health practices,” said Mayor Don Mitchell.
Quick Facts
- There are approximately 2,400 businesses located in Whitby, employing approximately 43,300 people.
- The Whitby Economic Recovery Plan focuses on five key priorities and 58 action items to help support the economic recovery of these local businesses over the next 18 months.
- The plan was developed in collaboration with Town staff, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Whitby BIA, 1855 Whitby Tech Accelerator, Region of Durham and the local business community.
- In a recent survey conducted by the Town, nearly 80 per cent of local businesses indicated the pandemic has had a negative impact on their business (source: Business Recovery Survey, Appendix 3)