ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWSLETTER
February 1, 2021 | Subscribe Now
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN - BALA & PORT CARLING
The Township of Muskoka Lakes has retained The Planning Partnership to lead the development of a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for the communities of Bala and Port Carling.

A CIP identifies improvements for the public realm – streets, parks and other public spaces, and identifies financial incentive programs (grants and loans) and eligible works to encourage the private sector to revitalize and or develop their properties. To be completed in fall 2021, the CIP will identify community priority areas/projects in these communities, allowing the Township to better plan capital project investments.

The Planning Partnership will be engaging members of the public to gain feedback on the priorities and goals for public realm investments in these communities over the next several years. Upcoming opportunities to participate are outlined below:

One on One Interview – The public is invited to participate in a 20-minute one-on-one virtual meeting with a member of the project team on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 anytime between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm. To arrange for a 20-minute meeting, please email muskoka@planpart.ca and indicate a time slot that best suits your schedule.

Virtual Workshops - The community is encouraged to attend virtual public workshops for the communities of Bala and Port Carling, which will be held on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Details regarding this session will be available on the Township community engagement platform at www.engagemuskokalakes.ca.

Visit www.engagemuskokalakes.ca for further project details. We’d love to hear your thoughts on opportunities for change in the Port Carling or Bala core commercial areas – changes to streets and public spaces, opportunities for revitalization or redevelopment.
MUSKOKA REGIONAL BUSINESS SUPORT TOWNHALL
Join Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries to discuss an overview of supports available to businesses and the government's response to COVID-19.

Thursday, February 4, 2021 | 2:00 PM
You will be asked to submit a question when registering.
MUSKOKA LAKES BUSINESS SURVEY
The Township of Muskoka Lakes invites all local business owners to take the Muskoka Lakes Business Survey. We are collecting feedback from the business community in Muskoka Lakes to help guide the the implementation of the Township's Economic Development Strategy and to assess the impacts of COVID-19. This data will be used to create benchmarks for the business climate in Muskoka Lakes and provide insight into the challenges and opportunities experienced by local businesses in order to plan for economic recovery.

This short survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete and will be available online until February 16, 2021.
MUSKOKA BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND
The MBRF is a fund supported by FedNor though the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) and the District of Muskoka, and applies to any business established prior to March 1, 2020 that has attempted to access any Federal relief supports and was deemed ineligible.

CANADA SUMMER JOBS - DEADLINE EXTENDED
Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.

The program provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Funded employers are not restricted to hiring students — all youth aged 15 to 30 years may be eligible participants.

Deadline is February 3, 2021.

More Information: Click Here
ONTARIO COVID-19 RESPONSE FRAMEWORK
COVID-19: Stay-At-Home Order issued for Ontario effective January 14, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Learn about the restrictions and public health and workplace safety measures during this stage on the Province of Ontario's website.

Updated Workplace Guidelines & Essential Services: Ontario Provincewide Shutdown Details


A new Ontario Small Business Support Grant was announced by the provincial government, which will provide up to $20,000 for eligible businesses. Applications are now open for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant which will provide up to $20,000 for eligible businesses.




If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
SIMCOE MUSKOKA DISTRICT HEALTH UNIT
COVID-19 BUSINESS SUPPORT RESOURCES
The Township continues to update business support programs and resources on our website as they are announced. Need help navigating the various programs and resources available?

Contact: Corey Moore, Communications & Economic Development Specialist, cmoore@muskokalakes.ca

Corey Moore
Communications & Economic Development Specialist
Township of Muskoka Lakes
705-765-3156
cmoore@muskokalakes.ca
www.muskokalakes.ca

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