Shops and commercial streets | The role of municipalities in sustainable recovery

These are difficult times for many businesses. The sanitary measures put in place to control the pandemic have severely affected the retail, catering and accommodation sectors. Located on shopping streets and in the heart of villages, these establishments are often SMEs owned by local entrepreneurs. They form the backbone of the social and economic fabric of many communities.

However, the retail sector had already been in a precarious situation for some time. Online retailing and the ever-increasing supply of retail space were already posing considerable challenges to brick-and-mortar establishments, particularly independent shops on commercial streets.

Municipalities must be proactive to support local businesses and prevent the erosion of the exceptional tax productivity of commercial streets. A number of actions within their jurisdiction can contribute to the survival and revival of commercial streets.