COVID-19 Business Support
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Happy Canada Day!
Celebrate by enjoying what people from around the world come to see and enjoy.
Discover the many outdoor attractions and places to eat and drink our local flavours while enjoying a little extra elbow room as we keep health and safety in mind.
Take pride in supporting
local businesses. Please check directly with businesses to ensure their operating hours and availability.
COVID-19 Business Updates
Continue to follow
www.investleedsgrenville.com/covid19 for the latest information on financial support, health and safety, surveys along with the business news on COVID-19. For business assistance call 613-342-3840 ext. 5365 or
email.
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Economic Development eNews | June 30, 2020
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Local Businesses and COVID-19
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Restaurant patio owners are ready
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Owners of restaurants and bars with patios are welcoming customers back to experience their food, drinks and, in some cases, entertainment in open air environments throughout Leeds Grenville.
"People are ready to come out and we're ready to safely entertain them in a safe place with cold beer and fresh food," says Windmill Brewery owner Sean Lucey.
Sean's also happy to see patios can now have live music while following the Health Unit guidelines. "That just makes my day and makes it worthwhile for people to come to Johnstown for a nice time on our patio," says Sean. Reservations can be made via
email
so that staff can plan times and spacing. Check out their
website
and
Facebook page
for upcoming performers.
Restaurants, bars, food trucks, wineries, cideries, breweries and distilleries, are now open for dining in outdoor areas, such as patios, converted curbsides, parking lots and adjacent premises. Establishments must take appropriate measures to ensure physical distancing of at least two metres between patrons from different households, including:
- Using reservations
- Limiting the number of patrons allowed in the outdoor space.
- Ensuring enough space between tables
- Access to indoor facilities is limited to patio/outdoor dining area access, food pickup, payment, washrooms or other health and safety purposes
Kathleen Allen, President and GM of
Rockport Boat Line
, says their waterfront Tiki Bar and
Cornwall's Pub
restaurant have seen a steady stream of customers since reopening a few weeks ago.
"We've had a tremendous amount of community support, and that allows us to hire back a lot of our staff," says Kathleen. All staff received extensive training before the reopening. Next they are all hoping for good weather this summer.
Cornwall's Pub and the Tiki Bar are open 7 days a week from noon to 8 p.m. They can accommodate parties of up to 10 from the same social bubble but they encourage groups of 4.
"It's a great way to start because we have to start somewhere. We're really fortunate to have the outdoor space and this view," says Kathleen. Cornwall's Pub continues to serve take-out food as well.
The
Brigadoon Restaurant
in Oxford Mills is famous for its historic building and stunning British interior. What is shining right now, however, is its picturesque garden patio. Owner Cheryl Mackie says the pandemic has hurt her and many other businesses hard but she is up for the challenge.
"I'm trying to do everything I can," says Cheryl of her desire to continue to serve her regular and new customers. "There is nothing you can compare this to," she says. They continue to do take-out orders and also sell quality bread, fresh vegetable and frozen meat packages, along with meat pies and desserts. They even offer "Afternoon Tea to Go." Learn how to order or make a reservation on their
Facebook page
and
website
. The Brigadoon patio is open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 7:45 p.m.
The Cove Country Inn
in Westport is welcoming locals and travellers to their patio 7 days a week. "We want to have people excited about coming back to Westport and The Cove," says Manager Seamus Cowan.
"We're definitely lucky to have the space that we have. We're looking at it positively and being as creative as we can be," says Seamus. Famous for its regular performers and Blues on the Rideau during the winter and spring, Seamus says they now have the go ahead to have musicians on the patio. He is also looking at adding more outdoor seating - possibly a tent by the waterfront - and hosting larger events when possible.
"We're still transitioning and are reliant on good weather but even on rainy days we offer our take-out service," says Seamus. Reservations for the Cove patio can be made by calling 613-273-3636 or via
email
.
These are just a few patios within the United Counties welcoming customers. Check out all of your favourite
Leeds Grenville restaurants
for their hours and services.
