GLOBAL - INNOVATIVE - DISTINCT
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- Halton Hills’ Small Businesses Create “Picture Perfect Products”
- Town Wraps Up Successful “Shop the Hills” Contest
- Digital Main Street Program Underway in Halton Hills
- Council Approves Implementation Plan for Town’s Economic Development & Tourism Strategy
- How Has COVID-19 Impacted Your Business? Take the Halton Region Business Impact Survey
- Federal Government Announces New Targeted COVID-19 Support Programs
- Halton Hills Economic Development Services & COVID-19 Information
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Halton Hills' Small Businesses Create
"Picture Perfect Products"
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“Picture Perfect Products” was one of two initiatives launched during Small Business Week (October 17- 23) to support small businesses in Halton Hills.
Many local small businesses – including start-ups, home-based businesses and entrepreneurs – booked free studio space and equipment at the Halton Hills Public Library for DIY product photography sessions.
The program was a partnership between the Town of Halton Hills’ Economic Development, Innovation and Culture Division, and the Halton Hills Public Library.
Stay tuned for more small business support initiatives in the future.
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Town Wraps Up Successful "Shop the Hills" Contest |
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The “Shop the Hills” Contest was the second local initiative launched as part of Small Business Week, and the latest addition to the Halton Hills’ ongoing comprehensive “Shop Local” campaign.
Beginning on October 18, the contest sent local shoppers on a scavenger hunt to locations across Halton Hills in search of one of ten $100 Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce gift cards.
Gift card tins were hidden around Town with clues to their location posted on the Town’s social media channels twice a week (with a clue posted today, and the last clue to be posted on Monday, November 22).
The contest is part of the wider “Shop Local” campaign being implemented in partnership with the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, Acton BIA and Georgetown BIA. The campaign is comprised of several initiatives designed to help raise awareness and increase spending at local businesses.
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Digital Main Street Program Underway in Halton Hills |
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The Town of Halton Hills’ Digital Main Street (DMS) program is currently underway and will run through February 2022. The program is an integral part of the Town’s Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan and supports local businesses by helping enhance social media presence and to support website and e-commerce set-up.
The Digital Main Street program also allows small businesses (including those located outside of BIAs and downtown main streets) to apply for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant that can be used towards new websites, software, and hardware.
Business owners interested in meeting with a Digital Service Squad member and/or applying for the Digital Transformation Grant are encouraged to contact [email protected].
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Council Approves Implementation Plan for Town's Economic Development & Tourism Strategy
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Comprising 26 goals and objectives, and 137 actions, the strategy is the Town’s roadmap for supporting, growing, and diversifying the local economy by expanding non-residential assessment and local jobs. Since approval of the Strategy, significant progress has already been made, with 7 per cent of actions already completed and about 40 per cent of the actions currently underway.
An actionable, effective, and practical plan was prepared to drive ongoing implementation. Successful advancement of the Implementation Plan will translate into new non-residential development, more local jobs and live-work opportunities, and assessment growth. In turn, this will contribute to the Town’s financial health and ability to deliver services that residents and businesses rely on, as well as advance Council’s strategic priorities.
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How Has COVID-19 Impacted Your Business? Take the Halton Region Business Impact Survey |
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Halton Region Economic Development has launched a COVID-19 Business Recovery Survey to gain further insights from Halton business owners and operators on how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect business operations and workplaces.
The survey will also help the Region gain a better understanding of what the recovery period will look like and identify how local economic development offices can further assist the business community in their recovery.
The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and closes on Friday, November 26.
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Federal Government Announces New Targeted COVID-19 Support Programs |
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The Government of Canada announced the end of the Canada Emergency Wages Subsidy (CEWS) program as of October 23, 2021.
To replace CEWS, the government is proposing three new programs to run from October 24, 2021 to May 7, 2022:
Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program – to provide support to hotels, tour operators, travel agencies and restaurants, with a subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent.
Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program – to provide support to other businesses that have faced deep losses with a subsidy rate of up to 50 per cent.
Lockdown Support Program – business that face temporary new local lockdowns will be eligible for up to the maximum amount of the wage and rent subsidy program, during the local lockdown, regardless of losses over the course of the pandemic.
All programs still need to be voted on by Parliament before they take effect.
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Halton Hills Economic Development Services
& COVID-19 Information
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Halton Hills’ Economic Development, Innovation and Culture division provides a full suite of high-quality services and supports to the business community that in turn foster a prosperous economy and enhance quality of life. These include:
- Financial incentives via the Community Improvement Plan (CIP)
- Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) programming
- Investment attraction, expansion and relocation
- Business Concierge service
- Site selection assistance
- Market research
- Industry engagement
- Workforce development
- Supporting and advancing affordable housing projects and initiatives
- Amplifying tourism’s economic benefits
- Leveraging and supporting the arts and culture sector to raise quality of life
The Town offers existing and potential businesses a strategic platform for success, proximity to world-class markets, a distinct community with an ideal balance between urban and rural environments, and an outstanding quality of life.
As part of an ongoing commitment to engage with and support the local business community, Economic Development staff continue to update the Town’s COVID-19 Business Supports web page.
Please contact the Town’s Economic Development staff if you require assistance.
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Please note:
Pictures used in this e-newsletter are for illustration purposes only
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Copyright 2021 Town of Halton Hills
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the Town's e-newsletter 'Economic Development'
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