{"id":82788,"date":"2020-03-18T14:28:37","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T18:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=82788"},"modified":"2020-03-18T14:38:43","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T18:38:43","slug":"as-local-small-businesses-and-workers-grapple-with-covid-19-uncertainty-feds-announce-measures-to-help-those-impacted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/as-local-small-businesses-and-workers-grapple-with-covid-19-uncertainty-feds-announce-measures-to-help-those-impacted\/","title":{"rendered":"As local small businesses and workers grapple with COVID-19 uncertainty, Feds announce measures to help those impacted"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Main photo: With social distancing encouraged and some businesses closing temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Huntsville’s Main Street was quieter than usual on March 18, 2020. <\/em><\/p>\n

While things are changing by the day, and even by the hour, small business owners are wondering just how long they\u2019ll be able to sustain a loss of business and stay afloat.<\/p>\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n

Although it is not clear whether health food stores would be considered an essential service, if all businesses\u2014with the exception of those providing essential services\u2014are ordered to close, Catherine Cole, owner of The Great Vine health food store, has tried to figure out how long her business could withstand a closure.<\/p>\n

“I had a meeting with my accountant to see if I had absolutely no income if my store were to close, how long I could survive,” she said. “This time of year we\u2019re at the very upper-end of our credit line, this is a hard time of year already.”<\/p>\n

Cole said the timing is important and tough decisions would have to be made. “You\u2019re making decisions about, okay, do I not pay some of my bills that are outstanding so I could make sure I could pay my employees\u2026 people still need to buy food,” she said, adding that most also live paycheck to paycheck and not being able to work creates an extreme hardship.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019ve been trying to strategize around that and how to keep being able to purchase if I have no money coming in.” She said the situation is stressful but she\u2019s hoping there might be some reprieve.<\/p>\n

“I do have faith that the government will put in some measure for small businesses to help us be able to have some time to deal with\u2026 mortgage payments and taxes and bills and all of this that we have at this time. I mean two weeks is one thing but how long will it really be?”<\/p>\n

Other businesses have already been told to shut down or limit access to the public. On Tuesday, March 16, 2020, the Province declared a state of emergency and restaurants and bars have been ordered to stop serving customers in-house. Some have closed, while others have stayed open to offer takeout and\/or delivery services, and community members who are able to support these establishments are asked to consider takeout as an alternative.<\/p>\n

Debbie Knobelsdorf of Westside Fish and Chips, who is currently in self-isolation after picking up her mother in Florida and bringing her home, said she is concerned for her staff, “especially the servers.” She said her cooks still have work because she\u2019s offering takeout. “Even though we\u2019re deader than a doornail, I\u2019m hoping things will calm down after a day or two and people will do some takeout, but it\u2019s the servers I don\u2019t need if no one is serving tables.” Knobelsdorf is wondering whether those left without work will be able to collect Employment Insurance until the virus passes. “I hope it doesn\u2019t go long.”<\/p>\n

Knobelsdorf said her staff has been diligent about disinfecting everything those who come for takeout could be in contact with and there are styluses for customers to use if they\u2019re paying by debit.<\/p>\n

“People are saying if the virus isn\u2019t going to kill us, it\u2019s going to put us into bankruptcy.” In the interim, she said, “we\u2019ll continue to be a takeout restaurant as long as they\u2019ll allow us to do that and hope this doesn\u2019t last very long.”<\/p>\n

Today, March 18, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government will provide up to $27 billion to support workers and businesses impacted by the virus.<\/p>\n

The measures for workers include:<\/p>\n