Please continue to support eateries without patios or outdoor seating by taking advantage of their take-out food services. It helps everyone when you support local business.
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Top feature photo: Windmill Brewery's Sean Lucey says customers are coming to his patio near Johnstown knowing there is safe distancing.
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Above photos: Cornwall's Pub hostess Emily Ballantyne and a view of the Cornwall's Pub and Tiki Bar waterfront tables.
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Above photo: The Brigadoon Restaurant 's garden patio in Oxford Mills near Kemptville. Below: The patio at The Cove Country Inn in Westport.
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Help honour a community leader in economic development
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Individuals, councils and economic development committees are being asked to help identify candidates for the Bill Thake Memorial Award for Economic Development Leadership. Before heading off for summer vacation, talk to your colleagues and community members about who is deserving of this award in your municipality. Many volunteers help to improve the economic vitality of Leeds Grenville. Our goal is to honour them for their ongoing efforts.
If you have someone in mind within the 10 member municipalities of Leeds Grenville, consider putting their name forward. You can connect with us at
econdev@uclg.on.ca
or call Deanna Clark at 613-342-3840, ext. 5360. For more information and nomination forms in both Word and PDF visit our
Summit 2020 webpage.
The award will be presented at the annual Economic Development Summit on November 20, 2020.
Deadline: Friday, September 25th, 2020, 4 p.m.
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Marlene Thake, second from left, helped present the 2019 Bill Thake award to Debbie Wilson, centre, of North Grenville, and congratulated nominees Ken Davies, left, and Terri Dawson, right.
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Workshops, Seminars and Webinar Library
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Webinar - Local Retail Panel
You can now watch the recording of the June 19
th
Q&A session featuring 5 local retailers discussing the strategies and pivots that have been most successful in their business. This session provides an inspiring look at and ideas on how small businesses can take action and be resilient in the face of COVID-19. The Panelists include: Lynn Libbos (Echo Clothing, Brockville), Shelley Mitchell (To Be Continued Consignment, Kemptville), Bruce Perron (The Affinity Gallery, Merrickville), JoAnne Sytsma (The Village Store, Athens) and Janet Campbell (Mrs. McGarrigles Fine Food Shop, Merrickville).
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Locals First - Attracting Ontario Tourists Through Innovative Partnerships and Itineraries
RTO 9 is partnering with Eva Gutsche, from STEM Consulting, to assist tourism operators in the region in strategies to attract local tourists. This webinar will help businesses understand who their short-term Ontario-based customer could be, how to adjust product offering and how to create unique local itineraries to appeal to that market.
Webinar discussion points include:
- Working with community partners to fill gaps and create rich memorable, community-based, itineraries
- Shifting customer type - moving towards a more local & regional traveller
- Targeting your best fit - short-haul travellers - family, couples, outdoor adventure, culinary
- Considering COVID-19 guidelines in programs and itineraries
- Marketing your offering - focus on creating a plan
WHEN:
TODAY, Tuesday, June 30, 2-3 p.m.
COST:
Free
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Reputation Management - Building Trust During a Crisis
Beattie Tartan’s Managing Director, Deirdre Campbell, will talk through the steps tourism and hospitality businesses should take to build and maintain a trusted brand image during a global crisis. Tourism partners are confronted with new operational policies and processes that can be challenged on all fronts. Now is the time to communicate more than ever – with your staff, your suppliers and your customers. Keep your brand top of mind and deal with these challenging situations head on. Authenticity and transparency are key factors to retain guests and visitors and attract new ones. Hosted by RTO9, this webinar will identify factors to retain guests and attract new ones.
WHEN:
Monday, July 6, 2-3 p.m.
COST:
Free
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Service Canada Webinars: COVID-19 Support for Workers, Employers and Service Delivery Partners
- COVID-19 Support for Workers: Review types of Employment Insurance benefits, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, the actions required for maintaining benefits, earnings while on claim and resources to support return to work endeavours. WHEN: Thursdays, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30.
