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Canadian Tire Prescott owner Randy Gatt at his 140 Prescott Centre Drive store.

New Canadian Tire Owner Randy Gatt Excited to Join Prescott's Business Community

Retiring after 17 years as head of retail for Ikea Canada and realizing travel wasn't holding his attention, Randy Gatt was looking for a new opportunity. With Canadian Tire in Prescott, he found one that checked every box.


"On a personal level, Prescott's location is perfect for us," said Gatt, "we were drawn to its small town atmosphere, and the combination of the St. Lawrence River access and the proximity to Montreal and Ottawa, it was ideal".


Becoming the owner of Prescott's Canadian Tire, Randy has wasted no time becoming involved in the local community, quickly joining the ranks of Prescott and Area businesses supporting the new Alaine Chartrand Community Centre through advertising and sponsorships.


Gatt and his wife Ivana look forward to spending more time in the community and becoming more involved.


Mayor Gauri Shankar, along with members of Council, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, and Town Staff visited Randy on October 26th to bring greetings and formally welcome him to Prescott's business community.


Canadian Tire Prescott is located at 140 Prescott Centre Drive in Prescott's Uptown Business District. Follow them on Facebook for up-to-date store information and special events.


Community Improvement Plan Incentive Program Accepting Applications


The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Incentive Program supports local revitalization, beautification and economic development in the Town of Prescott by providing financial incentives for downtown revitalization, employment lands, heritage properties, housing developments and brownfield projects.



CIP funding is available to businesses and private property owners to help offset project costs that achieve the Town’s community planning and development goals. Eligible projects can receive a combination of non-repayable grants, 0% interest loans and tax incentives. 


Interested in the Community Improvement Plan Incentive Program? Click below to learn more.

Learn More

Small Business Situation Room

On October 17th, Town of Prescott Economic Development and Tourism Department held its Small Business Week event, the Small Business Situation Room, at the Alaine Chartrand Community Centre. Business support organizations and subject area experts were on hand to answer questions that local businesses had about available programs and professional services.

Bridges to Better Business

LG Small Business hosted their 2023 Bridges to Better Business event on October 26th at Prescott Town Hall.


Guest Speakers Ruth and Lisa Lockett from Tim Hortons Prescott delivered the keynote on the theme of the role of community building in successful small business.

First Choice Celebrates 25 Years in Downtown Prescott - October 21st

On October 21st, Mayor Gauri Shankar, MPP Steve Clark, and members of Council visited First Choice Haircutters, located at 305 King Street West in Downtown Prescott, to help celebrate their 25th Anniversary.

Advertising Opportunities at the Alaine Chartrand Community Centre

Advertising Opportunities are available at a variety of price points at Prescott's new Alaine Chartrand Community Centre, including board and wall signage.


For more information, contact Dana Valentyne at dvalentyne@prescott.ca.

EV ChargeON Program - Available funding to install EV Chargers in Small Communities


The EV ChargeON program provides funding for the installation of public electric vehicle (EV) chargers in Ontario communities outside of major cities.


EV ChargeON aims to:

  • increase the number of public EV charging stations throughout Ontario to build a more connected network
  • make public chargers more accessible and affordable
  • encourage more people to switch to EVs


Eligible applicants, located and operating in Ontario, include businesses, not-for-profit corporations, municipal governments, Indigenous communities, organizations or businesses, and broader public sector organizations.


Learn more about the program and available funding by visiting their website and attending their upcoming webinar on November 30th.

Join us for RiverWalk Wonderland, December 1st through December 3rd at the Prescott Pop-Ups!


Starting with Prescott's Tree Lighting at RiverWalk Wonderland on December 1st from 5 pm to 8 pm, it will be a weekend of interactive fun with wagon rides, carolers, arts & crafts, and much more. Buy your live Christmas tree, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus in the their RiverWalk Workshop, and enjoy treats from a variety of vendors, while spending a holiday-themed afternoon in the RiverWalk District!


Interested in being a vendor at RiverWalk Wonderland vendor? Complete the application here.


Interested in Sponsoring events or decorations at RiverWalk Wonderland? View the Sponsorship Form here.



Follow the Prescott Pop-Ups

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Upcoming Tourism & Community Events

November 17th - Light Up the Night Parade - 7 pm start - Edward and King Streets

December 1st - Prescott Tree Lighting - 7 pm - Prescott Pop-Ups, 191 Water Street East

December 2nd - The Big Splash Christmas Market - 9 am to 3 pm - Leo Boivin Community Centre

December 1st to 3rd - RiverWalk Wonderland - Prescott Pop-Ups, 191 Water Street East

For more information on Tourism programs and events in Prescott, follow #ExplorePrescottON on social media, visit our website, or contact us.

