Economic Development and Tourism News |
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Trades Training Institute launches new programs |
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No-cost trades training will educate up to 200 local students a year |
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Georgina Trades Training Inc. has provided skills and certificates to more than 11,000 people since they opened more than 12 years ago to find employment and/or move onto full apprenticeship programs.
The new Skilled Trades Institute marks a new chapter for GTTI. It will provide tuition-free training for up to 200 students a year to build modular bungalows that will be offered as affordable housing through agencies such as Habitat for Humanity.
Applications are now open with training to begin in January 2021.
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Strengthening Georgina's largest asset: Lake Simcoe |
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The Town is preparing a Waterfront Parks Master Plan that will focus on enhancing existing assets and create the opportunity for new ones.
The first part of the plan focuses on parks along the south shore of Lake Simcoe – Willow Beach Park, Franklin Beach Conservation Area, De La Salle Beach Park, Jackson’s Point Harbour Marina, Malone Wharf and Bonnie Park, Holmes Point Park, and, Mossington Wharf and the Black River to Sutton.
A series of virtual meetings are being held on Oct. 14 and 15 to discuss each park zone. You will need to register to join one or more of the virtual meetings.
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Business Retention & Recovery |
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To date, 94 businesses have been assisted with a total of $295,362 in grant funding provided. With funding still available until the end of the year, businesses are encouraged to contact our office to inquire if any municipal grants or assistance programs can help with recovery efforts.
We recognize a second wave will place additional strain on our business community before year-end, which is why our ERT is strategizing other supports to assist local businesses, which may come in the form of expertise and or financial assistance.
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Local non-profit organization provides financial support to help businesses with fixed operating costs |
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If you're a small-to-medium-sized business impacted by COVID-19 and you've been unable to access federal support, you may be eligible for the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund through South Lake Community Futures. |
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We need your feedback to assist York Region’s partners in creating revitalization solutions for our local businesses. The aim is to ensure community businesses are well equipped to maintain clients, jobs and revenue in any economic storm and continue to operate and thrive. Please fill out this short survey by Oct. 6.
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Emergency program for downtown businesses provides financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic |
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Dr. Megan Ghorbanpour, the owner and dentist at Sutton West Dental in Sutton’s BIA, opened the doors to her practice in June 2017 after working in the area for five years. She liked the Town’s vibe and wanted to choose a small community that would predominantly bring new patients via word-of-mouth.
The business employs eight team members with one administration position recently added to help out with COVID-19 protocols. Although the office was closed to most of its patients for approximately two months, it still saw emergencies. Now, with increased safety measures, patient visits are close to where they were this time last year before the pandemic hit.
Dr. Megan says her patients feel confident due to all of the measures they’ve put into place. There is a screening process in which patients need to sign in, hand sanitizer and masks on-hand, and temperature checks for everyone entering the office. They’ve also installed Plexiglas and invested in air purifiers for every room.
To help cover the cost of the air purifiers, Dr. Megan applied for the Economic Recovery Team’s COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Grant. It was created to help businesses in Georgina’s three identified business improvement areas in Jackson’s Point, Keswick and Sutton cover renovation or technology costs related to the pandemic.
The grant covers up to 50 per cent to a maximum of $3,000 per business for renovations and can cover things such as Plexiglas or new walls. It can also cover up to 50 per cent to a maximum of $1,500 per business for technology investments such as online shopping or communication software.
Dr. Megan is grateful for the program and that her upgrades have helped build trust with her patients during the pandemic. To learn more about the Town’s economic recovery grants and all other grants/rebates offered through the Town, visit, georgina.ca/grants.
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Are you a local business that has opened, reopened, applied for grants, or had to pivot because of COVID-19? If so, we want to hear from you. Our business success stories are featured on our Facebook account, on our blog and in some cases, in our print newsletters. To learn more, email our team at [email protected]
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Provincial funding opportunity for non-profit organizations
Ontario is investing $83 million in the non-profit sector through the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It will provide between $5,000 and $150,000 to non-profit organizations that are looking ahead to recovery planning with the aim of rebuilding their capacity. Learn more.
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Funding opportunity for women-led businesses
The RE3: Rebuild, Reopen, Revive program is offering women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in southern Ontario a one-time, non-repayable performance-based contribution of up to $5,000. Learn more.
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Digital Main Street programs help businesses go online for little to no cost
Digital Main Street programs help small businesses better promote themselves online and adopt digital tools and technology. Learn more.
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The Discover Georgina Scavenger Hunt is back on Oct.17
This event enables participants to get out and explore all of Georgina safely by following a range of clues. Locations include landmarks, attractions, historical sites and local businesses. Register.
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Jennifer Anderson, Executive Director of the Georgina Chamber of Commerce, hosts local businesses and government representatives on Rogers TV to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 and how they are coping. Watch already aired episodes
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Disclaimer: Listings are provided to the Town from brokers, real estate agents, and various real estate websites. The Town of Georgina assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information shown, and does not make any representation, warranties or guarantees of any kind in relation to the listings in this e-newsletter or the properties described therein. Please contact the real estate agent or other contact person identified on the listing to verify all information.
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Georgina Economic Development and Tourism
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