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The York Region Agriculture and Agri-Food Update newsletter shares highlights from York Region's business community, including news, upcoming events, new funding programs and more.
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BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY NEWS
FUNDING PROGRAMS AND COVID-19 SUPPORTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
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BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY NEWS
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Newsletter Update
If you thought that this edition of the York Region Agriculture and Agri-Food Update looks different, you'd be right. We've updated our look as part of a broader initiative by York Region Economic Development to further harmonize our communications efforts. This will ensure a consistent experience across our channels, while also creating a one-stop shop for information on YorkLink.ca. This includes the newly-created agriculture and agri-food industry page, which you can find at yorklink.ca/agrifood.
You will still be receiving the same great information and resources you've come to expect, including business and community news, COVID-19 funding programs and supports, announcements, upcoming events and much more.
Still have questions? Contact us at agri-food@york.ca.
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Ontario Government Provides Update on Stay-at-Home Order
The Ontario Government announced that Public Health Units will begin to gradually return to the colour-coded COVID-19 Response Framework over the coming days and weeks. It is expected that the current stay-at-home order will apply in York Region until Monday, February 22, 2021.
The government also updated the framework to allow all retail to stay open, even in the Grey-Lockdown zone, with public health and safety measures in place.
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York Region Food and Beverage Accelerator Program Open for Applications
The York Region Food and Beverage Accelerator Program kicked off last month with the 2021 cohort open for applications. The program provides food and beverage companies with the tools needed to grow and scale their business. The program is led by York University’s YSpace, a Markham-based innovation hub, and delivered in partnership with The Regional Municipality of York and the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Applications for the next cohort are now open until March 5, 2021.
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How to Start a Home-Based Food Business
The Ontario government is supporting home-based food businesses by providing a guide on how to start a home-based food business, which includes an overview of public health requirements that need to be followed as a food operator. To further support these entrepreneurs, the government has also made regulatory changes to allow more flexibility to sell low-risk, home-prepared foods.
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Know a Frontline Food Hero? Nominate Them!
Frontline food workers are the everyday heroes keeping York Region families fed with safe, delicious, high-quality products. Thank you for your hard work!
We want the people of Ontario to know about your efforts and to celebrate the accomplishments of you and your co-workers. Nominate someone you know who deserves special recognition as a frontline food hero.
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King Township's Providence Hill Farm Featured on Thriving Farmer Podcast
The latest Thriving Farmer Podcast proudly features Lex and Beth Antoinc of Providence Hill Farm. Providence Hill Farm is a family run regenerative vegetable farm nestled in the heart of King Township between Nobleton and Schomberg, Ontario. Their unique regenerative methods focus on improving soil health by increasing organic matter using cultivation methods that do not disturb the soil structure.
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Ontario Delivering Support to Agricultural and Horticultural Societies
The Ontario government is providing $5 million to support the province's Agricultural and Horticultural Societies impacted by the pandemic. The funding is flowing through the Agricultural and Horticultural Support and Recovery Funding Initiative.
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Top 15 York Region Business Community News Stories
Despite a challenging year, many businesses across York Region continued to grow and achieve success in 2020. Being mindful of the difficulties still impacting our business community, we took the time to highlight the success of those companies who adapted, shifted, and proved their resilience last year.
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FUNDING PROGRAMS AND COVID-19 SUPPORTS
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Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program Applications Now Open
The Government of Canada announced in a new program that helps hardest-hit businesses access additional financing, through interest-free loans. If you are a Canadian business that needs additional cash flow to cover operational costs, you may be eligible for the HASCAP Guarantee through your financial institution.
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Ontario Small Business Support Grant Applications Now Open
The Ontario Small Business Support Grant is intended to help small businesses (including sole proprietorships) in Ontario that are required to close or significantly restrict services under Ontario’s provincewide shutdown effective December 26, 2020.
Eligible businesses can receive between $10,000 and $20,000. Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with funding up to a maximum of $20,000 to help with revenue losses expected as a result of the provincewide shutdown.
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Central Counties Tourism Business Support Program
Do you own a private or not-for-profit tourism-oriented business in the hospitality and recreation sectors in York Region? The Central Counties Tourism 2021 Business Support Funding Program is open for applications!
The program will reimburse up to 50% of eligible paid expenses (to a maximum of $15,000) incurred beginning April 1, 2020.
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Bioenterprise SmartGrowth Program
The SmartGrowth Program provides eligible enterprises in southern Ontario within the agriculture, agri-food, or agri-technology sectors with up to $100,000 in acceleration funding to support scale-up expansion projects and coaching and mentorship services. The funding is offered to innovative companies that are creating significant economic impacts for southern Ontario and Canada.
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York Region Voluntary Isolation Centre and Financial Supports
York Region has opened an isolation centre for residents who cannot safely self-isolate away from others in their household. There is no cost for eligible residents to stay at the Isolation Centre and the stay is entirely voluntary. Employers are encouraged to share this information with employees to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
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COVID-19 Business Resources & Funding Programs Overview
To help you make sense of all the available funding programs and resources, we continue to update our COVID-19 Business Resource page that contains information on supports announced by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as, events, and other pertinent information to impacted businesses.
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Primary Funding Support Programs:
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Fireside Chat with Vincenzo Guzzo from Dragon's Den by YSpace
February 22, 2021
This exclusive fireside chat will feature entertainment mogul Vince Guzzo, aka Mr. Sunshine, President & CEO of 'Cinémas Guzzo', and Dragon from CBC's Dragons' Den! He will be taking questions from the audience, so come prepared.
The fireside chat will be followed by a rapid-fire pitch session featuring 6 ventures from our Food & Beverage Accelerator program. The pitches will be 3 minutes long and Mr. Sunshine will have 5 minutes to ask questions and provide his feedback.
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Canada's Agriculture Day
February 23, 2021
Canada’s Agriculture Day is a time to celebrate and thank the hardworking farmers across the country. While this year may look different, it’s important to recognize the day in your own way. Whether you cook an all-Canadian meal, support a local restaurant, or simply thank a farmer, let’s all put our forks up and celebrate Canada’s Agriculture Day.
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Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario Conference 2021
February 15 to 19, 2021
Back as a virtual conference, this year's event features experts and innovators in driving soil health, balancing plant health and return on investment, and an overall theme of "Roots Rule - Understanding how roots can drive ROI".
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Restaurants Canada Show: Ontario Pavilion
February 28 to March 3, 2021
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and Restaurants Canada are pleased to provide Ontario food and beverage manufacturers the opportunity to promote their local products within the Ontario Pavilion. This Featured Area connects you with international buyers as well as chefs, caterers, distributors, brokers, restaurateurs and foodservice operators.
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North and Eastern Ontario Local Food Virtual Conference
March 10 to 31, 2021
Join the County of Renfrew and OMAFRA for a series of free webinars exploring diverse perspectives on local food. The goal of these sessions is to explore the hard-won lessons learned from a global pandemic that can help local food businesses and organizations strengthen as a result.
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Food Safety Best Practices with Maple Lodge Farms
February 25, 2021
The Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) of Canada is hosting a Zoom Event with Maple Lodge Farms on February 25 at 12:30 PM. Representatives from Maple Lodge Farms will share insights, experiences, and thoughts on the evolvement and ongoing improvement of their food safety programs.
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York Link | York Region Economic Development
The York Link team is here to help and are committed to supporting local businesses. We are still providing business advisory and consultation services, information on business resources, support for startups, and more in a virtual capacity at this time.
Get in touch with us:
Website: yorklink.ca/agrifood
Email: agri-food@york.ca
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