Media Release - Town of Lincoln Takes Measures To Support Sector And Industry Leaders Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Impact To Local Economy
Lincoln, ON - (Monday April 20, 2020) - Today, Mayor Sandra Easton released the following statement following a week of calls with leaders from Lincoln’s various economic sectors.
“Through these very challenging times, it is imperative that the Town have an open line of communications with our businesses. I believe it is important we continue to communicate with our local business leaders to discuss the ongoing situation and how best the municipality can help. We must come together to find ways to support our sectors, both the owner/operators and their employees, as all are hurting deeply as a result of this pandemic. By speaking to our business leaders, the Town is getting a better understanding of what the situation looks like on the ground and where best we can focus our efforts.”
These last weeks have consisted of calls and virtual meetings with:
- The Greenhouse Growers Alliance of Lincoln
- The Ontario Craft Wineries
- Vineland Growers
- The Grape Growers of Ontario
Town staff are currently assessing ways the Town of Lincoln can help business owners get through this crisis. The Economic Development staff are leading this initiative and are working closely with other economic development staff throughout the region as a member of the Niagara Economic Rapid Response Team. The Rapid Response team ensures a regional response to the COVID-19 situation and will be working closely with others to formulate an economic recovery plan for our local and regional businesses. Lincoln continues to promote the economic response plans that have been posted by the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario and are working closely with our economic sectors to ensure their voices are heard at upper levels of government.
Quotes:
“The Town will be holding additional sector specific calls with our industries to identify ways in which we can support our small and medium sized businesses, as these are the backbone of our local economy. From family operated small wineries and vineyards, to greenhouse flower growers and main street businesses, Lincoln recognizes the hardships that many business owners are currently facing. We are in this together.”, said Councillor Paul MacPherson, Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Committee.
“On behalf of all Members of Council, I wish to let our residents and businesses in Lincoln know that the Town is using all available means to support our community, we will get through this together and will focus on a strategic recovery plan to ensure Lincoln thrives post-pandemic and that we hit the ground running”, said JD Pachereva, Deputy Mayor.
“Our Economic Development Office will begin leading Town Hall staff in calling main street businesses throughout the community to lend support where we can, provide advice on provincial and federal support programs, and put them in touch with other supports where needed. The response from Town Hall to support our business community must be fulsome and proportional to the situation we are currently facing, as our local businesses employ thousands and are the backbone of Lincoln” said Michael Kirkopoulos, Chief Administrative Officer.
For more information on Lincoln’s response to the COVID-19 situation, please visit: https://lincoln.ca/coronavirus-pandemic
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Contact:
Paul Di Ianni
Economic Development Officer
Office: 905-563-2799 ext. 272
Cell: 289-407-1402
PDiIanni@lincoln.ca