Source : Channel NewsAsia – 12 Jun 2009
The poor economic climate has affected many neighbourhood retailers but there’ll be some relief through the housing board’s scheme to bring shoppers back into the heartlands.
It’s spending S$12 million to renovate 33 sites islandwide, covering some 3,000 shops, more than double the amount spent in its pilot scheme in 2007.
The owner of a fish stall in Bukit Batok estate said his business saw a 10 to 20 per cent drop in recent months.
Citing thinner wallets as one reason, he added that he also lost out to bigger supermarkets nearby.
Goh Thiam Chwee, fish wholesaler, said: “If they renovate the area, it’ll be neater and more hygienic and customers will return.”
Mr Goh won’t have to wait long. Under HDB’s Revitalisation of Shops scheme, 33 neighbourhood retail sites across Singapore will get spruced up.
Measures include help in upgrading common areas and rental rebates for tenants who choose to renovate their shops.
HDB and the local Town Councils will also co-fund the cost of carrying out marketing and promotional events.
About 3,000 retailers are expected to benefit.
They are located in areas such as Bedok, Clementi, Hougang and Tampines.
The scheme was first announced in November 2007 and the pilot batch saw S$5 million given to 14 sites.
Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu said: “This year, given the poorer economic sentiments, we thought it would be good to expand the scheme to more shops and more estates will benefit from it. That’s the reason we have doubled the number of shops and primarily whoever has applied was accepted for the scheme.”
When the economy worsens, small businesses are usually the first to suffer and this programme will go some way in boosting their long-term revenue.
Under the scheme, those who pay rent will have most or all their upgrading costs subsidised. But shop owners will have to foot half the bill.
But some owners hope they can be given more help.
Lee Lye Huat, shop owner, said: “Times are bad and some may not be able to afford it. It’ll be good if the cost could go down another 10 or 20 per cent.”
Some retailers are also working with government agency SPRING Singapore on training courses for their service staff.
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