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Ontario Tourism Recovery Program

The Ontario Tourism Recovery Program is a $100 million fund that will support tourism businesses that have experienced a loss of at least 50 per cent of eligible revenue in 2020-21 compared to 2019. Program funding will help successful applicants prepare to reopen safely, develop innovative tourism products, retain and create tourism jobs, and support tourism recovery in their region and throughout Ontario.

Successful recipients will have the flexibility to apply funds to any eligible expenses and do what makes the most sense for their businesses. Expenses could include reopening and operating costs such as staff salaries and maintenance, health and safety measures for visitors and workers, tourism product and experience development, or marketing.

Applications will open on October 13, 2021. For additional information and eligibility criteria please visit the Ontario Tourism Recovery Program page.

Starter Company Plus Now Open for Applications

The Niagara Falls Small Business Enterprise Centre’s popular entrepreneurship program is back and now open for applications. If you are an entrepreneur over the age of 18 with a new business or existing business less than two years in operation, you could qualify to receive:

• Training in business plan writing, marketing and small business finance

• Mentorship from local entrepreneurs and professionals

• Networking opportunities with small business owners

• The opportunity to pitch for a grant of up to $5,000

For full details including eligibility and intake form, visit niagarafalls.ca/startercompany

Application deadline is November 7, 2021

Niagara Falls Ryerson Innovation Hub Update to Council

Serge Felicetti, Director of Business Development, provided Council with an update regarding the initiatives of the Niagara Falls Ryerson Innovation Hub (NFRIH). Katlynn Sverko, Manager Satellite Programs Ryerson and Dan Bordenave, Acting CEO, Spark Education Innovation Centre made a presentation to Council regarding the activities at the Niagara Falls Ryerson Innovation Hub, and the great progress they have made over the last two years.

The objectives of NFRIH are:

• Community Economic Development & Diversification

• Improving the socio-economic future of Niagara Falls through innovation and entrepreneurship

• Private-Public partnership using collaboration between community institutions to solve issues such as job creation and youth retention

• Combining innovation, education, and partnerships to develop the workforce

Watch the presentation to Council here.

Digital Main Street - $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants Available

Digital Main Street is a program supported by the Federal and Provincial Government, and delivered locally by the Niagara Falls Small Business Enterprise Centre. With the recent extension announcement Niagara Falls’ business are able to access the expertise of the Digital Service Squad (a team of young savvy digital pros); and apply for a $2,500 digital transformation grant. The grant is open to brick and mortar businesses with less than 50 employees, who have not received a digital transformation grant in the past.

More information about the Digital Transformation Grant is available here or you can contact the Niagara Falls Small Business Enterprise Centre at 905-356-7521 x 5130 / smallbusinessoffice@niagarafalls.ca for additional information. The deadline to apply is October 31st, 2021 (or earlier if funds are exhausted).

Canada Jobs and Growth Fund

The Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. The initiative, valued at $700 million nationally over three years, is being delivered by FedDev Ontario for business/organizations located in Southern Ontario, and includes up to $70 million dedicated to business created after January 2020 that meet eligibility criteria

Eligible Applicants

• Businesses, including co-operatives

• Not-for-profit organizations and community economic development partners

• Indigenous-led organizations and businesses

Eligible Activities

• Support the transition to a green economy

• Foster an inclusive recovery

• Preserve Canada’s competitiveness and future proof small and medium size enterprises through digital adoption

• Strengthen capacity in sectors critical to Canada’s recovery and growth

Financial Support

• Eligible businesses could receive interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50% of authorized costs

• Eligible not-for-profit organizations could receive non-repayable contributions for up to 90% of authorized costs

• Project contributions amount would not normally exceed $10 million

Certain costs may be eligible on a retroactive bases up to 12 months before the receipt of a project application, but no earlier than April 19, 2021. For more information please visit the Jobs and Growth Fund program page.

Site Selection Magazine recognizes Niagara as a top 20 best location in Canada

Niagara is getting noticed as a prime location for companies across the world to start and grow their businesses. In its September 2021 issue, Site Selection Magazine, a publication serving business leaders looking to expand their operations, included Niagara as one Canada’s Top 20 Best Locations.

The magazine noted several of Niagara’s unique features that make it a standout location for business expansion, including:

• Home of Ontario’s first designated Foreign Trade Zone

• 1.86 million people within a 50km commuting radius

• Unmatched access to international airports, shipping lanes and border crossings

• Two leading post-secondary institutions, in Brock University and Niagara College

• Strong emerging sectors including computer systems design, architecture and engineering

You can read the full report by clicking here.

South Niagara Chambers Provide Rapid Testing Kits for Businesses

Any business that is in any of the South Niagara Chambers of Commerce areas that employs 150 people or less can access this program.

Please visit the following link to order your tests.

Once your order is received and packaged, you will be notified by your local Chamber of Commerce. Please do not visit our offices until your time for pickup has been scheduled and you have received your confirmation email.

Each company should assign a Screening Supervisor Designate, who will be the contact person.

If you have multiple businesses, please fill out one form per business.

Business Grand Openings

September was a busy month for new business grand openings in Niagara Falls. Cheryl’s Deli & Subs, Mr Cappuccino News Cafe, Flipped, Advantage Speech Services, and Giant Tiger all opened their doors in September. For more information about each business follow the links below

Cheryl’s Deli and Subs (4912 Victoria Avenue) - Facebook

Mr. Cappuccino News Cafe (4632 Victoria Avenue) - Facebook & Instagram

Flipped Niagara (4424 Montrose Road) - Instragram

Advantage Speech Services (4256 Portage Road, Unit 106) - Website & Instagram

Giant Tiger (7555 Montrose Road) - Website & Instagram

Ontario Launching New Business Registry

Ontario is launching a new Ontario Business Registry on October 19, making it easier, simpler, and more affordable for millions of businesses and not-for-profit corporations to interact with the government. The new online registry will replace out-dated technology, providing people across the province with direct access to government services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the first time ever.

Businesses will now be able to complete over 90 transactions through the new online registry, including registering a new business and dissolving an existing one. 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. When online transactions are completed, users will receive automatic email notices with electronic attachments instead of paper documents. The migration of annual return filings that were previously completed through the Canada Revenue Agency will be available through the Ontario Business Registry, allowing businesses to keep all their important filings in one place.

For more information, click here.