- COVID-19 Support for Employers and Service Delivery Partners. This webinar provides an overview of the work-sharing agreement, special measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, financial support for your employees or clients. WHEN: Tuesdays at 10 a.m., July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28
Sessions are in collaboration with Employment Ontario and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Webinars using WebEx, audio via phone. To register you must send a prefilled email. See our
Workshops and Seminars
page for information.
COST:
Free
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Staying Sane in a Crisis: Mental Wellness for Entrepreneurs
Shulamit Ber Levtov is a social worker, psychotherapist and founder of the Kemptville Stress Relief Centre. She helps entrepreneurs stay sane as they ride the emotional roller coaster of running a business – and that coaster has only gotten bumpier with the rise of COVID-19. In this workshop you will identify the invisible ways you've been affected by this crisis, both cognitively and emotionally, and you will learn tools and principles for managing your own mental health. Hosted by North Grenville Economic Development.
WHEN:
Tuesday, July 7, 7 p.m.
COST:
Free
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Providing Traveller Value As Tourism Slowly Reopens
RTO 9 and Nancy Arsenault, Managing Partner at Tourism Cafe, are partnering for an informative and timely presentation addressing what "traveller value" in the current COVID 19-era means. Tourism operators will need to think differently about what represents value to a traveller today and they will need to be willing to evolve with customer expectations while navigating the reopening phase. Discounting offers may be one option, but it is a slippery slope of less revenue at a time when businesses need revenue more than ever. Join this webinar to gain insight on how to think about and offer value throughout the visitor life cycle. Nancy will share some emerging options from a variety of tourism sectors. Participate in sharing ideas you are trying and or have heard of and learn key takeaways to help navigate the "new normal."
WHEN:
Thursday, July 9, 2-3 p.m.
COST:
Free
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Maximizing Your Online Advertising & Digital Marketing Budget
You don't need a big budget to get noticed on the web - you just need creativity! Savvy businesses are using bootstrap digital marketing techniques to amplify their message online. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn the tricks and tools needed to market your business effectively on a shoestring budget. This webinar is hosted by Digital Main Street.
You’ll learn:
- How to create a basic online marketing strategy and measurement plan that fits for your business size and goals.
- Why email marketing can be a powerful and cost-effective way to grow your business.
- How to get people to sign up for an email list while following best practices and the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation.
- How to take advantage of influencer marketing, affiliate marketing and other ways to generate word-of-mouth.
- How to advertise cost-effectively through Google ads, Facebook ads and other ad networks.
- What free or low-cost graphic design tools to use to create eye-catching online ads.
WHEN:
Tuesday, July 14, 7-8:30 p.m.
COST:
Free for main street small businesses in Ontario.
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BDC Chief Economist, experts discuss the importance of digital tools and technology
Entrepreneurs who use digital tools and technology typically enjoy higher profits and better productivity. Join experts for a live webinar, where they will offer practical advice on how to execute tech investments that will help make your operations more efficient, agile and profitable.
BDC Chief Economist Pierre Cléroux will also provide an economic update and talk about the importance of adopting digital tools. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.
You will discover:
- How the right digital tools can help solve your operational pain points
- Two foundational tech solutions to make your business leaner and more agile
- An easy three-step method for selecting the best systems for your business
- An update on the economic situation as the pandemic evolves
WHEN:
Wednesday, July 15, 3-3:45 p.m.
COST:
Free.
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Leeds Grenville eNews Deadlines for submitting information:
If you have an upcoming workshop, seminar, or business-related event, please
email
it to us in advance.
- Submissions for the July 14th edition should be received by Monday, July 6th.
- Submissions for the July 28th edition should be received by by Monday, July 20th.
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Ann Weir
Economic Development Manager
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Deanna Clark
Economic Development Officer
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Joanne Poll
Administration / Communications Support
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Shelbi Mcfarlane
Business Development Officer
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32 Wall Street, Suite 300, Brockville, ON K6V 4R9
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