Information, News & Resources |
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Economic Development Office |
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- Follow us on Facebook!
- Town of Wasaga Beach Christmas Events - Get involved!
- South Georgian Bay Tourism Offers FREE Business Membership
- Façade Improvement Program Update
- CLOSING and NEW Funding Programs
- New Wasaga Beach Art Installations
- Support Local Coupon Book
- Plus more resources and news!
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Follow our Facebook Page for more up-to-date recourses and programs!
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Christmas Events - Santa Claus Parade & Christmas Through Town
Do you want to showcase your businesses (or home!) this Christmas for a chance to win great prizes?! Register now (before October 22) to be featured on the Christmas Through Town - Digital Self Guided Tour Map! Please email events to register!
What about participating in the Santa Claus Parade?! Do you want to showcase your business?! Register now by visiting here. The Santa Claus Parade will be on Saturday, Nov. 27, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The parade will make its way along Dunkerron Avenue and Mosley Street, ending at the RecPlex.
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TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
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.
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Façade Improvement Program
Town of Wasaga Beach presented a $2,000 cheque to Make Great Wine and Cheese to offset the cost of the business's new sign. The funding is through the town's Facade Improvement Program.
The Facade Improvement Program is a FREE municipal Grant Program Package that assists property owners looking to revitalize and/or restore the frontage of their buildings in town. Projects can include side and rear facing facades that have high public visibility.
The program will provide a grant up to 50% of the eligible costs up to $2,000 per project.
Learn more about the program here.
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A Sight to See!
Wasaga Beach has a new mural! Future Day, an area business, created this beautiful mural on the blank wall of the Wasaga Beach Archive Building at 140 Main Street. The Town of Wasaga Beach commissioned Future Day to create this gorgeous art piece. Stop by and check out this new work.
Members of council met with artists from Future Day, the company that created our new mural at 140 Main St., the home of the Wasaga Beach Archives. Learn more about the mural here.
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Works of Art!
Mayor Nina Bifolchi, council and town staff gathered with local artists Shandelle McCurdie, Taylor Wensley, Alex Kostecka-Silva, Rob Saley and Nancy Gareh at the Oakview Woods Skateboard Park on Oct. 25 to celebrate the installation of seven pieces of art at this well utilized family focused, public facility. The art demonstrates a youth friendly connectedness to Wasaga Beach and the community.
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Think Local - Support Local
Spend your money where it matters the most. 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 neighbourhoods. The pandemic has hit us all deeply and the effects continue to rattle our business community.
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Support Local Coupon Book
This fall, the Town of Wasaga Beach Support Local Coupon Book was distributed to homes and businesses across Wasaga Beach. The book features business deals, discounts and support local information.
Interested in participating next year? Contact us today to be added to the list!
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Council Continues Work on Budget for Year Ahead
Members of Wasaga Beach council looked at draft 2 of the proposed 2022 budget Wednesday night.
Council’s next budget meeting is December 3rd.
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Contact Val Dickson here or visit the website here to learn more.
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Business & Economic News Highlights |
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Tourism Mini Conference - November 24th
Presented by South Georgian Bay Tourism in partnership with the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre, RT07, T3 Accelerator and Community Futures South Georgian Bay.
Geared towards tourism-related business owners, the Tourism Mini Conference facilitates an inspiring and informative morning of presentations with topics on trends in the tourism market & improving your digital footprint.
Featuring Andrew John Virtue Dobson, a globally recognized food and travel expert who has built a successful luxury travel and culinary tourism blog that ranks first on several Google pages. Andrew's vast knowledge of trends in the tourism industry is sought after by various brands, print publications, and educational institutions.
The morning will wrap up with a presentation by Digital Main Street, a program and service that consists of experts who have been assisting local businesses improve their online presence for over 2 years. Digital Service Squad Team Lead, Ben Frisch, will be sharing his top 5 digital trends for tourism businesses in 2022. You won't want to miss it!
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Holiday Social - Chamber of Commerce
Come enjoy an in-person holiday social on November 25th, only $15 per ticket! The event will be located at Pizza Dee's (810 Mosley Street).
There will be:
- Live Music
- Appetizer Tasting Experience
- Holiday Trivia Contest
- Holiday Outfit Competition
- Live Auctions (fundraiser for Foodbank)
- Toy Drive for Kinettes
- and Loads of Prizes!
There will also be a Photobooth on-site to capture amazing pictures right at your table.
The appetizer tasting experience is included however, there will be food and beverage available for an additional cost.
Looking to celebrate with your company? Reserve a table and celebrate together with your staff. This is perfect for your office holiday party!
Limited space is available! Register here.
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Looking for more from the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce? Check out their latest newsletter here.
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ACT NOW: Digital Main Street - $2,500 Grants and More Free Support
DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30TH
Time is running out to claim your Digital Transformation Grant from Digital Main Street! This $2,500 grant is available to eligible and qualifying small businesses to enable a digital transformation. The grants are now open to more businesses than ever before and you no longer have to be a “downtown” or "main street" business. If your business has a physical location you might be in the running!
Please note: previous DTG recipients are not eligible.
Connect with your Digital Service Squad for an initial 30 min consultation to learn more, confirm eligibility, and to get started on your application process!
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RTO7 Brings Back PPE COVID-19 Recovery Fund
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.
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Ontario Making Life Easier With New Business Registry
The new Ontario Business Registry launched on October 19th, making it easier, simpler, and more affordable for millions of businesses and not-for-profit corporations to access government services.
The new Ontario Business Registry replaces an out-dated and inefficient process, providing business owners and not-for-profit operators with direct access to government services, available online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Registrations or filings that were previously submitted by mail or fax, taking four to six weeks to complete, can now be done instantly through the online registry. Annual returns can also be completed in the registry, which means corporations can keep all their important filings in one place. Additionally, the new Ontario Business Registry is integrated with the Canada Revenue Agency, enabling the identification of a business or not-for-profit corporation by a single business number, further streamlining administrative processes.
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Selling on Pinterest
Is your business on Pinterest? Pinterest is a hugely popular social media platform that does wonders for chefs, bakers, artists, artisans, designers, and florists ~ just to name a few. What's more, Pinterest enables visitors to purchase products directly through the app.
Are you ready to learn more? Sign up for our next webinar all about selling on Pinterest on Wednesday (Nov 17) from 10am-11am.
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Attracting and Retaining Newcomer Talents
Attracting and Retaining Newcomer Talents presented by the Ontario Newcomer Trades Action Program (ONTAP) on November 18th at 2:30pm. Click here to register. Flyer is attached with more information.
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In case you missed it...
Chamber of Commerce Mayor Salute & Chamber Mix n' Mingle
This year the Chamber of Commerce invited Mayors and Chamber Leaders from the region to speak as part of a panel on Zoom. The speaker panel addressed how their town and business community is managing through the pandemic, the initiatives employed to support local business as well as visions for the future. Watch the replay below.
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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’.
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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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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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