Facebook  Instagram  TikTok  Web  Email

Oomen's Tackles Digital Marketing with Digital Main Street


Located at 201 Water Street West in Downtown Prescott, recently moving into the Forwarder’s Building back in May, Judy Oomen is already in the process of digitally transforming her fishing and sporting goods store with the help of the Digital Transformation Grant and the Canada Digital Adoption Program.


Judy is using the Digital Transformation Grant to upgrade her Point-of-Sales system to connect her in-store inventory with her online store, enrolling in digital training courses to improve her knowledge on marketing, and hiring a marketing consultant to kick off her digital marketing initiatives.


She is also using the Canada Digital Adoption Program to build a new online store with Shopify and cover part of the subscription cost of her website, and also doing social media advertising to promote her new e-Commerce website.


Visit Oomen's Fishing Tackle online at oomensfishingtackle.ca and follow them on Facebook.



Digital Main Street offers a variety of grants and programs to help your small business make necessary digital improvements to improve your brand and increase revenue. If you are looking to digitally transform your small business and take advantage of Digital Main Street Programs just like Judy, contact Taylor at dms@prescott.ca for more details.

Upcoming Digital Main Street Webinars


eCommerce 101: What, Why, and How

Tuesday, November 14th, 2023

10:00 am - 11:30 am


Steppingstones of E-Commerce: Part 2 – Modernizing Your E-Commerce (Digital) Infrastructure

Thursday, November 16th, 2023

11:30 am - 12:30 pm


The Importance of Paid Advertising in a Digital Space

Tuesday, November 28th, 2023

10:00 am - 11:30 am


Steppingstones of E-Commerce: Part 1 – Expanding into E-Commerce

Thursday, November 30th, 2023

11:30 am - 12:30 pm


Optimizing for Search Engines - Understanding SEO Basics

Tuesday, December 5th, 2023

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Contact South Grenville Digital Main Street

Downtown Public Spaces & Pop-Ups Survey Results

 

The Economic Development & Tourism Department recently undertook a survey reviewing how residents, visitors, and business owners felt about the 2023 Downtown Public Spaces & the Prescott Pop-Ups. 268 individuals completed the survey, and on October 16th the initial results were presented to Council. You can view the complete report by visiting the link below.

View Survey Report

Join TIAC’s Tourism Congress 2023 to learn about the changing market dynamics that are affecting your Tourism business – and how to adapt. Each year, the event hosts more than 400 delegates from across the industry, including key decision-makers from both the private and public sectors.


Date: November 21st & 22nd

Location: Ottawa

Learn More

The Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office, in partnership with Michael Barrett, M.P., Hon. Steve Clark, M.P.P., the 1000 Islands, Grenville and Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporations and the Eastern Workforce Innovation Board invite you to the region’s top Economic Development event of the year.


On-site registration opens at 8:15 a.m.


Schedule: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.


Registration: $50 including HST - Includes light breakfast, lunch and snacks. Advance payment is required. Deadline Friday, November 10, 2023


Learn More


Register Here

Webinars and Seminars

Click on the underlined event title for more information and to register.


November 8 – 9 am to 11:30 am - Brand Brilliance: Creating a Unique & Memorable Brand – Webinar - FREE

This workshop will teach you the key elements of branding and guide you through the process of creating a brand that truly represents your business and captures the attention of your target audience.


November 8 - 10 am - 11 am - Marketing Essentials for Small Business 101 – Webinar - FREE

Learn how to build your marketing & advertising strategy for your small business.


November 8 - 12 pm to 1 pm - Making Your Business Accessible - Webinar - FREE

In the tourism industry, attractions play a crucial role in providing enjoyable experiences to visitors. Enhancing accessibility not only opens doors to a wider range of customers but also enriches the overall service offering of such businesses. The upcoming webinar, "Making Your Business Accessible," seeks to address this vital issue. Attendees can expect an in-depth look into the importance of accessibility in the tourism sector.

 

November 9 - 10am to 11 am - Streamline Social Media Content Creation – Webinar - FREE

In today’s digital age, social media is one of the most powerful tools out there for businesses to connect with their audience. Join for a dive into the best practices and tips for effectively batch-creating content that will help you stand out on social media.


November 9 - 11 am to 12 pm - Service Canada: Support Measures for Businesses in Labour Adjustment – Webinar - FREE

Learn how to access Service Canada to enroll in various programs, services, and the basics of Human Resources for businesses in any sizes.

 

November 9 - 2 pm to 3:30 pm - Financing 101 with Futurpreneur and BDC – Webinar - FREE

Join national non-profit Futurepreneur and the Business Development Bank of Canada to learn more about financing your business.

 

November 10 - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - T1 General Small Business Tax Literacy Seminar – Webinar – FREE

This seminar is offered to owners of small businesses and self-employed individuals who need help in understanding their tax obligations.

