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Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Newsletter
April 2024 | Volume 13, Issue 2
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Important notice for Invest Durham Agriculture and Rural Economic Development E-Newsletter readers!
Beginning in June, all non-agriculture related business information will be phased out of this distribution and migrated over to the monthly Invest Durham E-News. This newsletter will begin to focus solely on agriculture, agri-food and agri-business information. To stay in the know about general business news, funding opportunities, programs, events and more, we encourage you to sign up for the monthly Invest Durham E-News.
In This Issue:
Grown in Durham
- Durham Farm Connections Primary Program and Open House
Made in Durham
- Signs of Success for Port Perry's Sensational Signs
Regional Feature
- Durham Food Policy Council launches Durham Food System Report Card
Programs, Updates & News
- Four Farms Market Garden Training
- Agriculture Wellness Ontario
- Join the Greenbelt Foundation's free Soil Health Program
- New jobseeker recruitment campaign launched by Food and Beverage Ontario for CareersNOW!
- Durham Region Transit launches Route 605 in Uxbridge
- North Durham Business Toolkits
- Provincial Government accepting comments on proposed Provincial Planning Statement
Funding Opportunities
- Grow Ontario Market Initiative
- Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program
- Inclusive Community Grant
- Agricultural funding opportunities
- Learn more about funding opportunities
Upcoming Events
- Webinar: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Available Supports and Services for Food and Beverage Companies
- Managing Logistics for Resilience and Reliability Webinar
- Rainbow Registered Information Session
- Durham Accessibility Conference
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Durham Farm Connections Primary Program and Open House | |
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We would like to congratulate Durham Farm Connections on another successful Primary Program and Open House.
The Primary Program invited Grade 3 students from across Durham Region to the Brooklin Vipond Arena to learn about farming, directly from farmers. Interactive stations were set up to teach students about egg, dairy, beef, sheep, pig, vegetable, apple and grain farming, and more. The Primary Program took place from April 2 to 4.
The Durham Farm Connections Open House was hosted at the same location on the evening of April 3. This event welcomed 500 members of the public to learn about farming in Durham and experience many demonstrations, such as sheep shearing and milking a cow.
Approximately 100 volunteers contributed to making this event possible.
Thank you and congratulations to Durham Farm Connections on another successful educational event!
Learn more about Durham Farm Connections.
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Signs of Success for Port Perry's Sensational Signs | |
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For more than 25 years, Scugog’s Sensational Signs has been producing captivating signage for more than 600 unique clients across a range of sectors. From storefronts and windows to vehicle wraps and everything in between, Sensational Signs has produced more than 61,000 signs for their clients with countless examples that can be spotted across our community. In addition to their extensive portfolio of work for large-scale clients in the urban development sector, Sensational Signs has played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in creating signage for several community projects, including Big Brothers Big Sisters Winding Roads music festival, the Durham Regional Cancer Centre at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, Port Perry Hospital, small business facades, local movie sets, historical monument plaques, and even the Historic Downtown Port Perry welcome sign.
Explore their wide range of projects and find out why Sensational Signs is a valuable member of Durham Region’s rural business community!
If you’re a new or existing business looking to develop, rebrand or refurbish your signage, Sensational Signs encourages you to contact them to learn more about how they can point you in the right direction!
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Durham Food Policy Council launches Durham Food System Report Card | |
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The Durham Food Policy Council has created their first Durham Food System Report Card. The report card outlines Durham Region’s local food system assets and challenges. The report was produced through years of research and engagement with the community.
Learn more and read the Durham Food System Report Card.
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Four Farms Market Garden Training | |
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Four Farms Market Garden Training is launching in Durham Region. This training offers hands on learning, delivered by experienced market garden farmers. The training runs for six weeks on weekends, beginning in April 2024. Three of the “Four Farms” are Durham Region farms: Second Season Farm, City of Greens and Acre Farm Market Garden.
