Penticton task force makes economic recovery recommendations

Photo: Dale Cory

The City of Penticton council has adopted five recommendations from a task force involving local business leaders aimed at boosting economic recovery during COVID-19.

“The city has committed to looking at property taxes and deferral options. We’ll also be doing a resident and business survey,” said city economic development specialist Andrew Kemp.

“It’s to survey the community to understand, from a residential side — how things are going, what you’re suffering from, and how we can support you. From the business side, we’re looking at what’s happening in the area, how we can support access to resources those businesses need, and keep moving forward with the progressive ideas we’ve got, and hopefully support people with these challenging times.”

Other recommendations adopted by council April 7 include determining where the city could reallocate resources to support the community;  ensuring key municipal services such as development services, ensuring by-law services and parks services continue to be delivered; and supporting the economic development team’s efforts through the online job portal Start Here Okanagan.

In a recent BC Chamber of Commerce survey involving 8,000 businesses, 73 percent of businesses expected their revenues to drop by 50 per cent or more, with nearly 25 per cent saying revenues will drop by 100 per cent.

A quarter of the respondents said staffing will be reduced to zero.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat this. This is very challenging. All of the people on the task force indicate there was at least some effect, and then clearly some businesses are drastically affected, and making choices today about whether or not they can stay in business, or how many employees they’ll have to lay off, or how they’ve had to change their business model. We’re very aware this is a major issue and economic challenge for our community. There’s big concern," Kemp said. 

"We want to support people in any way possible and look at all the options. That’s why having a task force like this allows us to look at a wide variety of perspectives, but bring their industry knowledge. That’s really useful information for us as we move forward in decision making.”

The group has representation from the city, tourism, industry, Community Futures, the Penticton Chamber, the DPA, Okanagan College and business owners. 

“The group’s four or five recommendations to council are short term, and proactive. Now the group will look at bigger solutions, potentially what other options are out there,” summarized Kemp.

“They have a list I’ve provided them from other municipalities and provinces that they’re analyzing to see what would make the most sense that we could bring her to Penticton.”

The Economic Recovery Task Force meets again April 9 to formulate further plans to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.