COVID-19 - Gatineau's economic development tactical intervention committee expands its field of action
Gatineau, April 1, 2020. – The economic development tactical intervention committee is expanding its field of action to the entire Outaouais area. Several partners have joined the committee, including the MRC de l'Outaouais, the federal government and Quebec.
As you may know, this committee has been working flat out since the crisis began in order to better support businesses affected by COVID-19. Organizations are adjusting their actions to offer them the best possible support. Further to this decision to expand its mandate, Gatineau has handed the responsibility for coordinating the committee to Espace d'accélération et de croissance de l'Outaouais (Espace-O), under Cilex. Their mandate already includes sharing economic development resources throughout the Outaouais.
Quick facts
| ● | On March 18, Gatineau set up an economic development tactical intervention committee. That committee has since been coordinated by Gatineau through its Secrétariat au développement économique. With the support of several partners, its initial focus was on meeting the most pressing needs of businesses. |
| ● | An action plan has now been developed, and several initiatives have been introduced to support the local economy, including the following:
- deferring to August 31 the second municipal tax payments due on June 30;
- reviewing all potential support measures, including those by non-profit organizations;
- maintaining urban planning services to contractors, including online permit applications;
- offering the option of suspending the payment of capital and interest for businesses with loans under the Fonds locaux d'investissements (FLI) or Fonds locaux de solidarité (FLS);
- identifying the needs of businesses to introduce a series of virtual information and training sessions, which would be given by the École des Entrepreneurs;
- offering businesses a guidance resource;
- promoting all available mental health resources;
- consolidating all information about business support measures on the ID Gatineau Web site and those of the other partners; and
- developing a buy-local promotion strategy. |
| ● | Several measures aimed at supporting entrepreneurs have been announced over the past few days by the federal government and Quebec, including:
- the introduction of a $65 billion credit program for Canadian businesses;
- interest-free loans of up to $40,000 for small businesses and non-profit organizations; and
- a loan guarantee for small and medium-sized businesses. |
Quotes
“Local economic development partners are joining forces to support entrepreneurs in the Outaouais. The current situation is unprecedented. It is important that everyone work together on introducing solutions to support our businesses and promote their future development. One such measure that we can already introduce is buying local. I encourage residents to keep supporting their local businesses. Every dollar counts,” indicated Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin.
“The business community has deployed several initiatives in response to the COVID-19 situation. Gatineau entrepreneurs always step up to the plate in difficult times, regardless of the challenges they might be up against. They are full partners in our development, and we owe them our support. This tactical committee will make it possible to support them in order to foster and encourage their continued economic activities,” underlined the president of Gatineau's economic development commission, Jean-François Leblanc.
“From the very outset, Espace-O has been mandated to encourage participants in the region's economic development to work together, and that mandate has become particularly essential under the current situation. It is important to maintain the cohesiveness of services in order to guide entrepreneurs and businesses towards the resources that will best and most effectively meet their needs. By working together, we will make sure that everyone gets the help they need,” added the Executive Director of Cilex.
Associated links
Secrétariat au développement économique
ID Gatineau
Gouvernement du Québec
Plan d'intervention économique - Gouvernement du Canada
COVID-19 (page Web de la Ville de Gatineau)
CILEX
Chambre de commerce de Gatineau
Export Outaouais
Tourisme Outaouais
Coopérative de développement régional (CDR) Outaouais-Laurentides (CDROL)
Culture Outaouais
