Belleville’s Economic and Destination Development Committee is discussing how to support retail businesses through the pandemic, with many local shops forced to shut their doors due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
A draft Retail Retention Strategy was presented on Thursday, for committee members to give feedback.
While other local business organizations like the Downtown District and Chamber of Commerce are also running similar initiatives, Economic Development Manager Karen Poste says the goal of the strategy is to not duplicate any of the work that’s already being done.
“Our goal is to identify those, enhance them, support them, provide whatever help we can within the existing initiatives and also to identify any gaps in any of those initiatives. Perhaps areas that aren’t being covered by certain supports and help to ensure those supports are put in place.”
While Poste couldn’t provide exact details on how many retailers in the community have been impacted, Downtown District Chair Kathryn Brown did have some information on how those in the core have been fairing.
She says the Downtown District has lost eight businesses during the pandemic, but was able to attract 12 new ones, with eight of those already open.
Meanwhile the committee is also looking for feedback on a report to help restaurant owners who are struggling, or could struggle further once the winter hits.
Committee Chair Councillor Ryan Williams says it’s important to get that feedback from business owners.
“Staff need to hear from retailers on what’s happening, if they’re finding a decline and some ideas that might help them. The second thing is restaurant promotion. This committee is still intent on having a report on actual dollars to help restaurants. We hope we never hit phase two, but it would be specifically to help restaurants when that would be really dire for them.”
City staff will bring more specifics on the plan to a future committee meeting.
