A Message from Sally Litchfield, General Manager: |
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Hello everyone!
It's been a busy week and I'm all about testing different communication styles on you all, so we're going bullet points today!
- Upcoming Events!
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Jan 27 - Annual Mayor's Breakfast, held virtually, but with all attendees receiving a $25 Elora Mill gift card. There is still the option to contribute to the Virtual Swag Bag. Email me to find out more!
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Jan 28 - CWCC Social, hosted by our Travel Committee - a fun night where we can all imagine we're on a beach in Jamaica, complete with virtual cooking with a Couples Resort chef!
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CWOW Speaker Series - next up in this series of speakers designed for women in leadership roles (in any area of their life) is Marva Wisdom. An incredible speaker who you won't want to miss on February 10.
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The Elevating Business Series - our new professional development event series, that we are co-creating with Peter from Simplifying Entrepreneurship. This series will feature interactive, roundtable monthly sessions (poll below on preferred timing), on a variety of topics, that you have helped us to pick! Each session will be designed with three possible outcomes in mind - make you money, save you money, and/or improve your leadership skills. There will be an annual fee per business (no limit on # of participants per business) of $149 for members, and $199 for non-members, with a pay-what-you-can option available as well. We held an introductory session last week (full recording here), and discussed a list of topics for these sessions which includes: Confidence in Communication, Negotiation, Building Your Messaging, Company Culture and Integrating It at Every Level, Productivity Tips and Tools, and more! Stay tuned for the formal launch, but if you already know you're IN, or you have questions, topic suggestions, speaker suggestions, PLEASE reach out!
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Grants - more on all of these below! The Ontario Small Business Support grant launched. As did a fund specifically for the arts, culture, and tourism sector through the County of Wellington and RTO4. WWCF still has funding available, including for training and consulting up to $2,000 which can cover any number of things such as advice and assistance with online marketing, advice on adapting to new safe workplace regulations related to COVID-19, accounting, software, legal, or HR consulting, and many more ideas available on their website. We have a few members who have put together packages for this grant - if you're one of them, send us an email and we will include it in upcoming communications.
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The Shop Local Coupon Book - you may have seen the information and polls in Monday's Member Monday email. More to come on this, we hope to have good news next week!
Please note, our office does remain closed at this time and our team has transitioned back to working from home. We continue to be available at [email protected] or (519) 843-5140.
I look forward to connecting with you soon,
Sally
PS. Yep, new year, new head shot... in case you missed it last time! Anyone else in the market for a new professional head shot?! We are looking to coordinate an event in the spring (fingers crossed!). Send me an email if you'd like to be the first to get more info on that!
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For The Elevating Business Series virtual, interactive sessions, |
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What timing would work best for you if you were to participate:
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Doesn’t matter, I’m flexible!
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Government & COVID19 Related Updates |
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Strategic Decisions by Council - January
Township of Centre Wellington 2021 Budget Approval
Council approved the 2021 budget, with a 1.33% increase in taxation. The 2021 Budget was developed with a commitment to ensuring the Township can continue to meet existing levels of service while minimizing the impact of tax increases on residents and businesses. This includes a clear focus on improving service delivery, managing growth, and delivering services more effectively and efficiently. Read more here
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Ontario Small Business Support Grant
The Ontario government has opened applications for the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant. The grant, first announced in December, provides a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $20,000 to eligible small businesses who have had to restrict their operations due to the Provincewide Shutdown.
This grant allows flexibility for small business owners so that they can spend it however makes the most sense for their businesses (e.g., paying rent, paying employee wages, maintaining inventory, etc.).
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2021
To receive the grant, a business must:
- Be required to close or significantly restrict services due to the provincewide shutdown effective 12:01 a.m. on December 26, 2020 (please refer to “Eligible Businesses” section below)
- Experienced revenue decline of at least 20 per cent
- Had 99 employees or less at the enterprise level (An enterprise is a corporation, unincorporated business, partnership, charity, non-profit organization or any other type of entity operating a business in Ontario)
TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION GUIDE WITH ALL THE DETAILS, CLICK HERE.
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Tourism Adaptation & Recovering Program
We want to help your tourism business re-open and remain open.
