GLOBAL - INNOVATIVE - DISTINCT
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- Town Partners with Chamber to Distribute Workplace Rapid Screening Kits to Small Businesses
- Ontario Extends Stay-at-Home Order Until June 2
- Halton Hills' Economic Development 2020 Annual Report
- Applications Open for Al Fresco in the Hills Outdoor Dining Program
- Superior Glove Recognized as One of Canada’s Top Small and Medium Employers
- Halton Region Issues New Instructions to Help Businesses Respond to COVID-19 Workplace Outbreaks
- Ontario to Introduce Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave
- Applications Now Open for Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant
- Heart of Ontario Hosting ‘Reimagining Travel’ Webinar
- Halton Hills Cultural Services Team is Hiring
- Register Now for Upcoming Local Arts & Cultural Events
- The Artist Next Door - Call for Proposals
- Halton Hills Economic Development Services & COVID-19 Information
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Town Partners with Chamber to Distribute Workplace Rapid Screening Kits to Small Businesses |
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The Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Halton Hills have joined forces to provide free self-screening kits to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who employ up to 150 employees throughout the Town of Halton Hills. The goal of the program is to identify asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic individuals and prevent them from spreading COVID-19 in the workplace, at home and around the community.
The booking portal will be launched next week and kits can be picked up starting May 26 (supply and delivery dependent). SMEs are required to electronically submit screening metrics weekly. Accumulated data will be reported to the appropriate government officials. It is recommended that staff be screened twice weekly.
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Ontario Extends Stay-at-Home Order Until June 2 |
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The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has extended the Stay-at-Home Order until at least June 2, 2021. All public health and workplace safety measures under the provincewide emergency brake will also remain in effect.
The impacts of these measures will continue to be evaluated over the coming weeks, with consideration being made to the reopening of outdoor recreational amenities on June 2, subject to current trends continuing.
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Halton Hills' Economic Development
2020 Annual Report
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Over 25 new or modified initiatives were implemented throughout 2020 by the Town in response to COVID-19. Some of these continues into 2021.
Despite COVID-19, significant advancements were made on several major economic development projects. These are detailed in the Economic Development, Innovation and Culture division 2020 Annual Report, which was received by Council on May 3.
The Town’s Senior Economic Development Officer, Graham Lowe, provided Council with a presentation summarizing the division’s 2020 initiatives.
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Applications Open for Al Fresco in the Hills
Outdoor Dining Program
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The Town is now accepting applications for its ‘Al Fresco in the Hills’ program, a temporary outdoor dining initiative designed to support eligible local restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments by expanding dining capacity while adhering to public health regulations and COVID-19 safety guidelines. |
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Superior Glove Recognized as One of Canada's Top Small and Medium Employers |
Superior Glove, located in Acton, has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top Small and Medium Employers for the second year in a row. The awards highlight the top 100 small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada offering the best workplaces and forward-thinking human resources policies. |
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Halton Region Issues New Instructions to Help Businesses Respond to COVID-19 Workplace Outbreaks |
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Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health has issued new instructions to businesses to help them respond quickly and effectively to the risk of workplace COVID-19 outbreaks. These include specific actions to take:
- If aware that a worker has COVID-19
- If aware that two or more workers have COVID-19 within the past 14 days
- To protect all workers from COVID-19
The new instructions are effective as of Saturday, May 8 and they supplement existing requirements from the Province and Halton Region Public Health officials.
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Ontario to Introduce Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave |
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On April 29, the Ontario Government amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to require employers to provide employees with up to three days of paid infectious disease emergency leave because of certain reasons related to COVID-19, including:
- Going for COVID-19 test
- Staying home awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
- Being sick with COVID-19
- Experiencing a side effect from a COVID-19 vaccination
- Having been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19 by an employer, medical practitioner or other specified authority
- Providing care of support to certain relatives for COVID-19 related reasons
The legislation, if passed, would require employers to provide employees with up to $200 of pay for up to three days if they are missing work because of COVID-19. The proposed program will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and effective until September 25, 2021 (the same day the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit will expire).
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Applications Now Open for Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant |
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The Ontario government is providing one-time payments of $10,000 - $20,0000 to support eligible small tourism and travel businesses struggling to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant will support eligible small tourism and travel businesses that did not receive the Ontario Small Business Support Grant (OSBSG), such as travel agents, hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts.
To qualify, businesses must have fewer than 100 employees and demonstrate they have experienced a minimum 20% revenue decline between 2019 and 2020.
Small business owners can use the grant in whatever way makes the most sense for their business. Applications for this grant will close on Friday, June 25, 2021.
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Heart of Ontario Hosting 'Reimaging Travel' Webinar |
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Halton Hills’ Regional Tourism Organization (RTO 3), Heart of Ontario, is hosting a webinar focused on Reimagining Travel on May 27 from 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon.
The webinar is geared towards tourism businesses, including those in the culinary, experiential, arts, heritage and retail sectors. Topics include an education session on digitalization, government and industry updates and initiatives to support businesses during the post pandemic recovery.
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Halton Hills Cultural Services Team is Hiring |
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The Town is currently hiring a Cultural Services Associate to assist with the development and delivery of Culture Days and other cultural programs through the summer and fall of this year.
Applications for the position must be submitted by May 25.
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Register Now for Upcoming
Local Arts & Culture Events
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Public Art 101 Virtual Series
What is Public Art? Join Catherine McLeod, Senior Arts and Culture Specialist at the Town of Halton Hills, for this special three-part series to learn about Public Art, both at the local level and more broadly as a unique and exciting genre. Topics discussed will include:
- An overview of Public Art as a distinct creative discipline
- The local Public Art Program in Halton Hills
- How to apply to be a part of future projects
This virtual program will occur biweekly on Thursday evenings (7 - 8 p.m.) on June 10, 24, and July 8.
Arts & Culture Virtual Meetup
Grab a cup of coffee and stop by this virtual meetup to connect with others interested in arts and culture around Halton Hills. The series runs on the last Monday of every month.
In May it will feature special guest Ingrid Mayrhofer, who will speak about her arts practice as a printmaker, including her 'After Nature' banners currently being featured as part of the Town's Public Art Program.
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The Artist Next Door - Call for Proposals |
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The Artist Next Door program is a part of the Town’s ongoing COVID-19 support and recovery initiatives for the arts and culture sector. The program supports the creation of artwork by individual artists, artist teams and cultural groups and organizations. Apply by May 31 to receive up to $1,000 for the creation of new, community-engaged work in any artistic discipline.
A virtual information session will be held on Tuesday, May 18 at 3 p.m.
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Halton Hills Economic Development Services
& COVID-19 Information
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Halton Hills’ Economic Development, Innovation and Culture Division provides a full suite of high-quality services and supports to the business community that in turn foster a prosperous economy and enhance quality of life. These include:
- Financial incentives via the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and the Manufacturing Expansion Fund (MEF)
- Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) programming
- Investment attraction, expansion and relocation
- Business Concierge service
- Site selection assistance
- Market research
- Industry engagement
- Workforce development
- Supporting and advancing affordable housing projects and initiatives
- Amplifying tourism’s economic benefits
- Leveraging and supporting the arts and culture sector to raise quality of life
Halton Hills offers existing and potential businesses a strategic platform for success, proximity to world-class markets, a distinct community with an ideal balance between urban and rural environments, and an outstanding quality of life.
As part of an ongoing commitment to engage with and support the local business community, Economic Development staff continue to update the Town’s COVID-19 Business Supports web page.
Please contact the Town’s Economic Development staff if you require assistance.
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