February, 2021 - Economic Development Newsletter
Newsletter overview

Town of Erin - Community Improvement Plan - Deadline March 26th, 2021

County of Wellington - NEW Takeout Food Map

Federal Government - NEW Funding for Highly Affected Sectors

Provincial Government - Small Business Support Grant
Provincial Government - Central Counties (RTO6) NEW Support Grant

Wellington Waterloo Community Futures - Regional Relief Recovery Fund (RRRF)

Workforce Planning Board - 3rd Virtual Job Fair (employers needed)
TOWN OF ERIN FUNDING INITIATIVE



Community Improvement Plan
Application deadline March 26, 2021
 


The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for the Town of Erin promotes beautification, property improvements and economic development in the Town.

The CIP outlines financial incentives for property owners to rehabilitate, redevelop and invest in their businesses.

The following financial incentives are available through the CIP program.
  • Planning Application and Building Permit Fee Grant
  • Façade and Signage Improvement Grant
  • Design and Study Grant
  • Building Improvement Grant
  • Accessibility Improvement Grant
  • Public Art Grant
  • Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG)
  • Downtown Housing Grant
  • Parking and Landscaping Improvement Grant
  • Commercial Conversion Grant

Please contact the Economic Development Office for further assistance in the application process and to book your pre-screening meeting at ecdev@erin.ca
COUNTY OF WELLINGTON - TAKEOUT FOOD MAP


New Takeout Food Map for
Wellington County




The County of Wellington have created an online map featuring restaurants and food businesses in Wellington County that offer takeout food during the provincewide shutdown.

Discover which restaurants are near you or choose by type of food, meal time or category. Explore the Takeout Food in Wellington County Map at www.wellington.ca/takeout.


Are you a food business and offer ready-to-go meals and don't see your listing? Add your restaurant or food business.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Funding announced for Highly Affected Sectors



Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
 
The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced the launch of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program, or HASCAP. HASCAP will provide financial support to businesses that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. This includes restaurants, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and those that rely on in-person service.
  
Through HASCAP, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will work with participating Canadian financial institutions to offer government-guaranteed, low-interest loans of up to $1 million. These loans are for small and medium-sized businesses that have seen their revenues decrease by 50% or more as a result of COVID-19.
  
To be eligible for HASCAP, businesses need to show a year-over-year revenue decline of at least 50% in three months, within the eight months prior to their application. They must also be able to show their financial institutions that they have previously applied for either the CEWS or the CERS. 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Ontario Small Business Support Grant



The Ontario Small Business Support Grant provides a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to help eligible small business owners who needed to close or significantly restrict their services during the shutdown. Each eligible small business will be able to use this funding in whatever way makes the most sense for their individual business. 

Note, the application portal will provide alternative revenue decline comparator months for small businesses not in operation in April 2019 or April 2020

Application closing date of March 31, 2021.  

2021 Business Support Program


Central Counties Tourism has set aside $400,000 to help offset the costs incurred by businesses to keep customers safe, stay top of mind with consumers and/or modify their business model to stay relevant and accessible.

Central Counties will reimburse up to 50% of eligible paid expenses (to a maximum of $15,000) incurred beginning April 1, 2020.

ELIGIBLE COSTS

 *  implementation of health and safety protocols;
 *  alterations to accommodate social distancing including the expansion of patio space for restaurants (including tables, chairs, umbrellas) and/or acquisition of equipment like outdoor heaters/tents to extend seasons;
 *  purchases of PPE and cleaning supplies for workers;
 *  marketing and communications costs; and,
 *  acquisition and implementation of digital tools and operating transformations like a virtual queue, timed entry ticketing, contactless check-ins, and/or e-commerce

These are challenging times for everyone and we want to help with your expenses!
REGIONAL FUNDING


Regional Relief and Recovery Fund



This Regional Relief Recovery Fund (RRRF) financing is to support small enterprises including social enterprises that are unable to access federal and provincial relief funding programs, or unable to obtain a loan/credit from traditional financial institutions, and that are struggling with working capital needs.

Application guidelines for the RRRF:

  • Maximum assistance for the Emergency Loan Fund under this program is $40,000* NOTE if you have previously applied for the RRRF funding you can apply again, but funding can not exceed $40,000 total between the two Applications.
  • Credit check is required
  • 0% interest rate and no principal payments until December 31, 2022.
  • Principal repayments can be voluntarily made at any time.
  • 25% (not to exceed $10,000) of any loan can be forgiven provided the recipient has paid 75% of the original loan amount prior to December 31, 2022.
  • If the recipient is unable to repay the loan by December 31, 2022, the loan will be converted to a three-year term loan with interest rates up to 5%, effective January 1, 2023. The full balance must be repaid no later than December 31, 2025.

No application deadline, applications will be accepted until funding pool is depleted.
WORKFORCE PLANNING BOARD - JOB FAIR
Third Virtual Job Fair
Wednesday March 3rd


You can connect with the job candidates you are looking for from the comfort and safety of your home or office. Organized by the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin, this upcoming job fair will allow employers the opportunity to promote current openings with job seekers, communicate one on one with employment candidates, receive resumes immediately and more.

This virtual job fair is taking place Wednesday, March 3.

• Promote your current job openings to available employment candidates.
• Talk one on one with job seekers.
• Receive resumes immediately.
• Support from knowledgeable staff to set up your booth and assist on the day of the job fair
• The first two virtual job fairs in this series featured 38 employers hiring for over 600 jobs.

Limited Spots Available

Employer Deadline to sign up February 10
Stay Up To Date
Stay up to date with the Town of Erin's efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, while ensuring businesses and residents are continuing to receive service excellence.
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