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Business walk (photo / City of Vernon)
Five per cent closed

Business survey shows heartbreaking year

Mar 23, 2021 | 5:30 AM

The City of Vernon’s annual business walk report is painting a picture of a very difficult year for the local economy.

Seventy-five (75) per cent of the businesses that participated in the survey report that business is either “fair to steady” or “good to increasing,” compared to 86 per cent in the 2019 survey. 54 per cent reported that their current state is worse than 2019. 41 per cent projected a better year (2021) for their business and 37 per cent projected for no change.

Ninety-seven (97) per cent of the businesses in the survey were impacted by COVID-19, while 40 per cent indicated a significant negative impact and 37 per cent a low negative impact. 20 per cent indicated positive impact.

“It’s heartbreaking in many ways. It’s important to point out 9 per cent of businesses reported layoffs, it’s devastating to families, five per cent of businesses closed permanently. That is horrible,” Coun. Kelly Fehr said.

The positive impact was mostly on wholesale businesses, grocery stores and businesses who provide specialized services and products that were in high demand during the pandemic, such as medical supply stores, fast food delivery and computer services.

The most common challenges facing the surveyed businesses in 2021 included: impact of COVID 19, community safety and homelessness 14 per cent and finding employees 13 per cent.

Five per cent of the merchants closed their doors permanently due to the pandemic..

Nearly 9 per cent of employees from the surveyed businesses were laid off since the beginning of the pandemic.

“It is a human tragedy, it’s not just numbers,” Coun. Scott Anderson said.

The surveyed businesses projected the number of full time employees after COVlD-19 at nearly 20 per cent less employees than before COVID-19

73 per cent of the businesses have applied to at least one of the available federal and provincial business recovery programs. 23 per cent have applied to two programs or more. 42 per cent have applied to wage support through the Canada Emergency subsidy program and 35 per cent for a loan through the Canada Emergency Business Account. 36 per cent indicated that easing the COVlD restrictions would help their business thrive.

The top additional required support and assistance mentioned by the surveyed businesses are:

  • Extending the federal and provincial recovery programs.
  • Assistance with training and marketing and streamlining city’s approval processes and permitting.
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