Wasaga Beach Economic Development Newsletter - December 10th, 2021
Information, News & Resources
Economic Development Office
What Is In this Issue?
  • NEW Business Milestone Recognition Program
  • Follow us on Facebook!
  • Town of Wasaga Beach Christmas Events - Get involved!
  • South Georgian Bay Tourism Offers FREE Business Membership
  • Council Continues Work on Budget for Year Ahead 
  • Training Events
  • Funding Programs
  • Plus more resources and news!
Introducing the
BUSINESS MILESTONE RECOGNITION PROGRAM
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.
Follow our Facebook Page for more up-to-date resourses and programs!

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.

Christmas Through Town

Do you want to showcase your businesses (or home!) this Christmas for a chance to win great prizes?! Register now to be featured on the Christmas Through Town - Digital Self Guided Tour Map! Please email events to register!

2021 is coming to an end - South Georgian Bay Tourism Offers FREE 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 2021.

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.
Council Continues Work on Budget for Year Ahead
Members of council, sitting as Committee of the Whole as Budget Committee, received Draft 3 of the 2022 operating and capital budgets December 2nd.



A public meeting on the proposed budget will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14. Treasury and department staff will present an overview of the budget. The public will be able to ask questions and share their views.

Council will consider passing the budget at its Dec. 21 meeting.

Read more here.
Contact Val Dickson here or visit the website here to learn more.
Business & Economic News Highlights
Digital Mainstreet Presents: Alternate Advertising Channels: Waze, Spotify, & Pinterest
December 15th - 10am

Do you have a strong grasp of just how many opportunities there are out there for business owners to market digitally? Have you explored highly valuable avenues like Spotify and Waze? Join your Digital Service Squad in our next webinar for a tour of alternate advertising channels. This webinar is presented by your Simcoe, South Georgian Bay Digital Service Squad.



In case you missed it...

Tourism Mini Conference 2021

The 2021 Tourism Mini Conference was a success! As a follow-up to the event, below is the event recording in case you missed this fantastic event.
TIAO Seeks Input
TO UNDERSTAND LABOUR SHORTAGES

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) seeks the views of current and former employees in Ontario’s tourism and hospitality industry to complete an anonymous and confidential survey to better understand:

  1. The reasons why current employees may consider leaving Ontario’s tourism and hospitality industry; and
  2. The reasons why former employees have left Ontario’s tourism and hospitality industry.  

Please take the survey and share it with your industry contacts
Ontario Staycation Tax Credit

The government is proposing a new, temporary Ontario Staycation Tax Credit for the 2022 tax year. This Personal Income Tax (PIT) credit would provide Ontario residents with support of 20 per cent of eligible 2022 accommodation expenses of up to $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family, for a maximum credit of $200 or $400, respectively.

Ontario residents could apply for this refundable credit when they file their 2022 PIT returns and benefit even if they do not owe any PIT.

To Learn more and for a full list of eligibility conditions for the Ontario Staycation Tax Credit, see here. 

Learn more by reading TIAO's Q & A here.
RTO7 PPE COVID-19 Recovery Fund Still Available

In light of current requirements around verifying vaccination passports, continued indoor masking, etc. (and popular demand), RTO7 is pleased to bring back the PPE reimbursement funding for tourism operators and businesses in BruceGreySimcoe. Every little bit helps, and this is a very easy win if you’ve incurred PPE expenses!
 
How it works:
RTO7 will reimburse a maximum of $1,000 before tax towards your purchase of PPE (defined as masks, sanitizer, shields, costs incurred to adhere to social distancing, touchless payments, new technology, increased cleaning, sanitization, etc.), retroactive to April 1, 2021.
Free Training for BruceGreySimcoe Businesses

RTO7 has partnered with Typsy and OTEC to provide stakeholders in BruceGreySimcoe with absolutely free online learning tailored to meet your business needs and objectives, as well as personal goals. 
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.
Safe Travels Stamp Administered By TIAO - Apply today!

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) has been chosen by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) to administer the Safe Travels Stamp in Canada. The Safe Travels Stamp is an international symbol designed to allow travelers to recognize governments and companies around the world, which have adopted health and hygiene, standardized protocols – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’.
Town of Wasaga Beach
BUSINESS RECOVERY PORTAL
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.
START AND GROW A BUSINESS PAGE
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.
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.
*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.