Information, News & Resources |
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Economic Development Office |
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| What Is In this Issue? - Ontario Providing Supports for Small Businesses, Workers & Families
- Attention Tourism Sector: A spreadsheet error may have affected your eligibility for the Tourism Recovery Program
- FREE 2022 Business Membership with SGBT
- CEBA and RRRF Loan Repayment Extended by Federal Government, Hardest Hit Tourism and Hospitality
- Training Events
- More Funding Programs
- Plus more resources and news!
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Business & Economic News Highlights |
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Ontario Providing Supports for Small Businesses, Workers & Families
The Ontario government is providing targeted relief for businesses and people impacted by the current public health measures aimed at blunting the spread of the Omicron variant. As part of this plan, the government is introducing a $10,000 grant for eligible businesses that are subject to closures under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen and is providing additional electricity-rate relief for businesses, as well as workers and families spending more time at home. |
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Attention Tourism Sector: A spreadsheet error may have affected your eligibility for the Tourism Recovery Program
The federal government is advising that recent applicants for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) may have been affected by an error in the calculation spreadsheet for wage and hiring support, which erroneously showed they were ineligible for the THRP when they may have been eligible. You may have been affected if: - You were applying for period 22 (October 24 to November 20, 2021)
- You used a version of the spreadsheet for wage and hiring that was available between Tuesday December 21, 2021 and Friday December 24, 2021
- You indicated you are a qualifying tourism and hospitality entity and had both a current-month revenue drop and 12-month average revenue drop over 40%
- Step 5 in the spreadsheet showed a zero-dollar amount and gave the message that you were not eligible for the THRP
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South Georgian Bay Tourism Announces FREE 2022 Business Membership for Wasaga Beach Tourism Businesses
Have you registered for your FREE membership yet? The Town of Wasaga Beach has partnered with SGBT and the South Georgian Bay municipalities to offer complimentary business memberships for the entire South Georgian Bay tourism industry in 2022.
Register your tourism business to take advantage of this free unique marketing opportunity. This is your chance to be part of the South Georgian Bay Tourism Association. Register for free today using the following link.
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CEBA and RRRF Loan Repayment Extended by Federal Government, Hardest Hit Tourism and Hospitality The federal government has announced that the repayment deadline to qualify for partial loan forgiveness for both the CEBA and RRRF loans is being extended from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2023.
Both CEBA and the RRRF have helped small businesses and other organizations remain resilient and financially solvent throughout the pandemic. For more information, please visit here. |
Workforce Development Series First Session: January 27th, 2022
RTO7 is pleased to announce the launch of our new Workforce Development Series, created specifically for the tourism stakeholders in BruceGreySimcoe. The first three in the series are being offered virtually and cover the topics of equity, diversity and inclusion, how to improve your website and fully maximize your online presence and 2SLGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion management training. Pre-registration is required for all webinars and admission is FREE. Register early to avoid disappointment. For more information on Workforce Development or the workshops below, contact Kim Clarke, Manager, Stakeholder Relations, kclarke@rto7.ca or visit here. First webinar is January 27th. |
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The Truth About Launching Webinar | Shifting Gears
Shifting Gears is a timely news source for manufacturers and industry professionals brought to you by your Regional Manufacturing Partners Alliance. Launching your work out in the world can be an overwhelming process! In this masterclass webinar on January 20th at 12:00pm, Shifting Gears will reveal the truth about launching, the runway you need to launch and what you need to launch online successfully, so when you do launch, you can launch with impact! |
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2021 a record-breaking year for building activity in Wasaga Beach
The 2021 year was a banner one for building and development in the Town of Wasaga Beach, with the municipality setting various new records and continuing a period of strong growth.
“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, builder confidence in Wasaga Beach remained high last year and that is evident through the building activity numbers that we recorded,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said. “Our builders tell us that they see Wasaga Beach as a great place to live, work, and invest, and that is a sentiment we also hear from people settling in our community.”
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Canada Summer Jobs Program - Deadline is January 25th!
Funding from the Canada Summer jobs program is open for application until January 25th. This program provides wage subsidies to private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees.
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Executive Leadership Program
The Executive Leadership Program, brought to you by Lakehead University and Georgian College, is designed to produce long term results for you and your organization. Facilitated by leading faculty and delivered in the heart of Simcoe County, this innovative program will help you, and your team, reach their full leadership potential. The program builds on your real-world experience, analyzes your personal leadership style, and helps you improve your own impact and drive performance and culture within your organization.
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New TIAO Survey on the Current Challenges Facing Ontario's Tourism Businesses in 2022
The Tourism Industry of Ontario is conducting a survey to collect up-to-date information on the current challenges facing tourism business operations as the COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving with the spread of the Omicron variant.
