City of Waterloo council summary December 13, 2021

** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at today's council meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Council extends supports to businesses hit hard by COVID

COVID-Relief CIP continues next year

Businesses across the city, who have worked hard to stay open and succeed through the pandemic can count on ongoing assistance from the City thanks to Council extending the COVID-Relief CIP (Community Improvement Plan).

Through the program, businesses can apply to the fund for a grant to help cover COVID related costs for physical modifications or other improvements needed to respond to COVID-19.

The City also received a $115,000 grant and topped it up to fund two Main Street Ambassador positions that will provide business support in uptown Waterloo and the university district to enhance business recovery.  The ambassadors will also have access to $200,000 in provincial grants to support the start-up, recovery and growth of local businesses.

Council also approved transferring $150,000 of the unspent budget from the 2021 COVID-Relief CIP program to a newly established Green Initiatives fund, as well as  up to $200,000 to be used toward affiliate/community relief, key cultural institutions and Uptown BIA relief-oriented initiatives.

The extended program will run until December 31, 2022.

Support Our Local Economic Recovery (SOLER) Initiatives extended

Thanks to the popularity and success of the SOLER program, Council has agreed to extend it until December 31, 2022. SOLER was first launched in 2020 and is a flexible initiative that temporarily allows for a wide range of local businesses and artisans to use outdoor spaces for retailing and patio purposes. SOLER allows for temporary signage opportunities on municipal lands to market and promote local businesses and artisans. SOLER complements the city’s Uptown Sidewalk Patio Program. It allows for temporary use of off-street parking areas for commercial purposes, temporary use of certain on-site open spaces for commercial purposes, and temporary use of municipal lands for commercial purposes.

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Media contact:
Tony Iavarone
Director, Corporate Communications
tony.iavarone@waterloo.ca