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'Every little bit helps': Downtown London grant program praised

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Rami Sefian and his new business ChickPz were falling through the gaps when it came to government support for businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Downtown London has moved in to help fill that gap.

Sefian opened the King Street restaurant in May 2020 a few months into the pandemic, making him ineligible for federal grants because he had no prior business year to which to compare his 2020 results.

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But Downtown London has awarded grants, called the Endurance Grant, totalling nearly $229,000 to 133 businesses in the first three months of this year.

That help comes just in time, Sefian said.

“Downtown London has been active and every little bit helps. The grants we have received we reinvested into marketing,” he said.

Sefian received about $2,000 this year from the organization that represents downtown businesses. Downtown London gave Sefian $750 last year under a different grant program that he spent on protective equipment for his restaurant.

“We did not qualify for anything. I am so glad they are doing this. It means a lot. We were falling through a huge gap.”

Federal support programs for businesses include wage relief for employees, rent relief from landlords as well as loans with a forgivable portion.

“They wanted sales from the previous year and we did not have that,” Sefian said.

Downtown London had four different grants programs in 2020 for the pandemic, covering areas such as marketing, purchase of protective equipment, security, beautification and buying takeout food containers. This year the organization has wrapped them all into one, the Endurance Grant, executive director Barbara Maly said.

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“We tried to ensure we spread as much support and help to as many members as possible. We are now in our third round of a lockdown and it is not easy for businesses. This is about members helping members.”

Downtown London is not certain if there will be another round of grants as the demand for this cash was overwhelming, Maly said.

“We were totally blown way (by the demand). A lot of it was word of mouth, our members talking to others.”

Maly said she will discuss with her board of directors whether more grants can be awarded.

Downtown London has also announced a new “storytelling campaign” called Keep London Local. The public information campaign aims to educate Londoners on why it is important to support local, and offer contests to encourage downtown shopping.

ndebono@postmedia.com

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