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Haltech Regional Innovation Centre Partners to Support Small Businesses in Halton to Adapt to a More Digital World

by admin | Jun 11, 2020 | Chamber News

JUNE 11, 2020 – BURLINGTON – HALTECH REGIONAL INNOVATION CENTRE

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on businesses of all sizes across the country. In particular, retail-oriented main street businesses have suffered, with stores closed and in-person commerce halted. To regain revenues, many businesses are transitioning from traditional storefronts to online stores to serve more clients and capitalize on new markets.

With Ontario’s economy reopening, the federal and provincial governments have joined together to help small businesses go digital — both to recover and to generate revenue — through a pan-Ontario collaborative project.

Building on Toronto’s foundational investments into Digital Main Street and, most recently, ShopHERE, the federal and provincial governments today announced a $57-million investment that will extend the support to businesses across Ontario. Digital Main Street is a program that helps small main street businesses better promote themselves online and adopt digital tools and technology.

This investment includes $12.2 million from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), targeting support to retail, hospitality and service businesses in Southwestern Ontario. The funds will be used to create digital service teams to help small businesses establish their online presence, implement e-commerce tools and develop digital transformation and digital marketing plans.

The partnership brings together Communitech, Haltech Regional Innovation Centre (Halton), Innovation Guelph (Guelph), Innovation Factory (Hamilton), Innovate Niagara (Niagara), TechAlliance (London) and WETech (Windosor Essex) to deliver a new Futureproofing Businesses program as part of the Digital Main Street Platform. The partners will work to ensure local businesses have access to all Digital Main Street resources — helping them pivot their operations to digital business models in order to regain lost revenue and become more resilient and competitive as the economy recovers.

To carry out this effort in Halton Region, Haltech Regional Innovation Centre is proud to partner with the Region of Halton’s Small Business Centre, Economic Development teams, the Chambers of Commerce and local Business Improvement Areas’s to help small businesses have the resources and support they need to adopt digital technologies to compete now and in the future. “Our effort has been working with innovation businesses to help accelerate their growth and navigate the challenges. Recently, the focus has been on helping them pivot and find the path from survive to thrive during and after the pandemic. We are excited to now be working with FedDev and our Halton partners to add increased support for small businesses in adopting the power of technology,” said Shann McGrail, Executive Director of Haltech.

As one of the leading innovation hubs in Southwestern Ontario, Haltech will work together with its partners to help enterprises from all walks of life to adapt their companies as they focus on recovery. The program will also create job opportunities for students. Over the summer and fall terms, students will gain valuable work experience creating online storefronts, developing digital marketing plans and supporting small businesses as they leverage e-commerce and other digital platforms.

For more information or to apply, visit the Digital Main Street website.

Federal and Provincial Quotes

“As local economies across Ontario reopen, we’re focused on ensuring that our main streets don’t just survive but thrive. These businesses are the backbone of our economy, a source of local jobs – and local pride. Thanks to this major investment, they’ll be able to expand their offerings and seize the many opportunities presented by online commerce. Our message to “Ontario’s small businesses and those whose livelihoods rely on them is clear: we’re working with you to help our economy come back stronger than ever.”

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“In southern Ontario, the stores along downtown streets are critical to a city’s identity. FedDev Ontario and its partners will offer the support these businesses rebuild and retool in the digital world, while providing valuable work experience to students that may have been displaced from other opportunities by the pandemic.”

-Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario)

“Ontario’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and their economic recovery is critical to Ontario’s recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic saw thousands of small businesses across the province close their doors and halt business as many had no ability to shift sales or services online. I am very pleased, that together with Minister Joly and our federal partners, we are providing small businesses with the tools they need to not only adapt to the challenges of today, but to re-establish, recover and flourish throughout this phased reopening and into the future.”

–The Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction

Local Stakeholder Support and Quotes:

Region:

“Halton Region’s Small Business Centre has continued to work with community partners to support local businesses impacted by COVID-19. As the Province starts to reopen and small businesses continue to adjust to new ways of doing business, this funding will provide valuable assistance for those looking to boost their digital presence and support employers as they plan their recovery.”-Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr

Mayors:

“This global pandemic has been difficult on everyone, including our local shops. We’ve all had to find more digital and virtual ways to do the things we’ve been used to doing to carry on. This joint federal and provincial governments’ commitment to help our struggling small businesses thrive digitally is great news and another example of all levels of government working together to help those residents and businesses who need it.” – Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward

“The last few months have put a tremendous strain on the business sector across Ontario. In Milton, our small business owners and retailers have shown their resiliency. The ShopHERE program is one of ways the Town is supporting our business community in Milton. The investment today ensures that even more independent businesses in our community will receive the help they need to move their products and services online.” Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz

Chambers of Commerce:

“The impacts of the global pandemic are being felt by local small businesses and will be felt long after the state of emergency has ended. The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is pleased to partner to offer this timely support to equip small businesses with the necessary tools and resources to adapt to the changing landscape that COVID-19 has brought on. This much needed support is a significant step to prepare our economy for recovery and to ensure the viability of business into the future,” –Carla Y. Nell, President & CEO, Burlington Chamber of Commerce

“Early in the pandemic, many small businesses were thrust into the world of e-commerce, some by choice and some for sheer survival. As we emerge from the shutdown, these same businesses want to now take the time to create a more effective and sophisticated online presence. Digital Main Street will be an invaluable resource” – Scott McCammon, Executive Director, Milton Chamber of Commerce

“The Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see the additional funding for Futureproofing Businesses program targeting our hardest hit sectors: retail, hospitality and services and we look forward to working with Haltech to connect our community to these resources.” – Kathleen Dills, General Manager, Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce

Quick Facts

The Digital Main Street Platform is funded by both the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Support through the Digital Main Street Platform will be offered in three tiers customized to the level of support required by each company to develop or strengthen their online presence. More information on the levels of support is available in the Backgrounder.
The strategic partners involved in this project have a broad reach to tens of thousands of the region’s businesses from all walks of life. They offer a wealth of expertise ranging from business improvement, technology, innovation, marketing and economic development. Therefore, they are best-suited to deliver this widespread support and make the greatest possible impact across the region. Read more about this pivotal project.

About Haltech:

Haltech is a not for profit Regional Innovation Centre funded by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade. Haltech provides entrepreneurial education, advisory services and strategic connections to technology start up and scale up companies in Halton Region to help them accelerate growth and bring innovations to market. Since it’s inception, Haltech has worked with over 800 technology and innovation companies. In its last fiscal year, clients of Haltech generated over $63 million dollars of revenue, created 428 jobs, and raised $21.5m in capital.

Contact

Shann McGrail – Executive Director, Haltech
Shann.mcgrail@haltech.ca
905 302 3519

Now more than ever we need to support small businesses in Burlington

by admin | Apr 1, 2020 | Chamber News

(April 1, 2020, Burlington) The need has never been greater as our local economy continues to be dramatically weighed down by the daily impacts of COVID-19. Some small businesses have made the decision to close completely, others are working in reduced capacity. In times of unprecedented hardship our small businesses and independents often experience the brunt of this crisis. Your assistance is needed.

Small businesses are an essential part of our community. They are risk-takers by nature; many are family owned and many are residents of the community where their business is located. They are the entrepreneurs that hire our children, sponsor our teams, donate for our events – they are our neighbours.

Team Burlington, which is a collective of the combined talents of The Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Downtown Business Association, Aldershot Village BIA and Tourism Burlington, encourages residents to support small businesses online from the safety of their home. They have made seven sugg estions:

Shop small businesses online: even though their doors may be closed, many businesses are still offering on-line sales and incentives with no-contact shipping/delivery
Order takeout or delivery: show your support to restaurants/eateries that are still offering takeaway options by ordering at home
Purchase a gift card for future use: you may have to wait to use it but it provides cash to the business now when they need it most
Submit a positive review online for your favourite business
Connect online by following a few more local businesses and commenting on their posts
Attend an online fitness workout: many fitness providers are offering classes from home virtually
Support a local not-for-profit/charity: to the extent that you are able, please donate directly to local not-for-profits and charities to ensure that critical support continues to be available to those most vulnerable in our community

Brian Dean, Executive Director of the Burlington Downtown Business Association emphasizes “Shopping locally during this challenging time for Burlington business is more than a good idea, it is a necessity to help keep these small businesses flourishing”.

The days, weeks and months ahead are uncertain. These are your neighbours. This is your community. Small businesses need your support, now, more than ever. We’re all in this together.

Media Contacts

Samantha Statham
Marketing & Events Manager, Burlington Downtown Business Association
samantha@burlingtondowntown.ca 905.407.4057

Kelly Harris
Marketing Specialist, Tourism Burlington
Kelly.harris@burlington.ca 416.726.8359

Burlington’s Business Support Organizations Come Together as Team Burlington to Support Businesses Through COVID-19

by admin | Mar 31, 2020 | Chamber News

(March, 30, Burlington) – The Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Economic Development, Burlington Downtown Business Association, Aldershot Village BIA, and Tourism Burlington have joined forces to offer support and help Burlington’s Business community navigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

While the Team Burlington name is not new, COVID-19 has renewed the group’s collaborative mission to keep the business community informed and ensure relevant and timely information is distributed as soon as it becomes available. “Right now, it’s about pooling resources for the collective benefit of the business community,” explained Anita Cassidy, Executive Director of Burlington Economic Development. “That means daily scrum meetings, sharing information, engaging subject matter experts and government officials, and asking the tough questions to ensure we know what businesses need now, and what they’ll need in the future to come out strong on the other side.”

