SAULT STE. MARIE -- The Downtown Association's board of Directors says this was the best option, in tackling an ongoing pandemic.
"We hope to at least run events that are scheduled after July," said Ashlynn McMillan, the association's interim manager.
"For the bigger events that have been cancelled meanwhile, we will try to do our best to reschedule them."
Just like the Queen Street Cruise, which McMillan says always promises to bring in big crowds.
The association understands its businesses are going through a difficult time, so it's easing up payments on a monthly levy.
"We were looking at alleviating it completely, but of course we have to be operational as well," said Mcmillan.
"We operate completely off of that levy, so trying to give that break is at least not another hand in pockets of businesses that are struggling right now."
McMillan also compliments the city's efforts to help out local businesses so far, especially with the unveiling of its new business directory.
"We hope that's something that can be utilized for the long term," said Dan Hollingsworth, the city's Economic Director.
The directory acts as an interactive map for the community, which allows the public to find out what's still operating during the pandemic.
"We know the Chamber of Commerce also has a directory, but this isn't to complete with it," said Hollingsworth.
"It's to give the public a free option, one that we hope compliments the chamber."
Meanwhile, McMillan says the Downtown Association has its own plans of creating a directory in the near future.
"Anyway we can aid businesses during this incredibly difficult time, we will jump at that opportunity."