Elora Fergus Tourism, in partnership with RTO4 and the County of Wellington, is proud to implement the Tourism Adaptation and Recovery Program. The program is meant to help small and medium sizes enterprises (SMEs) and not-for-profits (NFPs) in the arts, culture and tourism sector by supporting one-time adaptation and re-opening costs incurred to continue operating post Covid-19.
Two streams are available (click headings for details)
Eligible businesses and organization are encouraged to apply by February 1, 2021 11:59 p.m.
Tourism Adaptation and Recovery Program Application: Click here.
Technology Investment Program Application: Click here.
For more information about this program please contact Karen Mitchell, Tourism Project Manager, Regional Tourism Organization 4, 519-271-7000 Ext 102, or Jana Burns, Wellington Place Administrator, County of Wellington, 519-837-2600 Ext 5222.
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WWCF Business Service Grants
Two funding opportunities are still available for January 2021.
There are CWCC members that have built programs around this grant, that allow you to get necessary business supports at this time, at no cost to you. Look for additional information on this in your inbox soon! The deadline to apply for this funding is the end of January!
WWCF is still accepting applications for emergency funding. These loans are interest free for 2 years with 25% forgivable if repaid by Dec. 2022.
Are you confused about eligibility?
Please email Tina to discuss either of these grant opportunities.
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Tax Increases Should Be Off the Menu for the Hospitality Industry
Did you know the excise tax on beer, wine and spirits is set to increase again on April 1? Now is not the time for higher taxes, especially increases targeting the hospitality sector. This crucial Canadian industry needs to be able to remain competitive to be able to recover from the crisis. It's time to #FreezeTheAlcoholTax.
Help spread the word.
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Ontario Expands Workplace Enforcement Campaigns
Provincewide inspection blitzes will ensure essential businesses are operating safely
The Ontario government is expanding the current workplace inspection campaign to further protect workers and customers at essential businesses. Following last week's big-box store blitz, provincial offences officers will be now be visiting an expanded range of workplaces across Ontario to educate and ticket businesses that are not complying with COVID-19 health and safety requirements. Read more here
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Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin Virtual Job Fair
Information & Sign-up Details:
The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin is excited to announce the March 3rd, 2021 virtual job fair date.
Registration is now open for employers and it is free for job seekers! There is a limited number of booths available at a cost of $100. Please register for the event by clicking the Eventbrite link below.
Eventbrite employer registration link
Job seeker registration link (Free)
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Ontario Supporting Horse Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
Investment will help keep animals safe and cover maintenance costs
The Government of Ontario is investing up to $3 million through the Equine Hardship Program to help horse experience businesses cover animal maintenance costs incurred from COVID-19 disruptions. During the pandemic many horse experience activities, such as riding schools, trail ride operations, and horse camps have been unable to operate, which has put these businesses and their horses in jeopardy. Read more here
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Are you compliant with workplace screening regulations?
On Sept. 25, pre-entry COVID screening of all workers and “essential visitors” became mandatory for all businesses in Ontario — effective immediately — regardless of sector. The new requirement comes through an amendment to Ontario Regulation 364/20, the “Rules for Areas in Stage 3”, which is a regulation under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.
The Get Ready Daily Screening Tool™ is one option that has been presented to Ontario Chambers of Commerce. CWCC members receive a discount on this tool. Please email us for more information!
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C-Screener is a Covid-19 Workplace Screening application for mobile phones that will enable companies to comply with the Ontario Ministry of Health issued Workplace Screening guidelines requiring businesses to screen employees and visitors for COVID-19 before allowing entry into the workplace and keep the screening records.
Ositech developed this application for company use, but they are offering it at no cost to any business that can benefit from it as their contribution to help businesses in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic.
The C-Screener mobile application has the following benefits:
- Easy to use
- Time-efficient; employees/visitors do not have to line up to fill or handover a checklist at the office/factory entry.
- The checklists are stored as emails that can be easily retrieved in case employees have to be informed of potential exposure to COVID-19
- Best of all; It is completely free. There is no catch and there are no charges at all for this application.
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Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce
400 Tower St. S., Fergus | 519.843.5140| www.cwchamber.ca
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