The first thing Team Burlington did to support businesses during COVID-19 was to launch a one-stop-shop resource for businesses to turn to for information, resources and tools. With so much information rolling out every day, the website, which is hosted on burlingtonchamber.com, aims to provide the latest government updates, toolkits, support programs, economic relief information and resources all in place.

Carla Nell, President and CEO of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce also spoke to the power of working together.

“Our membership already trusts that we’ll take a strong stance to advocate for their interests. Through this team approach, we’ll be able to do even more and extend our reach further to ensure all businesses of all sizes and industries feel supported and heard during these difficult times, and to position them for recovery in the longer term.”

Team Burlington is planning a series of COVID-19 virtual business support forums to give business leaders the opportunity to ask questions and hear from subject matter experts and key government officials at the local and regional levels, as well as Provincial and Federal. One will also be dedicated to small business support. The first forum, dedicated to local and regional support, will take place on April 2 at 10 am. More details and registration information are available at burlingtonchamber.com.

The global COVID-19 pandemic is putting substantial pressure on the Burlington business community. Mandatory closures, necessary social distancing measures, layoffs and supply chain disruptions are putting immense pressure on businesses of all sizes. However, it is Team Burlington’s hope that through communication, advocacy, and the right relief measures, Burlington’s business community will remain steadfast in its short-term and long-term recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.

Media Contacts

Lindsay Stevenson
Strategic Communications Coordinator, Burlington Chamber of Commerce
lindsay@burlingtonchamber.com
289-208-2844

Claire Green
Manager, Marketing & Attraction, Burlington Economic Development
Claire.Green@burlington.ca
907-407-8840

Team Burlington Supporting Business During COVID-19

by admin | Mar 13, 2020 | Chamber News

Burlington’s business organizations (Team Burlington) which include Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Downtown Business Association, Burlington Economic Development, Aldershot BIA and Tourism Burlington are taking a coordinated approach in engaging and supporting Burlington’s business community. We are constantly monitoring developments with COVID-19 and the impact locally. Over the next three weeks we will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of both employees and businesses following the City of Burlington guidelines and the Government of Canada – Risk-Informed Decision Making for Mass Gatherings During COVID- 19.

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce staff will continue to be available during regular business hours. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Chamber staff, via email or phone. Timely and relevant information will be updated frequently and made available on our website, through targeted e-blasts and on our social channels.

For information on upcoming business events that may be rescheduled inline with the mass gathering risk framework please visit the individual websites following the links below:

Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on business and policy support measures

In Canada, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance are closely monitoring the virus’ impact on Canadian jobs, workers, entrepreneurs, and economic growth.

Linked here are some helpful documents:

Shopping Local in Challenging Times

During this time of uncertainty, most agree that the local economy will be weighed down by the impact of COVID-19. The impacts on small businesses and independents can be particularly heavy as we practice social distancing.

Small businesses are the heart beat of our local economy; they invest in our community and our neighbourhoods with the hope that the community will give back to them with the same vigor. These are the entrepreneurs that hire our children, sponsor our sports teams and community groups – they are your neighbours.

Shopping locally during this challenging time for Burlington is more than a “good idea” it is a necessity to help keep our local businesses sustainable and flourishing.

As our community makes a conscious effort to minimize exposure to large crowds and public spaces with a view to minimizing the spread of COVID-19, consider patronizing and supporting your favourite, neighbourhood independent business.

Our business community has proven to be a resilient and adaptable group that champions innovation. Now it is the Burlington public’s turn to create innovative ways to support them.

Team Burlington is dedicated to supporting our business community while placing the highest level of concern for everyone’s health and safety. We appreciate your ongoing support.

Thank you,

Team Burlington

2020 Ontario Economic Report

by admin | Feb 26, 2020 | Chamber News

Supporting Economic Prosperity in Communities Across Ontario.

The Ontario Economic Report (OER) is the landmark research platform of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), presenting the collective voice of our 60,000 members in 135 communities across the province. This research highlights the year ahead and year that was, offering a unique lens on the economy.

The data contained within the 2020 OER reflects the theme of the OCC’s annual Ontario Economic Summit by exploring Ontario’s competitiveness throughout the following three sections. We have gauged the temperature of business through the Business Confidence Survey, benchmarked small business competitiveness with the Small Business Friendliness Indicator, and examined regional growth projections in the Economic Outlook.

Click to tweet: As the @OntarioCofC’s landmark report, the 2020 Ontario Economic Report provides key insights into the province’s diverse business community with the goal of informing future public policy to create a more competitive and prosperous Ontario. Read #OER2020 today. www.occ.ca/oer