Learn more about Four Farms Market Garden Training.
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Agriculture Wellness Ontario | |
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Agriculture Wellness Ontario offers free mental health support to farmers in Ontario through the Farmer Wellness Initiative. This includes free unlimited counselling for farmers, members of farm families, farm employees and dependants of farm employees. Support is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Farmers can call 1-866-267-6255 to speak to a counsellor.
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Join the Greenbelt Foundation's free Soil Health Program | |
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The Greenbelt Foundation and soil scientists at the Soil Health Institute are working together with Ontario agricultural partners to develop an interpretable, scalable and locally relevant method for evaluating and monitoring soil health. This will enable farmers to compare their current soil health to similar soils in their region and measure the impact of management practices.
The program will sample 300 to 500 grain and oilseed farms across the Golden Horseshoe region, and all soil health testing, education and support services are offered free to farmers. If you're interested in signing up, please visit the Greenbelt Foundation website. If eligible, they will visit your farm in the spring, at a mutually agreed-upon time, to collect soil samples and management history.
Participants will receive soil health data on measurements that reflect their overall soil function for carbon cycling and storage, water cycling and storage, nutrient cycling and more. Participants will also receive locally relevant soil health interpretations and recommendations to understand the results and set achievable soil health goals. This information will provide valuable insights into the current state of your soil and help you identify areas for improvement.
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My New jobseeker recruitment campaign launched by Food and Beverage Ontario for CareersNOW! | |
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If you’re an employer in Ontario's food and beverage industry, now is the time to create a free account with CareersNOW! and post a job or participate in a virtual job fair to benefit from the program's jobseeker recruitment campaign. This campaign will connect thousands of jobseekers and students with employers through CareersNOW! employment resources.
Visit the CareersNOW! Website for more information.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Food and Beverage Industry News.
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Durham Region Transit launches Route 605 in Uxbridge | |
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There’s a new bus route in the Township of Uxbridge to help residents and workers get to where they need to go! Durham Region Transit (DRT) Route 605 is a local route that runs every 30 to 60 minutes daily from Uxbridge’s commercial area at Toronto Street and Welwood Drive, through downtown Uxbridge and into pockets of Uxbridge’s residential areas. Check out the route map and schedule for more information.
Uxbridge transit users looking to travel east into Port Perry and/or south to the Whitby GO Station can still ride DRT Route 905.
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North Durham Business Toolkits | |
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Online business toolkits have been developed to fulfil the need for a one-stop shop for relevant, township-specific and up-to-date business resources that are more easily accessible to prospective investors, as well as new and existing business owners. Individualized and hyper-local toolkits have been developed for the Townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge.
New content is being added periodically. Check them out for yourself!
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Provincial Government is accepting comments on the proposed Provincial Planning Statement | |
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) is seeking feedback on an updated proposed Provincial Planning Statement. The Provincial Policy Statement is the primary provincial land use planning policy document, applying across Ontario. The commenting period closes on May 12, 2024. Learn more. | |
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Funding Opportunities
Grow Ontario Market Initiative
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The Governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $12 million in market development efforts under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help eligible agri-food businesses and industry organizations expand into domestic and foreign markets.
The Grow Ontario Market Initiative is a new cost-share initiative that helps food and beverage processors, farm businesses and agri-food sector organizations take actions to reach new markets. Examples of eligible projects could include:
- Market analysis and planning.
- Product development activities.
- New market-entry promotional efforts to expand opportunities for Ontario food products.
Under the Grow Ontario Market Initiative, applicants can receive up to 50 per cent cost-share for eligible costs, to a maximum of $60,000 per business for producers and food and beverage processors, and up to $125,000 for sector organizations. Eligible businesses can apply for support through this program that opened on May 19, 2023.
Learn more about the Grow Ontario Market Initiative guidelines and application.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Food and Beverage Industry News.
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Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program | |
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The Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP) is a funding program designed to provide cost-share funding to farmers to enhance and protect habitats, and adopt best management practices that support species at risk.
