Working Draft for:
Preeceville's Main Street with the Mayor Garth Harris for August 13th, 2020 8:35 am
With GX94's Craig Wallebeck > see him @ http://www.gx94radio.com/craig-Wallebeck
This week we focus on: Supports For Tourism
Sector
Saskatchewan Announces $35 Million In Supports For Tourism Sector
Released on August 10, 2020
Program Invests In Saskatchewan Tourism Industry, Hard Hit By COVID-19
"Today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced $35 million in support for Saskatchewan’s hard-hit tourism sector. Under the Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program, eligible hospitality and event/attraction operators will be able to apply for a one-time, non-repayable emergency payment.
For the accommodation sector and large event facilities, payments will range from $10,000 to $50,000, depending on sales revenue. For attraction, tour or event operators with ongoing fixed costs, payments will range from $7,500 to $15,000.
Of the $35 million, $5 million will be used to support marketing and increasing the demand for Saskatchewan tourism experiences.
“Saskatchewan’s tourism industry is critically important to our quality of life and attractiveness as a destination for investment,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes that the sector’s recovery will take time. This support will provide some immediate relief for accommodation properties, major event facilities and attractions, and will also focus on increasing demand, which will be essential to long-term recovery.”
Tourism in Saskatchewan, Canada and around the world has been brought to a standstill because of unprecedented measures taken to contain the virus. There were nearly 12 million visits to and within Saskatchewan in 2019, with visitor expenditures totalling $2.2 billion. Estimates indicate Saskatchewan’s tourism industry could see a decline of at least $730 million in visitor spending in 2020-21. It may take two or more years for the industry to recover.
“The COVID-19 pandemic delivered a devastating blow to our province’s tourism sector,” Minister Responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan Gene Makowsky said. “The new Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program will provide critically needed support to accommodations, venues, attractions and tourism businesses. The $35 million investment will stimulate the sector’s recovery, build resiliency and help tourism operators continue to deliver remarkable Saskatchewan experiences.”
“We are all painfully aware of the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the tourism and hospitality sector,” Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association President and CEO Jim Bence said. “With severe reductions in revenues, organizations will be under extreme pressure to find ways to manage their fixed costs and expenses in 2020. We are very pleased with this significant investment in our industry by the government and we much appreciate their continued support and willingness to collaborate with us during this crisis.”
Applications will be accepted starting 2 p.m. on August 24, 2020. Applications will be accepted until October 1, 2020.
For more information, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/tourism-sector-support.
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For more information, contact:
Robin Speer, Trade and Export Development, Regina
Phone: 306-519-5006 Email: robin.speer@gov.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program
Two streams of funding are available through the STSSP to support tourism businesses that have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:
Accommodations and Major Event Facilities Funding
The STSSP provides financial assistance for for tourism businesses in the accommodations and major event facilities sectors that have seen a significant drop in sales revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Event, Attractions or Tour Sector Business Funding
The STSSP provides financial assistance for tourism businesses in the event, attraction or tour sectors that have seen a significant drop in sales revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. Benefits
Program benefits can be used by the business to assist with fixed costs or any other expenditures deemed necessary by the business.
- Program payments for businesses in the event business sector will be based on the number of attendees the event typically attracts.
The amount of financial assistance provided to an event business will be:
- $7,500 to an eligible applicant whose event typically attracts less than 2,500 attendees;
- $10,000 to an eligible applicant whose event typically attracts 2,500 to 5,000 attendees; or
- $15,000
to an eligible applicant whose event typically attracts more than 5,000
attendees.
- Program payments for businesses in the attractions or tour business sectors will be based on the business’ number of employees.
The amount of financial assistance provided in the attraction or tour sectors will be:
- $7,500 to an eligible applicant with 1 to 4 employees;
- $10,000 to an eligible applicant with 5 to 10 employees; or
- $15,000 to an eligible applicant with more than 10 employees.
2. Eligibility
Eligible applicants must:
- Be a tourism business;
- Maintain a permanent establishment in Saskatchewan;
- Have been eligible to conduct business in Saskatchewan on February 29, 2020;
- Have experienced a loss of sales revenue of at least 30% when compared to 2019;
- Intend to carry on business operations; and
- Not receive funding from the Government of Saskatchewan to cover its core funding.
