(Photo courtesy Choose Lethbridge on Twitter @chooseleth)

By Justin Goulet

Southern Alberta task force to offer support for businesses impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

Mar 25, 2020 | 6:15 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Economic groups across the Lethbridge and southern Alberta area are coming together to support those impacted by COVID-19.

An Economic Recovery Task Force for the Lethbridge Region has been formed to actively plan for the work required in the coming weeks and months to get southern Alberta’s economy back on track, in the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak.

“The challenge I think most of you are keenly aware of is Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has indicated that it is unlikely we will see a peak of infections for at least another four weeks, so restrictions and some of the changes that are impacting the business community are likely to continue for at least that long and potentially longer as those restrictions slowly ease up assuming that infections have sort of according to pattern,” said Trevor Lewington with Economic Development Lethbridge.

He added that the standard is that in 30 days, without cash flow, one in four businesses will fail.

“So, 25 percent of our business community could be on the brink by the time infections peak and that number goes up in two or three in every four businesses after 60 days,” he said.

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“We want to make sure that the business community has all of the right supports [and] all of the access to information they need.”

The task force will focus on six key areas, with members focused on a specific area, and information being provided in one singular, centralized location.

The key areas are:

–Providing online resources for businesses, including a safe place for discussion.

Lewington said this means consolidating all of the online resources and tools into “a couple of key locations” to make sure they’re easier to navigate.

–Financial supports & central application process.

Lewington said this priority will assist with federal programs, provincial programs and list out the applications for any financial assistance in one central location.

–Emotional supports/Peer networking.

“We know that mental health is going to be key to the long-term economic recovery as well as in the short-term to business owners being able to survive and get through this very challenging time, so we know we need to focus on mental health and providing appropriate resources there,” Lewington said.

–Physical support centre/One stop shop.

He added once social distancing measures are lifted, they hope to create a physical location where workers can go to receive in-person mental health support if needed.

–Workforce retention & development.

“We know there’s challenges with both of our post-secondary [institutions] suspending active classes. Many of our students have left for home, we may have other transitions or shifts for skills in the workforce, which we’re going to have to focus on,” Lewington explained.

–Barriers to Business

Lewington said this will help identify things that are holding businesses back during the recovery period and then working with provincial, federal and municipal governments to address those issues.

He said the initial website can be viewed at chooselethbridge.ca/recovery.

A number of resources are also available via the Chamber of Commerce website and Lewington said they’re in the process of setting up a central call line for anyone with questions. Inquires can also be submitted at recover@chooselethbridge.ca.

Along with Economic Development Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, SouthGrow Regional Economic Development is also involved in the initiative.