The funding intake for the program is currently open.
Learn more about this funding opportunity.
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Inclusive Community Grants | |
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The Ontario government is investing $750,000 this year to help communities across the province become more age-friendly and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
On April 9, applications for the 2024-25 cycle of Inclusive Community Grants opened for municipalities, non-profit organizations and Indigenous communities to apply for up to $60,000 in funding for local projects that will help older adults and people with disabilities participate in community life. Eligible organizations have until May 22, 2024, to submit their applications.
Learn more about this funding opportunity, and past projects that have been awarded funding!
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Agricultural funding opportunities | |
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The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association administers numerous funding opportunities on behalf of the province. Many agricultural funding programs are currently accepting applications or will be opening intakes soon.
Visit the Ontario Soil and Crop website to see a full listing of the open and upcoming funding intakes.
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Learn more about funding opportunities | |
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There are a number of incentives for businesses looking to start, relocate or expand in Durham Region. These municipal, provincial and federal incentives can help your business save on research and development, labour and expansion costs.
Learn more at InvestDurham.ca/Incentives.
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Webinar: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Available Supports and Services for Food and Beverage Companies | |
Join the Government of Ontario for a free webinar on April 25 at 9:30 a.m. to learn more about available supports and services for Ontario-based food and beverage companies. This webinar will provide insights into the various services that OMAFRA offers for business development including information sharing, available resources, programming and opportunities for building connections. These supports help Ontario companies with their growth and agri-food trade and investment.
Webinar will include:
· Starting or growing your food and beverage business.
· Getting export ready.
· How to make connections with industry experts.
Register for the OMAFRA webinar.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Food and Beverage Industry News.
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Managing Logistics for Resilience and Reliability Webinar | |
Join the Government of Ontario for a free webinar to hear from logistics professionals about the value of strategic management of logistics for resilience and reliability.
The webinar will include how to manage the cost of logistics in North America, how moving your goods includes more than the cost of getting them from you to your customers and how your shipping partners impact your ability to get goods to your customers on time.
Register for the Managing Logistics for Resilience and Reliability Webinar.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Food and Beverage Industry News.
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Rainbow Registered Information Session | |
Are you interested in sharing your business’ commitment to providing an inclusive, safe space for 2SLGBTQI+ customers and staff? Join Durham Tourism and Invest Durham online on May 21 from 1 to 2 p.m. for an information session on Rainbow Registered, presented and administered by Canada's 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce. Rainbow Registered is an accreditation program for businesses that are committed to providing a safe, inclusive space for 2SLGBTQI+ people to work and visit.
Durham Region businesses who attend have an opportunity to have their accreditation fee and first year program fees covered by Durham Tourism. Details will be provided at the end of the session.
Register for the Rainbow Registered Information Session.
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Durham Accessibility Conference | |
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Abilities Centre, in partnership with the Region of Durham, invites the business community, regional employers, and those interested in exploring how to commit to inclusion in the workplace to attend the Durham Accessibility Conference, “Committing to Inclusion in the Workplace: Getting your toolkit ready.” This free conference features keynote speaker, Ingrid Muschta; a panel presentation; and exhibitors. This conference will focus on embedding inclusion into the workplace, as an employer, using an intersectional lens.
Learn more and register for the Durham Accessibility Conference.
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For more frequent updates on Durham Region success stories, resources, local news, fun facts and more, follow @DurhamAgRural on X. #DurhamAg #NorthDurham
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Contact Us
Toll-free: 1-800-706-9857
Online: www.investdurham.ca
As a contact of the Region of Durham's Planning and Economic Development Department, you have been added to our mailing list. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please use the unsubscribe link located at the bottom of this e-newsletter.
If this information is required in an accessible format, please contact the Planning and Economic Development Department at 905-668-7711 ext. 2609 (toll-free at 1-800-706-9857).
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