After 21 months of closures, restrictions, job losses, layoffs, revenue losses, and mounting debt, the tourism industry faces a long process of recovering and rebuilding. The purpose of this survey is to understand the impact of the Omicron variant, related restrictions, and what Ontario's tourism businesses need yo recover and rebuild in 2022. TIAO seeks your assistance in providing this high-level reporting so that they can advocate on your behalf. |
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| RTO7 Recruitment Implementation Program
Leverage business operating expenses to access this program designed to offer additional support to BruceGreySimcoe tourism stakeholders in their workforce recruitment efforts, using social media. Learn more and see if you qualify.
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Vaccine Certificate QR Code Now Required to Access Certain Businesses and Organizations
As of January 4, 2022, Ontarians will now be required to use their enhanced vaccine certificate with a QR code to access certain businesses and organizations where proof of vaccination is already required. Vaccine receipts without a QR code will no longer be accepted as valid proof of vaccination.
Businesses will be required to use the Verify Ontario app to scan the codes and confirm a person’s vaccination status. You do not need to download an app or have a smartphone to use your QR code. You can download the QR code certificate from the provincial portal here or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have your enhanced vaccine certificate emailed or mailed to you.
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Building Inclusive Tourism
TIAO Presents: Building Inclusive Tourism – a Monthly Webinar Series providing the tourism industry with education, information, and resources on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). The next session will take place on February 16th.
Next session information: Building better business through diversity, equity, and inclusion starts with each individual assessing the past, present and future to identify opportunities to improve, adapt and shift. This workshop will provide the steps to conduct a discovery within your own operations and businesses to identify current gaps. You will gain insights through hearing about other’s experiences in the marketplace as we share best practice stories and examples of how adjusting your business to be more inclusive lead to better business success. |
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The Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program & Six-month interest- and penalty-free period
Eligible businesses will receive rebate payments equivalent to 50 percent of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to the current capacity limits. This will provide support to businesses that are expected to be most impacted financially by the requirement to reduce capacity to 50 percent. Examples of businesses that will be eligible for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program include restaurants, smaller retail stores and gyms. A full list of eligible business types will be made available through a program guide in mid-January 2022.
Online applications for this program will open in mid-January 2022, with payments to eligible businesses provided retroactive to December 19, 2021. Businesses will be required to submit property tax and energy bills as part of the application process.
The province is also providing additional support to help improve cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes, supporting businesses in the immediate term while capacity restrictions are in place while providing the flexibility Ontario businesses will need for long-term planning. The six-month period will begin January 1, 2022 and end July 1, 2022. This measure will provide up to $7.5 billion in relief to help approximately 80,000 Ontario businesses. With this help, approximately 80,000 businesses will have the option to delay their payments for provincially administered taxes.
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Think Local - Support Local
Spend your money where it matters the most this holiday season. By supporting your local businesses you support your community.
Your dollars stay in the community and help local jobs, development, community culture and create more walkable and livable neighborhoods. The pandemic has hit us all deeply and the effects continue to rattle our business community.
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BUSINESS MILESTONE RECOGNITION PROGRAM |
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Is your business.....
Celebrating an anniversary milestone? Expanding? Holding a grand opening? Achieving an industry innovation?
If so, the Town of Wasaga Beach wants to hear from you!
The Town of Wasaga Beach aims to acknowledge the many contributions of local businesses within the community. The Business Milestone Recognition Program aims to highlight local businesses and honour their achievements. Through this program businesses are recognized for celebrating special achievements such as grand openings, anniversary milestones, and other special achievements unique to their industry.
If you would like to participate in the program and learn more, please visit our website here. |
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Contact Val Dickson here or visit the website here to learn more. |
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Town of Wasaga Beach BUSINESS RECOVERY PORTAL |
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Since the beginning of COVID-19, the Town of Wasaga Beach has been making every effort to support you and your business. As we now look towards careful re-opening and recovery, we have compiled over 150 special resources here to help your business source COVID-related information and funding. |
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START AND GROW A BUSINESS PAGE |
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Are you eager to launch a new business or expand your existing business in Wasaga Beach?
We have retail, commercial and industrial space, business supports, workshops, one-on-one counselling, and information about financial incentives to support your venture and help it thrive. On this page you will find local, regional, provincial and national resources to help you start or grow a business.
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Follow our Facebook Page for more up-to-date resourses and programs! |
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Reach out to Economic Development today!
In addition to sourcing and sharing these resources for you, our Economic Development Team is always ready and available to assist you and your business. Help us to help you. We welcome and encourage you to contact us with your questions, comments or ideas - we will do our best to steer you in the best direction as you look to start, grow or support your business - for today and tomorrow. |
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*Disclaimer: The Town of Wasaga Beach is unable to provide any warranty regarding the accuracy or completeness of third-party submissions. Distribution of these items does not imply an endorsement of the views, information or services mentioned. |
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