Vol. 10 - Issue 25
December 4, 2020
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
  • Grant Deadline Extension for Halton Hills’ Digital Main Street Program
  • Applications Open for Ontario Main Street Relief Grant for Personal Protective Equipment
  • Property Tax and Energy Bill Rebates
  • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) Program
  • Small Business Networking Platform coming to Halton as first Digital Main Street Community Collaboration Project
  • 17 Guelph Street: Potential Affordable Housing Initiative for Halton Hills
  • Visit InvestHaltonHills.com for COVID-19 Business Support Programing and Information
Grant Deadline Extension for Halton Hills' Digital Main Street Program
Several local businesses have already taken advantage of the Town’s Digital Main Street program and some have been awarded Digital Transformation Grants. The deadline to apply for the $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant has been extended to December 15.

The Town’s Digital Service Squad (DSS) member assists businesses with:

  • Completing an audit of their digital presence (website, social media, etc.)
  • Adopting new technology for their business
  • Enhancing digital marketing and social media
  • Building a basic website or improving an existing one
  • Optimizing online presence through tools like Google My Business
  • Setting up online ordering systems
  • Creating customer databases
Applications Open for Ontario Main Street Relief Grant for Personal Protective Equipment
The province is providing a one-time grant of up to $1,000 for eligible main street small businesses — in retail, food and accommodations, and other service sectors — with two to nine employees, in order to help offset the unexpected costs of personal protective equipment (PPE). Businesses can check their eligibility and complete their application online.
Property Tax and Energy Bill Rebates
Eligible businesses that were required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures can now apply for rebates, provided in the form of grants, to help with their fixed costs.

Going forward, businesses in areas categorized as “control” or “lockdown” are eligible to apply (Halton Hills and Halton Region are currently in the Red Level/Control). 
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) Program
Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to COVID-19 may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses until June 2021.

The CERS will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring the participation of landlords.

Qualifying organizations can apply directly for CERS through the Canada Revenue Agency.
Small Business Networking Platform Coming to Halton as First Digital Main Street Community Collaboration Project
Haltech and the Halton Small Business Centre have announced their first Community Collaboration Project as part of the Digital Main Street Future Proof Program in Halton.

Technology company TrustD.space has been selected to help launch a digital networking platform to help small businesses in Halton.

The new online community hub will help small business owners and employees recover from COVID-19 restrictions by offering free access to virtual networking and discussion groups. There will also be online events and opportunities to connect in various communities of interest.

Beta Testing for the online community hub is expected to start on December 10 and the public roll-out is expected by mid-January.

If you are interested in being a beta tester for the new platform, please send an email to smallbusiness@halton.ca with “Beta Test” in the subject line.
17 Guelph Street: Potential Affordable Housing Initiative for Halton Hills
Healthy communities need a range and mix of housing options, including rentals, to support a strong and diverse workforce. Yet securing housing that is appropriate, accessible and affordable is becoming more difficult for households across Ontario.

One potential housing solution for Halton Hills is to facilitate the creation of mixed-income communities on Town-owned lands. 17 Guelph Street, the former ambulance site, is a Town-owned surplus property that has been identified as a potential location for this type of development. We are looking at a range of housing options for the site, including market and affordable units and we need your input. 
Visit Invest Halton Hills for COVID-19 Business Support Programming and Information
As part of its ongoing commitment to engage with and support the local business community, the Town continues to update and add to its COVID-19 Business Supports web page. We are continuously gathering information and supports to help you navigate through the resources being announced by all levels of government.
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