The City of Port Alberni’s economic development department is moving money around to support small businesses as the economy begins to emerge from the pandemic.
Economic Development Manager Pat Deakin said a total of $190,000 earmarked for marketing, will be shifted into programs to help businesses re-open.
Mayor Sharie Minions says the city has already been in discussion with business owners to find out their needs and start developing a plan.
“I think this is a plan that sees some very immediate and short term action, and then additional to that there’s going to be more medium and long-term steps to this,” she said.
Minions said the city has partnered with Community Futures and the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce on the post-pandemic project.
She said Port Alberni will follow the example of others and not engage in marketing plans to bring people here this year.
“Even Vancouver Island Tourism said they were putting a halt to all of their tourism ads for the season because they recognize that right now, marketing for people to come to our community isn’t the long term need and isn’t the message right now, as we’re trying to promote everyone staying home,” she said.
Minions said the money has already been allocated to the economic development department, and is not new money being announced.
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