EAST CENTRAL — Local businesses are most concerned about cash flow, as well as accessing grants and financial support, according to a survey done by local business groups.
The pandemic impact survey, hosted by the Mid-Sask Municipal Alliance in partnership with the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce, Watson and District Chamber of Commerce, and the Watrous Manitou Marketing Group, saw 117 businesses within the region participate.
“In reviewing the responses to date, [the four] local organizations have been at work, determining existing support services across the region, identifying gaps in services and researching potential supports that could be put in place in an attempt to guide businesses through this trying time.”
Cash flow was an immediate concern for 66 respondents, while accessing grants was a concern for 59.
Of the respondents, 33 were retail, 17 were accommodation and food services, 12 were arts and recreation, 11 were professional services, and 11 were agriculture. The rest were in other categories. The majority of the respondents, 62, are based in Humboldt.
Ninety-seven of the businesses, around 84 per cent, were based in a physical location. A slim majority, 62, of the respondents said they were unable to adapt their business model to provide services without being physically open, while 54 said they could.
On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being no stress and 10 being unbearable stress, around 40 per cent of respondents, 46, were at around a 7 or an 8.
The responses from the survey will be included in province wide data compiled by the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 at a provincial level.
“It's really a good time to start asking these questions because once we're through this era of restrictions that we're all in right now, we then have to look at how we rebuild the business community,” said Brent Fitzpatrick, the Humboldt chamber’s executive director. “This is a good setup for that.”
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