Loss of sales revenue will be considered as follows:
- For year-round business, sales revenue in June 2020 would be compared to average monthly sales revenue in 2019.
- For a seasonal business, the applicant's bookings or sales revenues are expected to decline 30% when compared to 2019.
- For an event business, the applicant's planned events for 2020 have been canceled.
3. How to Apply
Applications and application instructions will be available on August 24, 2020. Businesses should review all the eligibility criteria.
When available, complete the application form online.
- Include banking information for automatic deposit;
- Acknowledge the attestation at the end of the application; and
- Click on 'submit.'
4. Application Documents
An application form and relevant instructions will be available on August 24, 2020.
Questions and Answers
5. Further Information
For additional information on the program, call 1-800-667-6102 or 306-787-6645 in Regina.
Related Items
View program Q&As to better understand the STSSP criteria and process.
Find out more information on the Accommodations and Major Event Facilities benefits stream of the STSSP.
Updated: 8/10/2020 10:13 AM
Questions and Answers
Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program (STSSP)
1. What is the Saskatchewan Tourism Sector Support Program (STSSP)?
The STSSP provides financial assistance to eligible businesses within the accommodations, tourism and events sectors who have experienced a revenue decline of 30 per cent or more as a result of COVID-19.
The program provides a one-time payment to eligible businesses. The payment that can be used for any purpose such as paying fixed costs, making business improvements, supporting safe re-opening, marketing to new customers, etc.
2. What types of businesses are eligible?
Businesses in the accommodations, tourism and events sector that are experiencing a significant decline in revenue (30 per cent decline from 2019) as a result of COVID-19 are considered for eligibility. Specifically:
• Accommodation sector businesses, including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, outfitters that provide accommodation, and seasonal resort businesses, but does not include businesses in the sharing economy, oil and gas mining camps, home or condo rental businesses, RV parks, campgrounds, hostels, hospices, or businesses owned or controlled by Government of Saskatchewan entities.
• Attraction or tour sector businesses, which include travel agents, guided tours, houseboat rentals, outfitters that do not provide accommodation, minor event facilities or attractions that normally bring visitors from outside the community in which the attraction is located, but does not include restaurants or retail businesses.
• Event sector businesses that have had to cancel their 2020 event and have hosted a tourism or business event for more than one year that attracts attendees from 25 kilometres outside the community in which the event is located, but does not include charity fundraisers, anniversaries or reunions, Canada Day celebrations, homecomings, seminars or clinics, or religious and political gatherings.
• Major event sector business facilities, including Regina Performing Arts Centre, EA Rawlinson Centre, TCU Place, Persephone Theatre, Globe Theatre, Conexus Arts Centre, Affinity Place, Prairie Land Park, Innovation Credit Union Plex, Gallagher Centre, Mosaic Place, Evraz Place, SaskTel Centre, Dekker Centre for Performing Arts, Brandt Centre.
3. What are the eligibility criteria?
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible: • they are a tourism business (i.e., in the accommodation sector, attraction or tour sector, event sector, or are a major event sector business facility); • they maintain a permanent establishment in Saskatchewan; • they were eligible to carry on business in Saskatchewan on February 29, 2020; • they have experienced or will experience a decline of sales revenue from 2019; • they intend to carry on business operations; and
Updated: 8/10/2020 10:13 AM • they do not receive core funding from the Government of Saskatchewan.
The decline in sales revenue is considered as follows: • For year-round tourism businesses or event businesses, the applicant would compare June 2020 sales revenue to average monthly sales revenue in 2019. • For a seasonal business, the applicant would attest that bookings or sales revenue are expected to decline 30% when compared to 2019 (for example, if a business typically operates in the Fall). • For an event business, the applicant would attest that their planned event for 2020 has been cancelled.
4. How are payments calculated?
For an accommodation business or major event sector business facility, the payment is calculated by multiplying the greater of the 2018 or 2019 average monthly sales revenue by 30%. The amount of financial assistance for accommodations and major event participants is a minimum of $10,000, up to a maximum amount of $50,000.
