Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the MRC’s economic development department (Service de développement économique or SDE) says it has been working hard to support the region’s entrepreneurs and help them get through this difficult period. To date, the MRC d’Argenteuil has offered personalized support to over 95 businesses through programs, services, information and advice and continues to encourage the business community to call upon its dedicated staff.
Emergency assistance program for small and medium-sized businesses
The members of the MRC d’Argenteuil investment committee approved the awarding of a first round of loans under the Emergency assistance program for small and medium-sized businesses set up by the Government of Québec on April 3. Following this decision by the FLI-COVID-19 committee, $155,000 of the $875,327 envelope allocated by the Minister of the Economy and Innovation for the MRC d’Argenteuil will be invested in the working capital of five SMEs. Several other files are under review and decisions will be announced shortly.
It should be noted that in the context of the pandemic, the maximum loan under this program is $50,000, at an interest rate of 3%, with no payments or interest for the first three months. To learn more about the fund, entrepreneurs are invited to contact the SDE at [email protected].
The MRC also invites entrepreneurs to discover all the special support measures available at www.industrielargenteuil.com.
Enthusiasm for local shopping platforms
The MRC d’Argenteuil is pleased with the favourable response to the two local shopping platforms recently launched by the community and for which it provided $10,000 in funding. Achat Argenteuil, designed and operated by Trifecta Médias of Lachute, was created for local businesses to facilitate access to online sales. The platform can be accessed at www.achatargenteuil.com. The Maude – Marché locavore initiative, managed by the Pub Sir John Abbott work cooperative of Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, is an online grocery store that allows the population of Argenteuil and surrounding areas to order fresh, quality local products. It can be accessed at www.maudemarket.ca/fr/accueil.
Argenteuil, present for its entrepreneurs
The MRC d’Argenteuil is working closely with the Argenteuil Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIA), which maintains an active presence among its members and non-members. A detailed list of measures offered in times of crisis has been added to the CCIA’s website and can be consulted at cciargenteuil.ca/support-covid19. The MRC d’Argenteuil encourages the business community to take advantage of the support offered by the CCIA: [email protected].
In addition to investing in entrepreneurs affected by the crisis, the SDE of the MRC d’Argenteuil is continuing its industrial development efforts, particularly through the sale of land, as well as the creation of new businesses. At present, many businesses working in the food, health, environment and natural resources sectors are maintaining their activities in accordance with government directives.
The MRC d’Argenteuil would like to take this opportunity to thank the population for its considerable efforts to help the region’s businesses, particularly by buying locally. The MRC encourages citizens to continue to show solidarity and build on this momentum by visiting the local shopping platforms and supporting Québec products and businesses through lepanierbleu.ca, a directory funded by the Québec government to boost local commerce across the province.