 

November 14 – 10 am to 11:30 am - eCommerce 101 – What, Why, How – Webinar – FREE

Join to learn why you should consider e-commerce for your business and how you can easily get started.

 

November 14 – 2 pm to 4 pm - Understanding QuickBooks Online – Webinar - FREE

Accounting in the cloud is becoming more prevalent in today’s world. This free seminar offers an in-depth overview of QuickBooks Online.


November 15 – 1 pm to 4 pm - Small Business Information Forum – with a focus on social, green and youth businesses – Webinar – FREE

Are you interested in developing your markets and learning more about available support services? Procurement Assistance Canada, National Capital Region, invites you to a virtual Small Business Information Forum with a focus on social, green and youth businesses

 

November 15 - 10 am to 11 am - Understanding Financial Statements for Small Business Owners – Webinar - FREE

This financial literacy webinar will help to review and understand financial statements for small businesses.

 

November 17 - 9:30 am to 11 am - WSIB: Laws & Regulations for Small Businesses – Webinar - FREE

Join Enterprise Toronto in this free webinar provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, which will explain how to keep you workplace healthy and safe and in compliance with health and safety laws.

 

November 20 – 9 am to 10 am - AI Blog Writing for Beginners: Your Path to Engaging Content and Increased Traffic! – Webinar – Free

Join Mickey Anderson to embark on a journey of creating captivating blog posts that not only engage your audience but also boost your website traffic. No more staring at blank screens—learn simple AI tools and tactics to make your blogs shine!


November 20 - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - T2 Corporation Tax Literacy Seminar – Webinar - FREE

The presentation is geared towards small incorporated businesses and will provide participants with the basic principles and resources needed to navigate the tax system.

 

November 21 - 9 am to 10 am - Mental Health Support for Entrepreneurs – Webinar - FREE

Join the Mental Health Commission of Canada to learn about the mental health challenges faced by entrepreneurs and supports available to you.

 

November 21 – 9 am to 10:30 am - Getting Started with Audio Branding – Webinar - FREE

Today how you sound is as important as how you look! Kingston Economic Development, in partnership with SoundWise, will host this workshop to help business owners start thinking about how much sound they’re actually putting out, and how it can be leveraged to grow their brand.


November 22 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 pm - New Exporters to Border States (NEBS) – Webinar - FREE

The Government of Ontario, in collaboration with the Trade Commissioner Service, is hosting a webinar which will be of interest to Ontario companies in diverse sectors interested in entering and/or expanding their current business in the US market.


November 22 - 9:30 am to 10:30 am - Take Charge of Your Organization’s Finances – Webinar- FREE

Are you a business owner looking to enhance your financial management skills and secure the financial future of your organization? Join this engaging and informative workshop designed to empower you with the knowledge and strategies needed to take control of your organization’s finances.


November 22 - 10 am to 11 am - Growth and Expansion: How to Best Grow Your Business – Webinar - FREE

CPA Canada will show you the financial implications of growth on a business and how to analyze and plan for it.

 

November 22 - 2 pm to 3 pm - Google Advertising: The Free & The Paid (Virtual) – Webinar - FREE

Learn more about using Google Business Profile and Google Ads and how to make them work for your business.


November 23 - 10 am to 12 pm - Staying Secure Online: e-Commerce & Cyber-Security Awareness – Webinar – FREE


This webinar introduces cybersecurity to small online businesses, discusses the challenges, and shares best practices for securing your business from cyber-attacks.

 

November 23 - 9 am to 10:30 am - Know Your Numbers: Understanding Your Financial Statements – Webinar - FREE

In this 90-minute session, you will learn about the important financial tools that will help you grow your business profitably & sustainably.

 

November 27 – 9:30 am to 11:30 am - CRA Webinar: Small Business and Self-Employed Individuals – Webinar - FREE

If you have tax related questions, here is your chance to get them answered.

This webinar is held by CRA Professionals, and will cover business tax deductions, common tax errors, helpful tools and services offered by CRA, and general bookkeeping and best practices.

 

November 28 to December 12 (3 Modules) – 9:30 am to 11 am - First Steps in Exporting – Webinar - FREE

In this three-part series, trade experts from the Government of Ontario and professional service providers will guide you through everything you need to know to get started in global markets:

  • Module 1: Export Readiness, Market Research and Market Entry Strategy Tuesday, November 28
  • Module 2: Trade Finance, Freight Logistics and Digital Asset Protection Tuesday, December 5
  • Module 3: International Distribution, Trade Events and eCommerce Tuesday, December 12

 

November 28 - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - The Importance of Paid Advertising in a Digital Space – Webinar - FREE

In this webinar, the Digital Service Squad from Toronto will share key insights into Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads.


