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Regional Relief and Recovery Fund Expanded

October 15, 2020
By Bob Peters

Cornwall Ontario – The Government of Canada has announced an additional $184 million for FedDev Ontario to help more businesses across southern Ontario through the the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund.

COVID-19 Business News

The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) helps support businesses which may not be eligible for other programs. Since the Fund was launched in May, over 12,000 businesses have been assisted through the RRRF, helping them keep their employees, cover costs and play a role in Canada’s economic recovery.

“Small- and medium-sized businesses have been hit hard by COVID-19, and the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund is here to help them, protecting over 43,000 jobs across southern Ontario,” said Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “With the second wave upon us, we’ve heard clearly from businesses and workers that more support is needed. That’s why we’re enhancing and expanding the RRRF to help even more Ontarians. Our message to them is clear: we’ve been here for you with significant measures, we’re here for you now and we’ll get through this, together. We’re working with you to support good, local jobs and help our economy come back strong.”

Since the launch of the RRRF, FedDev Ontario has provided critical support for southern Ontario’s businesses and other organizations, saving more than 43,000 jobs in the region. This includes support for those vital to the region’s economy and hit hardest by the pandemic, from main street and rural businesses to the tourism, technology and manufacturing sectors to women-led businesses.

Businesses in Cornwall, SDG and Akwesasne can contact the Cornwall & The Counties Community Futures Development Corporation for more information on funding.

“Businesses are at the heart of our economy and many are vital to this community,” says Lesley Thompson, Executive Director of the Cornwall & The Counties Community Futures Development Corporation. “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to uncertainty and anxiety for businesses and their employees. We still have funding available to those in need, please contact us today!”

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Quick Facts

  • In southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario was originally allocated a total of $252.4 million through the RRRF. Today’s announcement brings the total RRRF funding for southern Ontario businesses and organizations to $436.4 million.
  • In addition to the hundreds of businesses receiving support directly, key FedDev Ontario investments made to-date through the RRRF include:
    • $50 million to help main street businesses and SMEs reignite their recovery and embrace a digital future.
    • $4.5 million to help Francophone businesses, not-for-profits and social enterprises in official languages minority communities (OLMCs).
    • $4 million to support women-led businesses in southern Ontario.
  • Recognizing the significant impact that COVID-19 has had on tourism in the region, FedDev Ontario has invested nearly $68 million in RRRF funding to support the recovery and growth of this important industry.
  • Delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), the Fund addresses gaps left by other federal relief measures and complements those already provided by other levels of government.
  •  This funding for FedDev Ontario is part of an additional $600 million in RRRF funding announced today for RDAs across the country. Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) will provide $30 million of FedDev Ontario’s additional funding to businesses in rural communities across southern Ontario.

Business Reopening Toolkit

Cornwall Economic Development has put together a toolkit to help businesses reopen. The toolkit includes guidelines and a maximum occupancy calculator along with signs and posters that can be downloaded and printed – including mask related posters and images:

Additional Resources

  • Visit the Eastern Ontario Health Unit website for more local news and safety bulletins
  • Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

COVID-19-BUSINESS-NEWS-DIGEST

We summarize the latest news about the impacts of COVID-19 on Cornwall businesses on a daily basis. Click on the following link to view:

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