IN THE NEWS


Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy and will be crucial to Canada’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by generating growth and creating jobs, from coast to coast to coast.


Free health and safety training now available for small businesses


  • Extending the eligibility period for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support until October 23, 2021, and increasing the rate of support employers and organizations can receive during the period between August 29 and September 25, 2021.

  • Extending the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) until October 23, 2021.

  • Increasing the maximum number of weeks available for the CRB, by an additional 4 weeks, to a total of 54 weeks, at a rate of $300 per week, and ensuring it is available to those who have exhausted their employment insurance (EI) benefits.


On July 19th, Nina Tangri, the Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction announced that this government is investing $10 million towards the Digital Main Street program for 2021-22 to help up to 13,000 small businesses expand their digital presence and market their services online.
The renewed program will provide small businesses with grants, technical training, and digital resources to help them reach more customers in person and online, positioning them for a stronger recovery.
Small businesses with a brick and mortar location and 1 - 50 employees across Ontario can apply for $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants, which they can use to purchase new technology and digital services.
To date, this program has provided over 20,000 businesses with support for their digital expansions, while generating jobs for more than 1,600 students and recent graduates.
Ontario is now in Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen
Accelerate Business Recovery: A Virtual Hub (the Hub)

Designed to support businesses as they emerge from the pandemic, in a flexible online format, the Hub will provide:
  • High quality skill development videos curated by York University in the areas of Digital Marketing, Strategic Planning and Financial Planning;
  • Short instructional videos created by local business leaders providing success tips in a variety of subject areas;
  • Ask the Expert - our in-house business consultant, Raffi Sethian, is available for free consultations, or if you need a specialized consultant he will arrange for a meeting with one of our Digital Marketing, Financial Planning and/or Strategic Planning consultants, all free of charge;
  • An opportunity to enroll in the Foundations Certificate in Business Management, a $2,000 York University /Schulich School of Business course, absolutely free of charge to York Region businesses who have had a significant loss in revenue or who have had to close their doors during the pandemic. A significant number of seats will be reserved for Women and BIPOC business owners. 
The Hub is open to all York Region businesses free of charge, so be sure to share this initiative with your colleagues and other business owners in the Region.
Don’t delay, if you’re interested in learning new skills and getting answers to your business questions, check out the Hub today!
Send a message to our in-house Business Consultant should you have any business questions

StaySafe COVID-19 Rapid Screening Program
Workplace Self-Screening Kits

  • Keep your employees safe with FREE COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Self Screening Kits!
  • Free for all businesses in Aurora with 150 employees or less
  • Asymptomatic employees test themselves twice per week
  • Results take 15-20 minutes
  • Once order is received, we will arrange a date & time for pick-up.
OEB Announces New Electricity Rates / Program Update
The OEB has announced further updates to the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides rebates for charities and small businesses. As of May 1st, small business/registered charity customers can receive up to $1,500—for electricity and natural gas bills, respectively.
Tech Undivided offers a comprehensive 6-month program to challenge women-led tech companies to scale their businesses. Through the pillars of capital, talent, technology, and customers, this program creates a support ecosystem of resources and networking opportunities for women founders to thrive.
 
Tech Undivided is designed for founders building breakthrough solutions leveraging hardware and/or enterprise software technologies. It draws on the combined expertise of ventureLAB Advisors, Strategic Mentors, and exclusive partners to offer strategic and tactical support to help them refine their product-market-fit, amplify their sales, and navigate relevant sources of funding – and help hone their pitch to better prepare for customer and investor meetings.

Applications are open from August 3 - 31, 2021.
Government Updates

Please click on the links below to read updates from the municipal, provincial and federal governments

Update from Mayor Mrakas, Town of Aurora, read here

Update from Christine Elliott, MPP Newmarket-Aurora, read here

Update from Michael Parsa, MPP Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, read here

Update from Leona Alleslev, MP Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, read here

Update from Tony Van Bynen, MP Newmarket-Aurora, read here