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April 2021

Business Feature

Applewood Farm Winery Greetings from the Passafiume Family!  Applewood Farm Winery ~ North of Port has a new home. "Together with our four children, we have started what is quite literally our very own field of dreams. We are a family-run, family-friendly farm and winery. We offer award-winning fruit wine, cider and mead made from the fruit grown here on our farm, as well as other local producers.  We offer pick your own strawberries in June, and then mulberries right after. Fresh garlic, honey and other tasty jams and jellies are available all season long. We have a huge corn maze to roam and pumpkins and squash the fall. We have also planted Christmas trees, which will be harvested in 2025. Come check our out new farm side wine patio where you can sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine or cider and enjoy the farm views.  We offer fun for the whole family and we are absolutely loving life on our new farm just north of beautiful Port Perry."

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TIAO Complimentary Membership Extended TIAO is pleased to extend their complimentary membership to the entire tourism industry in Ontario for the remainder of 2021.   How does this work if you are an existing member of TIAO? For current members, they will be provided an option to choose: Extend their existing membership by another year or Become a Green shoots sponsor - For those members that can afford to pay their membership, we will recognize the value of their existing membership through sponsorship (Green shoots sponsor) and use this value of their membership to continue the research and vital actions to rebuild and represent the industry’s voice to government in Ontario. How does this work if you want to become a member of TIAO? Please reach out directly to TIAO here to set up your membership. You will also be offered the same option above as existing members are offered. Contact TIAO Ontario Supports Tourism and Hospitality Sectors During COVID-19 The Ontario government is providing an estimated $100 million for a new one-time Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant and $100 million for a new one-time recovery program. This significant investment is part of the 2021 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health & Our Economy, and will support the province's tourism industry as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19. Total support from the Ontario government for the tourism, culture, sports, recreation, and heritage industries since the start of the pandemic now totals $625 million. Learn more

Community Building Fund  The Province of Ontario announced a $105 million investment in the new Community Building Fund to help non-profit tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations recover from the impacts of the pandemic.   The fund will be administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through two program streams:   The $55-million operating funding stream will provide community non-profits with the support they need to help sustain their operations and create new experiences and events such as trail systems, heritage attractions, winter activities and local sport and recreation programming - that are critical to the economic and social well-being of their communities. The $50-million capital funding stream will go to municipalities and non-profit organizations to carry out sport- and recreation-facility infrastructure repairs, including retrofits and rehabilitation to meet COVID-19 public health protocol requirements and local community needs.   The application deadline for the operating stream of the Community Building Fund closes on April 28, while the fund's capital stream will open later in 2021. Learn more

Recording Now Available TIAC & Destination Canada Industry Webinar   On April 9, Destination Canada alongside with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) were pleased to offer a joint industry webinar. This session provided an important opportunity to connect with industry stakeholders to provide an update on their support efforts and plans going forward.  Beth Potter, TIAC’s new President and CEO, provided an overview of advocacy efforts aimed at the survival and recovery of the tourism industry and a snapshot of the road ahead.  Destination Canada President and CEO, Marsha Walden, also shared an update on their latest strategy and next steps.

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Durham Region Business Count 2021   The 2021 Durham Region Business Count begins May 10.   Durham Region is seeking information from all businesses. If people work there, it is a business! This includes home-based businesses, schools and hospitals, as well as store-fronts, professional offices and more.   Durham Region completes a Business Count to gather information and data we are not able to gather from other sources. This information informs many departments at the Region and helps us to undertake projects such as: Planning for infrastructure needs Creating programs to support local business growth Promoting Durham Region’s tourism assets Planning transit routes Building local business directories Monitoring and reporting on local business and economic trends   The Business Count was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, the Count will be conducted by telephone and email. Our Business Count team will be travelling throughout the region and where possible, will not enter businesses to help keep the process safe for everyone. Home-based businesses are also encouraged to participate.   Gathering data is especially important this year as we work to support business recovery. If you have questions about the count, please contact businesscount@durham.ca.

Durham Region to host Supplier Information Event The Region of Durham, in partnership with the Durham Purchasing Co-operative—which includes the cities of Oshawa and Pickering; Municipality of Clarington; towns of Ajax and Whitby, and Township of Brock; the Durham District School Board; Durham College and Ontario Tech University—is hosting a virtual Supplier Information event.   When: Wednesday, April 28 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.  The event will include presentations geared towards assisting small businesses in learning more about the public procurement process, and how to do business with various public agencies located within Durham Region. There will be an opportunity for small business owners to ask questions of the procurement staff working with the local agencies using the chat function.   Note: If you are interested in participating in the Supplier Information event, please RSVP to PurchasingHelp@durham.ca by April 23.   The Supplier Information event is an initiative designed to assist and encourage small businesses in doing business within the Region of Durham and the Durham Purchasing Co-operative. Learn more at durham.ca/Purchasing Learn more

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For unique trip ideas or to plan your perfect day, visit DurhamTourism.ca, or call 1-800-413-0017. If this information is required in an accessible format, contact Durham Tourism.