‘It was huge’: Orillia restaurateur on impact of relief program

The Common Stove had only just opened in downtown Orillia when the global pandemic brought the world to a halt.

“We got going pretty hard and fast and then we were shut down pretty hard and fast two weeks later,” co-owner Simon MacRae told Simcoe.com.

For the next three months, the restaurant offered takeout — not an ideal scenario for a newly opened business but a necessary one.

“Obviously, the revenue was going to be less, but we had quite a good customer base who supported us during that period,” MacRae said.

The Common Stove began offering outdoor dining in mid-June and six weeks later welcomed indoor diners.

During this challenging period the restaurant was able to access financial assistance through the Orillia Area Community Development Corporation (CDC), courtesy of an investment by Ottawa via its regional relief and recovery fund.

“It was huge,” MacRae said of the impact. “There were obviously a fair number of expenses incurred in getting set up for outdoor dining, which was not something we’d immediately planned for at that point,” he said.

Reconfiguring the restaurant to ensure adequate social distancing and necessary safety measures were in place also brought expenses, he noted.

“It was very helpful to have that funding to help us do that,” MacRae added.

Launched in May to help businesses stay afloat as they confront the impacts of COVID-19, the fund provides loans to those who may not be eligible for other programs.

In the Orillia area, the community development corporation through the federal program provided $995,000 in loans to help 30 local businesses cover fixed operating costs and maintain jobs.

A quarter of the amount loaned is forgivable if the remainder is repaid within a set period.

“A lot of people just need a little piece of mind and some liquidity support to get through what’s going on,” Wendy Timpano, the CDC’s general manager, told Simcoe.com.

The organization now has an additional $1 million through the federal funding program to distribute to eligible businesses in Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Severn, Ramara, and Rama.

The agency is focusing on assisting businesses with loans of up to $40,000.

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