Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Newsletter
May 2020 | Volume 9, Issue 3
|
|
In This Issue:
- We want to hear from you! Complete the Durham business recovery survey
- Bowmanville REKO Network: Facebook based farmers' market launches
- Local Food Week takes place June 1 to 6, 2020
- Durham Region Business Count cancelled for 2020
- Invest Durham launched new local food web page
- Bill 156, Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act passes second reading
- Durham business owners: Have your say on broadband access in the region
- Register for the Durham Region Home Flood Protection webinar
- AgScape offers free online agriculture education resources
- Durham College Community Employment Services available for the agriculture sector
- Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority survey open to Durham Region grain farmers
- Government Funding available to support agri-food businesses to increase online presence
- Durham Economic Development Task Force mobilizes to support Durham Region businesses
- Follow Durham AgRural on Twitter!
- Upcoming Events
|
|
We want to hear from you! Complete the Durham business recovery survey
|
|
Complete the
Durham Business Recovery Survey
and have your say about how COVID-19 is impacting your business and what is needed for local economic recovery. The survey will be open until
May 19, 2020
.
The feedback gathered will help shape how we continue to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
|
|
Bowmanville REKO Network: Facebook based farmers' market launches
|
|
This May, Durham’s first
REKO
circle will be launching out of Bowmanville. A REKO circle is a Facebook group of farmers looking to sell their products to residents. Group members can place their orders by responding to a Facebook post from a local farmer which gives farmers another avenue to market their products and a way for members of the community to buy food produced close to home
.
For more information, please visit the Bowmanville REKO Network
Facebook page
.
|
|
Local Food Week takes place June 1 to 6, 2020
|
|
Celebrate and support the local food being grown in Durham’s backyard and across the province during Local Food Week! Look for the
Foodland Ontario logo
when food shopping to support our economy and local businesses. Celebrate local food at your dinner table tonight!
|
|
Durham Region Business Count cancelled for 2020
|
|
Usually between May and September each year, The Regional Municipality of Durham, Planning and Economic Development Department and its municipal partners conduct an annual count of businesses across the region.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Business Count will not be conducted in 2020.
To find out more about the Business Count and to see the annual Business Count highlights from previous years, visit
durham.ca/businesscount.
|
|
Invest Durham launches new local food webpage
|
Explore the flavours of Durham Region while supporting local businesses! Durham has an abundance of high-quality food grown right in the region with products ranging from beef and lamb, to honey and cider and fresh fruit and vegetables.
Invest Durham recently launched a new web page,
InvestDurham.ca/LocalFood
, for Durham residents to access an up-to-date local food directory with information on products for sale, curbside pick-up and online delivery.
|
|
Bill 156, Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act passes second reading
|
|
Bill 156 has passed its second reading and has been referred to the Standing Committee on General Government. Bill 156 is designed to further protect farmers and animal processing plants from trespassers, along with protecting animals from breaches in biosecurity by trespassers.
|
|
Durham business owners: Have your say on broadband access in the region
|
|
Are you experiencing strain on your internet, or slow internet to start? With everyone spending more time at home, internet usage has spiked, and service quality may have degraded. How is your service holding up? Let us know!
Durham Region is studying ways to help expand internet service to areas of need. We recognize that now more than ever there is a need for affordable, reliable and fast internet. Please give us your feedback and help inform our broadband project.
|
|
Register for the Durham Region Home Flood Protection webinar
|
|
Floods can happen any time throughout the year and cause costly damages.
Prepare your home for the next flood by attending the Region of Durham’s Home Flood Protection webinar on
Tuesday, May 26
from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Register
online to attend this virtual event.
|
|
AgScape offers free online agriculture education resources
|
|
Are you looking for new ways to entertain your kids? Or, are you a teacher looking to add some more variety and fun to your lesson plan? Check out AgScape. They offer a variety of lessons and resources for teachers and virtual camps for kids! It is a fun and educational way for kids to learn more about food and farming.
|
|
Durham College Community Employment Services available for the agriculture sector
|
|
If you are looking to hire staff, contact Durham College Community Employment Services. They have a free job board to post job ads, consultants who can help find the right candidates for the job and programs to help cover the costs of training.
Take advantage of this great, free Durham employment resource. Visit
employmenthelp.ca
for more information.
|
|
Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority survey open to Durham Region grain farmers
|
|
The Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) is asking Durham Region grain farmers to complete a five minute survey. The HOPA is looking to gather more information about grain farming in the region to assist with future planning and improve service delivery.
|
|
Government funding available to support agri-food businesses to increase online presence
|
|
Apply for a grants of up to $5,000 towards developing an online presence or up to $75,000 in cost-share funding towards developing high impact online business opportunities
.
To learn more about additional funding available, including: subsidies for farms with foreign workers, rent assistance, additional lending capacity, loan and tax payment deferrals, wage subsidies, Canada Emergency Business Account and more, please visit:
ofa/summary-of-financial-assistance.
|
|
Durham Economic Task Force mobilizes to support Durham Region businesses
|
|
The Durham Economic Task Force (DETF) was formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide support to local businesses. It is comprised of Durham Region’s
Economic Development and Tourism team; all eight Durham Region-area municipal economic development teams, Business Advisory Centre of Durham (BACD); the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and all of Durham’s chambers of commerce and boards of trade.
The members have also been engaging with other key stakeholders including local business improvement associations.
One of the key actions of the DETF has been the development of a
web page
with resources for the business community. This includes information on how to source personal protective equipment, accessing government support and where to find business resources.
|
|
Follow Durham AgRural on Twitter!
|
|
For more frequent updates on Durham Region success stories, resources, local news, fun facts and more, follow the Agriculture and Rural Economic Development team on Twitter
@DurhamAgRural
.
|
|
The Durham Business Recovery Series is a set of webinars designed to support the local Durham Region business community by providing information on programs, services and tools that can assist with business recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
Contact Us
Toll-free: 1-800-706-9857
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).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
