Brockton Business Newsletter
June 25, 2021
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COVID-19 Reopening Plan Accelerated |
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The province will be moving into Stage 2 of its COVID-19 reopening plan on Wednesday, June 30th, enabling hard-hit salons and personal services providers to finally take clients. Face coverings must be worn, and capacity will be capped at 25%.
Capacity limits will increase for both essential and "non-essential" retailers (to 50% and 25% respectively), and restaurants will be allowed to seat up to 6 people per table, outdoors.
The limit for outdoor gatherings will increase to 25 people, and up to 5 will be permitted indoors.
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Patio, signage, facade grants available! |
Funding is available for Walkerton businesses looking to improve their storefronts, set up a patio, or hang a new sign.
The Municipality of Brockton's Facade Improvement Program offers 50% funding for such projects, to a maximum of $1,500, and is easy to apply for. Details can be found on our Facade Improvement Program webpage.
Bruce County is also still accepting applications for Spruce the Bruce grants, for up to $4,000. They are available to downtown businesses that did not receive funding in 2020. Eligible projects include sidewalk patios, facade improvements, signage, perpendicular signs, awnings and collaborative marketing.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 30th.
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Visitor Information Centre Open in Lobies Park |
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The Municipality is offering visitor services from the new campground office in Lobies Park, providing maps, guides, and up to date information about COVID-19 regulations and safe activities for residents and visitors alike. The campground is almost fully booked for the summer, with sites spaced double the usual distance apart.
If your business has brochures, coupons or take-out menus that you would like to make available to campers and other visitors, please let us know.
This is also a good time to ensure that your FREE listing on our website, VisitWalkerton.com, is up to date. There is no charge to add photos, social media links, reviews, and a full description of your services. Go to my.touristtown.ca and use your email to log in and update your listing. If you can't get in, click on "forgot my password" or email danielle@touristtown.ca. The website is promoted through the Municipality of Brockton, Tourist Town and Explore the Bruce. |
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Strategic Action Plan Update |
The Municipality's Strategic Action Plan process is moving ahead with valuable input through public surveys and virtual meetings with several stakeholder groups, including Brockton retailers, manufacturers, developers, realtors and agricultural producers, as well as our Economic Development Committee. Council and staff are considering all recommendations and hope to have a final plan approved by Council later this summer. Thank you to all who have participated!
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Natural Gas Approved for Brockton |
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Natural gas connections are coming to over 500 businesses and homes in rural Brockton over the next few years, through a $20.3-million project by EPCOR Ontario Utilities Inc. approved recently by the provincial government. Work is expected to begin in 2022.
“We are extremely pleased that the Province of Ontario has approved this important project for Brockton, and we thank our local MPPs Lisa Thompson and Bill Walker for their hard work and commitment to seeing this through,” said Mayor Chris Peabody. “This will enable our agribusinesses, developers and smaller businesses in our rural hamlets and villages to remain competitive."
Local residents and businesses showed overwhelming support for the EPCOR project through a public survey in January, and Council has supported the initiative from its inception.
The cost savings for local agricultural producers and businesses will be significant, said Brockton Chief Administrative Officer Sonya Watson. “Brockton is the leader in agricultural production in Bruce County, and access to natural gas tops the wish list of many of our largest producers, from grain drying operations to biogas producers and poultry, dairy and beef operations,” she said. “We have been working hard on this project for many years, and it is heartening to see it come to fruition as we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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Need business assistance or further information about programs highlighted in this newsletter? Please contact Community Economic Development Coordinator Paulette Peirol at ppeirol@brockton.ca or call 519-881-2223 ext 131. Brockton staff are available by email or phone and are working diligently to serve the community and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Updated information about the coronavirus is available on our website, at www.brockton.ca/COVID-19.
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