NEWS RELEASE
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK
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York Regional Council has authorized $500,000 from the Innovation Investment Reserve Fund to provide COVID-19 support to local small businesses.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our economy and local businesses,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “We are supporting York Region businesses through the re-opening of our community and economic recovery.”
York Region’s nine cities and towns can leverage their allocation of the $500,000 to support small businesses across the region either through existing municipal Community Improvement Plans or to expand the Starter Company Plus program. Starter Company Plus is a program delivered by the Small Business Enterprise Centres located throughout York Region on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
“As York Region slowly moves toward re-opening its economy, we are still seeing businesses suffer,” said City of Markham Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Chair of Planning and Economic Development. “Offering support beyond what is currently available through senior levels of government will help preserve our economic prosperity.”
York Region continues to collaborate with all levels of government to implement economic recovery measures. Both the Government of Canada and the Ontario Government have launched multiple funding programs to ensure businesses are provided the tools necessary to survive the crisis and get back to work as soon as possible.
In addition, York Region has shared resources for businesses including a toolkit and other assets for download and use at york.ca/covid19forbusiness
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