Many independent businesses in Melfort are located on Main Street (Cam Lee/northeast NOW Staff).

By Aaron Schulze

Provincial and Federal Relief

Government funding expected to ease small businesses, won’t guarantee immediate rehiring

Apr 12, 2020 | 10:06 AM

Days after the Government of Saskatchewan declared a State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses in Melfort were fearful of temporarily – and even permanently – shutting down their operations.

Fast forward to April 9 when the province unveiled its $50 million Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment (SSBEP), where small and medium businesses can be given a one-time grant based on 15 per cent of monthly sales revenue up to $5,000, and some stress in the Melfort business community has been eased.

On top of the federal government’s wage subsidy, President of the Melfort Trade Alliance Tyler Fahlman said small business owners are more excited.

“Every little bit helps,” Fahlman said. “I think the amount will be able to help some of the businesses that were closed and give them a chance to re-open. Even with the [wage subsidy], there were still businesses that weren’t sure if they were going to open. This is a pretty big step by the province.”

Fahlman said having the one-time grant set at 15 per cent will allow more small businesses to qualify for the SSBEP. While both provincial and federal support will help small businesses in Melfort – such as the Fountain Tire location he owns – he said that owners will need to wait before looking back to re-hiring staff with the spread of COVID-19 lingering as a threat.

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“Just for our daily operations and cash flow reasons,” he added. “It’s just not quite feasible yet. With everyone supposed to stay at home and doing our part, it’s probably better for the general community that we don’t bring staff back as fast, so we have fewer people being exposed.

“All of our staff are friends of ours, but everybody has to do their part. My guys are ready and raring to come back when we’re ready for them, but if we don’t have the work, it’s still tough to bring them back.”

As the spread of COVID-19 remains a possibility, Fahlman said the best way residents can support small businesses in their community is to shop local before searching for other options online.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow