A recommendation to close restaurant patios on city-owned property at 2 a.m. won t receive unanimous support from city council, despite the municipal government s attempt to help Ottawa small businesses survive the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Almost a year into this pandemic, local businesses have seen their share of lows. But the Preston Business Improvement Area in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood is shifting its focus towards a silver lining.
Lori Mellor, the BIA’s executive director, said the creation of the online platform Digital Main Street in response to the pandemic has helped local businesses through the public health crisis and will remain a legacy of the pandemic’s challenges.
Digital Main Street is a program funded by the federal and Ontario governments and key corporate sponsors. It helps small businesses create e-commerce stores, improve their website and develop or enhance digital marketing skills.