From the Team

From Elaine: Local Biz Night is one of our most popular events of the year. Knowing that, and how dark and boring the winter months can be we've partnered with the Fergus Whalers for a Junior Hockey Game! The Chamber will be at the CW Sportsplex for the Jan 26th game at 7pm. Join us, bring your team or family for a pucking good time. Ticket price includes admission, treats, Chuck-a-Puck and your logo in the game program.



From Gracie: When you've got a few mins- why not fill out our Member Highlight Survey to be featured on our blog and EloraFergusToday.ca. It's one of the many perks of being a member. Or email me to see all the ways we can market your business.

From Joey: If you can believe it Awards of Excellence nominations are open! Have you had a memorable experience with a CW business? Has your business done something amazing? Self-nominations welcome. The Awards of Excellence event is May 2024, in celebration of business achievements for 2023. We are also looking for businesses who celebrated milestones anniversaries - starting business operations 1983, 1998, 2013 or 2023. If this is your business - email me to be included in our festivities.

As always, we're here for you,

The CWCC Team

Workforce Survey

The Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce have partnered with Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin (WorkforceWWD) in their EmployerOne survey. This is a bi-annual report used to better understand workforce issues facing your business and industry. The EmployerOne survey is designed to collect information on a range of topics and trends including projected vacancies, hiring intentions, recruitment strategies and challenges, as well as your perception on candidate skills, education, and training.

After analysis, a report is developed and distributed to the public so that a better understanding of the local labour markets can be developed, and better strategies can be produced to improve overall workforce and employer needs. To help the Workforce WWD please fill out this survey.

Save on Energy with Retrofit program incentives

Upgrade your equipment and improve your operations with the help of the Retrofit program. The Retrofit program will releases semi-annual updates spring and fall as part of these updates, new measures and incentives are being added to the Retrofit program to enable businesses to continue to save on energy costs and to take advantage of a variety of technologies and products to help improve the overall

operations of buildings and facilities. Click to learn more.

Join us for a free virtual presentation Jan 17th Email to register.

Centre Wellington Hydro - Customer Engagement Survey

Have your say and a chance to win 1 of 2, $200 Grocery Gift Cards by completing Centre Wellington Hydro’s Customer Engagement Survey. Find out how CW Hydro prioritizes major investments to ensure delivery of a safe, reliable and efficient electrical service! Customer Engagement Survey

Ride Well - Rural Transit Survey

Ride Well is Wellington County's public transit pilot service, operating Monday to Friday, 6:00 am - 7:00 pm. Rides can be booked to or from any Wellington County and Guelph address. Wellington County wants to hear from you! What do you think of rural transit? Have you used it? Why or why not?

Your feedback will help shape the future of rural transit in Wellington County. Click the link below to complete the survey and opt in for a chance to win $250 in Ride Well credits! www.wellington.ca/transitsurvey

Adoption of Updated Community Improvement Plan

The Ontario Planning Act authorizes municipalities to create Community Improvement Plans (CIP) within targeted areas. Community Improvement Plans allow municipalities to create financial tools such as loans, grants, or tax increment-based grants towards achieving community goals.

The Township CIP has not been reviewed since its adoption in early 2015; however, several guiding Township and County policies have changed or been introduced since then and several key policy issues have emerged over the last few years that could potentially be addressed by the Township CIP. These policy issues include the need to:

• Increase rental housing supply, including affordable units;
• Promote more economic growth and diversification;
• Support more value-added agricultural and agri-business uses in the Township’s agricultural area; and,
• Improve the design, quality, and environmental sustainability of building improvements and development in the Township. Based on the key emerging policy issues as noted above, the Township determined the need to review and update the Township CIP.

Council approved the updated Comprehensive Community Improvement Plan and passed a By-law designating the entire geographic area of the Township of Centre Wellington, as amended from time to time, to be the Community Improvement Project Area. Updated Community Improvement Plan Report to Council

For more in depth information, join us Feb 28th for our Economic Development Business Breakfast.