For an attraction or tour sector business, the payment is calculated based on number of employees (including the owner operator) employed in the past year as follows: • $7,500 for a business with 1-4 employees; • $10,000 for a business with 5-10 employees; or • $15,000 for a business with more than 10 employees.
For an event sector business, the payment is calculated based on the number of attendees the event sector business has attracted to their canceled event in past years as follows: • $7,500 when the event has typically attracted less than 2,500 attendees; • $10,000 when the event has typically attracted between 2,500 and 5,000 attendees; or • $15,000 when the event has typically attracted more than 5,000 attendees.
Businesses that are newly owned or those that have been carrying on business for less than six months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
5. Why is average of annual monthly revenue for either 2018 or 2019 used to calculate payment amount for accommodations or major events participants?
Acknowledging that the industry sees a high level of fluctuation in revenues from year to year, this approach will assist business in using their best year to calculate a payment.
6. How will the GOS verify eligibility?
Applicants will complete an application form and attest they have experienced a 30% loss in revenue and plan to continue to operate.
Applications may be audited following payment. Any payments that are deemed to be ineligible will be considered a debt owing to the Government of Saskatchewan and subject to collection processes outlined in The Financial Administration Act.
7. Why are there caps for the program?
The maximum payment amount will ensure as many businesses in this sector as possible can be assisted within the program budget.
8. How soon can businesses apply? How soon can a business expect to receive payment?
Applications will be accepted starting Monday, August 24, 2020 at 2:00pm. Applications will be processed on a first-come first-served basis. Completed applications with all required attachments will be given priority. Providing direct deposit bank information on the application form will allow for faster payments.
The goal is to make payments within five business days of receiving a completed application.
9. Who is responsible for administering the program?
The Ministry of Finance will process applications, field inquiries, make payments, and audit the program. The Ministry of Trade and Export Development in consultation with Tourism Saskatchewan is responsible for program development and policy.
10. Are not-for-profits eligible?
If a not-for-profit business meets all of the eligibility criteria, they are eligible for the program.
11. Are campgrounds eligible?
Campgrounds, including privately-owned campgrounds and trailer parks, are not eligible for this program.
12. Is this program open to businesses that operate in Saskatchewan but are located outside the province?
To be eligible for the program a person, partnership, corporation, or cooperative must maintain a “permanent establishment” in Saskatchewan and carry on business in Saskatchewan on February 29, 2020. Permanent establishment is defined in The Income Tax Act, 2000 (Saskatchewan).
13. How will businesses with multiple operating locations be treated?
Where a business has multiple locations, each location may be eligible for a separate payment. The amount of the payment will be calculated based on revenue for the business by location. Where this is not available, revenue will be calculated based on the overall business revenue divided by the number of properties.
14. Are franchisee or franchisors eligible for the program?
Franchisors would not be eligible for the program regardless of location. Franchisees that have a permanent establishment in Saskatchewan will be eligible.
15. How will hotels that include accommodations (eligible) and restaurants and retail stores (ineligible) be assessed?
All revenue will be included and considered when evaluating the decline in businesses revenue and program payment.
16. Is a business eligible for this program if it received payment from other provincial or federal programs, including the Saskatchewan Small Business Emergency Payment Program (SSBEP)?
Yes, this program is stackable with other provincial and federal programs unless otherwise noted. Payments from other programs; however, will be considered as part of overall income when the income decline is calculated.
17. Can an applicant receive benefits under both the “accommodations and major events” and “events, attractions and tours” portions of the STSSP?
No, an applicant may only receive one stream of funding under this program (e.g., an accommodation applicant cannot qualify under the tourism/events component and vice versa).
18. Are payments from this program considered taxable income?
Yes, any payments that a business receives from STSSP are taxable. The Government of Saskatchewan approached the federal government about exempting these types of payments but the federal government declined.
Events:
Preeceville & District Lions Club Chase the Ace - Minimum Jack-Pot is now at a $14,104.
Follow the Lions on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreecevilleChaseTheAce/
The Town Newsletter for July/August has information about upcoming events. Previous newsletters can be found on the Recreation page.
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- And as always if you wish to have an event promoted visit and post it to our Community Events Calendar at www.townofPreeceville.ca
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