Vol. 11 - Issue 8
SPECIAL EDITION October 14, 2021
GLOBAL - INNOVATIVE - DISTINCT
Watch the video to see why Halton Hills is a great place to do business.

The Town of Halton Hills continues to take proactive, decisive and coordinated action to respond to COVID-19 and to support the local business community


Town Celebrates Small Business Week
  • Halton Hills Celebrates Small Business Week
  • “Picture Perfect Products” at the Halton Hills Public Library October 19 – 22
  • Town Launching “Shop the Hills” Contest on October 18
  • Digital Main Street Program Now Underway in Halton Hills
  • Halton Hills Economic Development Services & COVID-19 Information
Pictured (left to right): Alex Hilson, Coordinator with the Downtown Acton BIA; Melanie Frazer, Executive Director with the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce; Yaw Ennin, Manager with the Downtown Georgetown BIA; and Mayor Rick Bonnette.
Halton Hills Celebrates Small Business Week
The Town of Halton Hills is launching two new initiatives in celebration of Small Business Week to support new and growing businesses, and aid in the recovery and resiliency of local small businesses. Small Business Week 2021 will run from October 17-23. It is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship that the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has organized for over 42 years.

Small Business Week initiatives support and build on the Town’s Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan (ERRP) – a plan designed to help businesses stay open during the pandemic and become more resilient over time.
"Picture Perfect Products" at the Halton Hills Public Library October 19 - 22
“Picture Perfect Products” is one of two initiatives set to be launched during Small Business Week (October 17 - 23) that will support small businesses in Halton Hills.

Local small businesses, including start-ups, home-based businesses, and entrepreneurs, are invited to book free studio space and equipment at the Halton Hills Public Library for DIY product photography between October 19 - 22. This program is a partnership between the Town of Halton Hills’ Economic Development, Innovation and Culture Division, and the Halton Hills Public Library.

Local businesses are encouraged to take advantage of this exclusive space, equipped with a lightbox and tripod, to create picture perfect shots of their business products. You can book the space on your own or schedule a block of time with a professional photographer that can provide one-on-one support. 
Town Launching "Shop the Hills" Contest
on October 18
The “Shop the Hills” Contest is the second local initiative being launched as part of Small Business Week, and the latest addition to the Halton Hills’ comprehensive ‘Shop Local’ campaign.

Beginning on October 18, the contest will send local shoppers on a scavenger hunt to retail locations around Halton Hills for a chance to win one of ten $100 Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce gift cards. Gift card tins will be hidden around Town with clues to their locations posted on the Town’s social media channels twice weekly.

The contest is part of the wider ‘Shop Local' campaign that is being implemented in partnership with the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, Acton BIA and Georgetown BIA. The contest includes several initiatives designed to help raise awareness and increase spending at local businesses.

For “Shop the Hills” scavenger hunt clues, follow @VisitHaltonHills on Instagram.
Digital Main Street Program Now Underway
in Halton Hills
The Town of Halton Hills has launched a new phase of the Digital Main Street program that will run through February 2022. The program is also an integral part of the Town’s Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan to support local businesses.
 
The new iteration of the program allows more small businesses (including those located outside of BIAs and downtown main streets) to apply for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant that can be used towards new websites, software, and hardware.
 
Through February 2022, Halton Hills’ Digital Service Squad (DSS) will assist small businesses in several areas, including developing a “Google My Business” profile, enhancing their social media presence, and providing support for basic website and e-commerce set-up. The DSS will also assist eligible small businesses to apply for the Digital Transformation Grant administered through the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association.
 
Business owners interested in meeting with a DSS member and/or applying for the Digital Transformation Grant are encouraged to contact DMS@haltonhills.ca.
 
Halton Hills Digital Main Street program launched on September 1, 2021, and the deadline to apply for a Digital Transformation Grant is October 31, 2021.
Halton Hills Economic Development Services
& COVID-19 Information
Halton Hills’ Economic Development, Innovation and Culture division provides a full suite of high-quality services and supports to the business community that in turn foster a prosperous economy and enhance quality of life. These include:
 
  • Financial incentives via the Community Improvement Plan (CIP)
  • Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) programming
  • Investment attraction, expansion and relocation
  • Business Concierge service
  • Site selection assistance
  • Market research
  • Industry engagement
  • Workforce development
  • Supporting and advancing affordable housing projects and initiatives
  • Amplifying tourism’s economic benefits
  • Leveraging and supporting the arts and culture sector to raise quality of life
 
The Town offers existing and potential businesses a strategic platform for success, proximity to world-class markets, a distinct community with an ideal balance between urban and rural environments, and an outstanding quality of life.
 
As part of an ongoing commitment to engage with and support the local business community, Economic Development staff continue to update the Town’s COVID-19 Business Supports web page.
 
Please contact the Town’s Economic Development staff if you require assistance.
Please note:
Pictures used in this e-newsletter are for illustration purposes only
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