Running a small business in Frontenac County? Fill in the COVID survey

May 06, 2020

As part of their effort to tailor supports for Frontenac County businesses to the new normal, as it is being called, the Frontenac County Economic Development Department is running their second monthly COVID-19 Business Impact Survey.

Results from the first survey, which was completed in the early days of the economic shut-down, revealed that businesses had already been heavily impacted.

When asked whether they expected their businesses to survive, 16% said they were likely or very likely

to go out of business, 52% said they are unlikely or very unlikely to go out of business, and the rest did not know. Other notable results were that 62% said they have suffered revenue losses, and none said revenue had increased. 15% had already laid off staff, and 40% have temporarily closed their business.

“That tells me that half the businesses expect to weather the storm, even though they are hurting,” Richard Allen, Manager for Economic Development for Frontenac County, said at the time.

The second monthly Survey, which was launched last week and runs until 4pm on Friday, May 8, includes 19 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. It asks business owners about the ongoing impacts of the shutdown, prospects for the next few months, and the long term impacts they see it having on their businesses, as well as what they hope to see in terms of support.

“Our goal it so match or surpass the number of responses in the March/April survey,
said Alison Vandervelde, Community Development Officer with Frontenac County. “We invite all business owners in Frontenac, whether they completed the last survey or not, to complete this one.”

The survey results will help Frontenac County design support programs for local business owners.

To access the survey, go to www.infrontenac.ca/COVID-19BusinessSurvey2/