While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact local economies everywhere, a presentation made to Airdrie City council indicated 78 per cent of local businesses had renewed their license with the City as of March 5.
“Staff are also working with businesses to renew their licenses,” said Sara Chamberlain, the team lead with Airdrie Economic Development.
According to Chamberlain’s presentation during a March 15 council meeting, 16 businesses have reached out to City staff for assistance in renewing their business licenses.
“These businesses have contacted the City and staff are working with them to suspend or delay their license fees until they are operationally able to renew it,” she said.
Chamberlain said 2021 has already brought a number of announcements from struggling business owners who have already closed or will have to close their doors this year.
“We know that there are many businesses for sale in Airdrie,” she said. “Of course, this is not the news we want to hear, and we do continue to attempt to contact all businesses that have closed.”
While figures for local business closures will not be fully available until later this month, Chamberlain said 159 business licenses in Airdrie were cancelled in 2020. Of those, 43 were storefronts and 116 were home-based businesses.
On a separate note, Chamberlain said the Regional Relief Recovery offered through Community Futures Centre West (CFCW) supplied 40 loans to Airdrie businesses totalling more than $1 million.
“In a very short amount of time they have given out an impressive amount of loans,” she said. “Community Futures estimates the loans hopefully had a positive impact on around 121 jobs in our community.”
Chamberlain noted Alberta has seen the highest number of loans doled out in Canada from the program. She said CFCW has provided more loans in Alberta than the organization’s other 27 branches.
“Not only does that reflect the need in this region, but I think it also recognizes the capacity of the staff who worked hard to get the loans out the door,” she said.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Deputy Mayor Ron Chapman said he believes the City is doing what it has to do to get on the “downhill slide” of the pandemic.
“Maybe we can get back to somewhat normal soon,” he speculated.
Coun. Tina Petrow praised Airdrie Economic Development’s work on the numerous initiatives the department has brought forward to support local businesses. Other initiatives include the Right For Your Business program, which offers up to $2,000 in financial aid to pay for critical advisors and financial professionals to help businesses stay resilient through ongoing economic restrictions.
“Every time you guys bring a new initiative forward, I just love seeing the reaction from the public and the support for it,” Petrow said. “It’s great to see your work being acknowledged and supported.”
