THUNDER BAY — Help is on the horizon for smaller Thunder Bay businesses who may be challenged to find or pay for personal protective equipment as they prepare to reopen.
Thunder Bay Ventures – the area's Community Futures Development Corporation – has launched a survey of businesses to determine their needs for PPE.
It's offering to pay for the equipment, including face masks, face shields, disposable gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfect spray and floor decals, among other products.
After the information is collected, Thunder Bay Ventures will estimate the cost and determine how best to distribute the PPE.
The initial focus is on businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
"We won't be able to meet everyone's needs, but we do want to help where we can," said executive director Martin Wyant.
He said the corporation has already identified a number of local suppliers who have PPE on hand.
"Once we have a clearer idea of the needs of our small business community, we are confident that we will be ready to proceed quickly," Wyant said.
Businesses are asked to complete the survey by the end of this week.
The survey is also available on the Thunder Bay Ventures website or on its Facebook page.
