Surrey Board of Trade CEO says provincial grants crucial to survival of small business during COVID-19

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — The head of Surrey’s Board of Trade says urgent relief funding is needed to keep many small businesses from permanently closing their doors.

Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman tells NEWS 1130 many small operators are at risk of going under if “meaningful” grants are not provided soon.

The CEO of @SBofT seeks urgent #COVID19 grant relief for businesses forced to temporarily close.@anitahuberman tells @News1130 many won’t survive the pandemic if @jjhorgan doesn’t make good on promises made pre-election and $ promised months ago hasn’t been delivered. #bcpoli

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) November 24, 2020

So far, one out of 25 local businesses have already been forced to close temporarily, Huberman says.

“These are jobs on the line. These are dreams that have been compromised, so we’re just trying to ensure that the B.C. government is performing some type of action,” she says.

Huberman explains while it’s crucial to mitigate the risk of the virus spreading, businesses being forced to shut down need financial support.

“That financial support needs to be ready to go at the same time that these safety orders are issued by the provincial health officer,” she says.

“Our businesses, these organizations — whether they’re yoga studios, or dance studios, or whatever it may be — they still have to meet payroll. They still have to pay for expenses.”

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Huberman adds business owners have expressed frustration over a variety of levels. She says owners feel regulations made about businesses come with short notice and little to no consultation.

“And for them to access even the federal government support, whether it’s a wage subsidy or the newly revised commercial rent program, all of those pieces, take time, in terms of approval and getting the money back into the business.”

So she says there needs to be a coordinated effort with industries and to ensure that businesses survive.

Cash-strapped owners have also been reporting access to grant money from the federal government has been much smoother since the pandemic started.

Huberman, who sits on Premier John Horgan’s economic recovery council, says because no action has been taken, she’s calling for some kind of relief in December.

“I’d like to see the B.C. government have some type of B.C. government fund for those businesses that have been forced to shut down.”

For example, Huberman suggests a quick application period where owners outline their needs that way money can quickly be accepted.

.@anitahuberman adds struggling companies need to cover costs and payroll.

“It needs to be a substantial amount in terms of revenue, expenses related to each business and can’t be a one solution for all.”

She’s expecting some kind of relief in December. #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) November 24, 2020

“I think at this time, it shouldn’t be something that is repayable, it should just be a grant. That’s what small businesses need, and they can’t afford any more debt or trying to recoup all of their lost savings that are lost revenue that they would have been able to acquire under normal circumstances,” Huberman adds.

She says while she thinks there seems to be a “light at the end of the tunnel,” businesses just need to survive past the pandemic. “But in the meantime, it’s going to be a very long and cold winter.”

With the pandemic’s unpredictability, Huberman says the government needs to be a leader “especially in the midst of even more restrictions possibly to come.”

“We’re going to hear what the budget priorities are in this throne speech to come –the B.C. fiscal update on December 7.”

In a response from the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness, it says it is aware small businesses continue to struggle as we work towards recovery and it will continue to do everything it can to support owners.

“This includes the recent launch of the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant that will invest $300 million in targeted financial support for businesses that have experienced significant declines in revenue since March 10, 2020,” a statement to NEWS 1130 reads.

“The B.C. government started taking applications on October 9, 2020. Since that time, we have been working to process the applications. The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness expects that grant payments for businesses that have completed their recovery plans to be disbursed in December.”

The statement adds, the Economic Recovery Plan is available to support B.C. businesses with targeted funding to those hit hardest by the pandemic.

“An estimated 100,000 B.C. businesses will receive direct supports from the various measures outlined in the economic recovery plan. Thousands more businesses will benefit directly and indirectly from the infrastructure projects and other supports provided to businesses and to workers.”

The provincial government has also deferred business tax payment deadlines, lowered commercial property tax bills by about 25 per cent and asked municipalities to postpone charging penalties for late payment of property taxes until October which has given businesses a three-month grace period.

“Businesses can also count on two new tax rebates: a tax credit for employers who create new jobs for B.C. workers or increase the payroll for existing low- or medium-income employees, and a PST rebate on select machinery and equipment. Applications for the rebates open next Spring.”