November 29 - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM - New Exporters of Technologies and Services to the U.S. (NETSUS) – Webinar - FREE

The Ontario government, in partnership with the Trade Commissioner Service, is pleased to host a new exporter preparation session built for Ontario technology and services companies.


November 29 - 10 am to 11 am - Getting Money: What Lenders and Investors Want – Webinar - FREE

CPA Canada will help you find out what information is used to evaluate a loan request and the steps to prepare for a presentation to lenders

 

November 30 - 10 am to 12 pm - Business Planning for Small Business – Webinar - FREE

Learn all about business planning to put your best foot forward when developing your small business or start-up.

 

December 4 – 9 am to 10 am - Unlock Online Sales: 5 Steps to Transform Your Website into a Sales Machine! – Webinar – FREE

Join Mickey Anderson and discover the five easy steps to optimize your website for maximum conversions. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, these strategies will take your online sales to new heights.


December 6 - 10 am to 11 am - Do's and Don'ts when crossing the U.S. border – Webinar - FREE

The Government of Ontario, in partnership with the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency, invites Ontario SMEs for a free one-hour webinar about the “Do’s and Don’ts” that must be observed if you are going to successfully move your goods across the border.

Do you have an upcoming Business Event or Workshop you would like included in our newsletter? Contact us, we would love to include it!

Submit Event

The Grenville Community Futures Initiative provides non-repayable funding to support community economic development projects up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $3000. The grant supports projects that:

  • address strategic economic development priorities;
  • support the business community;
  • have a significant, measurable impact;
  • demonstrate collaboration with community economic development partners;
  • support community capacity for economic development.


Eligible Applicants

  • Not for profit organizations operating within Grenville County;
  • Business Improvement Areas located in Grenville County;
  • Municipalities located within or comprising Grenville County.


Eligible Projects

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

  • marketing and promotional activities;
  • tourism initiatives;
  • seminars/workshops;
  • technology and innovation projects;
  • small-scale minor capital projects;
  • research projects, feasibility studies and business plans.

Ineligible Projects

  • Projects that benefit a single business;
  • Projects whose primary impact is outside of Grenville County.*
Learn More

Are you an entrepreneur looking to transform your idea into a thriving business or grow your newly launched small business?


Register today for the free, virtual, three-part Rock My Business workshop series, presented by Futurpreneur and RBC Future Launch. The series provides you with the tools to develop your idea, formalize your business plan and create a viable cashflow—all while connecting you with fellow entrepreneurs across Canada.


Learn More Here.

Launch Lab’s Amplify program accelerates and scales innovative Eastern Ontario companies selling into both business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) markets regional, nationally or internationally.


As an intensive, personalized 6-month program, participants work with Launch Lab’s Advisors to create a tailored and actionable growth plan, designed to address specific growth challenges.


Learn More Here.



Ontario Centre of Innovation - Digitalization Competence Centre


The Digitalization Competence Centre (DCC) is Ontario’s knowledge centre focused on driving the digital modernization of Ontario's small businesses.


DCC has two program streams to support small businesses in the adoption and implementation of digital technology. Both Streams provide a mix of funding and advisor support to help small businesses achieve their goals.


DIGITAL MODERNIZATION AND ADOPTION PLAN (DMAP) STREAM


The Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP) program supports Ontario small businesses to better understand their organization’s technology needs, guide their digital transformation decision-making, and optimize their technology investments.


TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM STREAM


The Technology Demonstration Program supports Ontario small businesses that have completed a DMAP project to adopt and implement the digital technology identified in their DMAP, accelerating growth of the SME, while supporting the commercialization of Made-in-Ontario digital technologies.


Learn More


Ongoing Public Funding Sources

Grenville CFDC is a community-based not-for-profit funded by the Federal Government to provide business loans and advice in Grenville County, including Prescott.


Click the logo above to visit their website and learn more.

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a Crown Corporation that offers loans, capital investments, and advice to Canada's Small- and Medium- Sized Businesses.


Click the logo above to visit their website and learn more.

Export Development Canada (EDC) is a Crown Corporation offering advice, financial solutions, equity, insurance, and connections for export-oriented businesses to help them navigate foreign markets.


Click the logo above to visit their website and learn more.

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Visit the Town of Prescott Business Directory

Learn more about available Industrial and Commercial Properties

Town of Prescott Economic Development & Tourism Department Staff

Dana Valentyne

Economic Development Officer

dvalentyne@prescott.ca

613-925-2812 Ext: 6221

Justin St. Pierre

Business Development Officer

jstpierre@prescott.ca

613-925-2812 Ext: 6222

Taylor Prosser

Digital Main Street Coordinator

tprosser@prescott.ca

613-803-1915 

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