Town council is considering initiatives such as marketing and tourism campaigns, and a cash card campaign to encourage local shopping in order to help Collingwood’s economy recover from COVID-19 shutdowns
A list of about 35 recommendations compiled by a task force of local entrepreneurs and town staff will again be before council on Monday.
The list was originally compiled by the town’s Economic Support and Recovery Task Force, which is a group of local entrepreneurs, four members of council, and some town staff whose marching orders were to come up with ideas to help Collingwood businesses recover from COVID-19 shutdowns.
Though not all the recommendations came with an additional cost, council has already approved a $2.5 million COVID emergency fund. However, all draws from the fund have to be approved by council.
One of the recommendations supported by council so far via the Strategic Initiatives Committee is a $7,000 contribution to the South Georgian Bay Tourism Association to support a campaign meant to educate businesses and visitors during the recovery period.
The tourism organization aims to create a digital advertising campaign called “When the season is right, we will be waiting for you,” and it will be targeted at people who live in urban areas within a two-hour radius of South Georgian Bay. Another campaign would be targeted at residents (seasonal and full-time) and will focus on sharing people’s favourite things about South Georgian Bay.
Other ideas pitched by the tourism organization include ads, signage and ambassadors for once restrictions are lifted in order to promote safety and infection control protocols, and a video showing what precautions local businesses are taking. There’s also a plan proposing using social media influencers to encourage visitors back to the area.
The Strategic Initiatives Committee (made up of all of council) also endorsed an idea to spend $21,250 to extend a program called the Digital Service Squad, which has been operating in Collingwood and area thanks to grant money. The Small Business Enterprise Centre asked council to help keep the program going. It offers help to business owners in establishing and growing their online presence.
The final recommendation with an attached price tag was $2,500 to hire a consultant who can look into the feasibility of a cash card campaign. The task force pitched the idea suggesting the town give each resident a $100 gift card redeemable at any Collingwood business at a cost of up to $1.1 million to the town.
Staff estimated such a program would also require almost 500 hours of staff time, and therefore did not outright recommend the program.
The Strategic Initiatives Committee also heard from staff, the task force, and local business owners about an appetite for pilot projects that would see downtown streets closed to make more room for patios and people.
One such pilot pitched by Cassie MacKell, owner of Low Down, on behalf of Simcoe Street businesses, suggested closing down Simcoe Street from Thursday to Saturday each week.
Another suggestion from staff was to remove angle parking and close a stretch of Hurontario Street.
Restaurants were permitted to open patios as of today.
These recommendations and more will be on the agenda for a council vote at the meeting on Monday, June 15. You can read the full report and all the appendices here.