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COVID-19 Resources and Toolbox: Invest Durham and BACD Biz Toolbox

Next Cohort starts February 2021 - APPLY NOW

Starter Company PLUS is a great opportunity for budding entrepreneurs and existing business owners who are ready to start (market ready/ready to sell) to expand (hiring employees, contractors or getting a location) or buying a business in Durham Region - a grant of up to $5,000. Learn More

Offering women a virtual coaching & mentoring program to help start a new business, plus access to apply for a $2,000 microloan. For businesses operating less than 6 months. Learn More

Digital Durham Starter Company Program

Get your business online with help from the Digital Main Street Squad

Connect with our Team Leads Jamie Nowe and Orzala Quddusi today!

BACD Services for New and Existing Businesses

Our services include business guidance, resources, tools and training to support the entrepreneurial community.

Email us today or call 905-668-4949 to book an appointment

The BACD Expert Network continues to expand to provide businesses with expert advice. These local service providers are ready to help you grow your business.

Karen McIntosh, Lubu (Love you, Be you)

In this episode, Patrice Esper talks to Karen McIntosh, the owner of Love you, Be you (LUBU). Karen talks about how her business practices have changed since the pandemic and how she has educated herself to better her business. She also talks about networking and gives some tips and tricks!

Connect with Karen: 905-626-2274

Email | Website | Facebook

FREE Business Training Workshops - REGISTER NOW

Start Up Session: January 6, 14, 21, 27

Business Planning: January 7

Business Plan Masterclass: January 13, 26

Marketing & Sales: January 19

Financials & Operations: January 27

In this interactive session facilitated by Cheryl Wilson of The Makers Hub and Teresa Shaver from BACD, we will talk about 2020 and what we learned and then plan for a great 2021!

The Maker Meetup strives to create a common space for Artists, Crafters, Makers and Hobbyists to discuss challenges, share successes, create networks and to learn approaches that may grow your own business.

Join us for the ongoing membership program

Learn how to:

Ever wondered who’s visiting your website, and what they’re doing there? Google Analytics can tell you all of that and more. Discover the fundamentals of Google Analytics in this beginner-level webinar. Presented by The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative.

This webinar focuses on how prevalent mental illnesses and stigmatized attitudes are in the Canadian workplace. To reduce stigma in the workplace, we will educate your participants first on recognizing signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety in the workplace, and then how to respond. Presented in partnership with Bryson Insurance.

January 7, 14, 21, 28 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

The goal of ShopHERE Powered By Google is to build and optimize online stores for small independent businesses and artists in just a matter of days. With ShopHERE, businesses get to expand their selling opportunities into the online market. Presented by Digital Main Street.

January 11 | 10 - 11 AM

This 1-hour virtual workshop is for anyone who thinks their online content is not attracting the right buyers. Spark Centre’s Marketing Advisor, Marie Wiese will guide you through a process so you can succinctly and with authority answer the question, “why should I buy from you?” Your website is part of your sales funnel. Having a clear value proposition improves digital lead generation and sales performance. Presented by Spark Centre.

January 12 & 19 | 10 - 11:30 AM

This course will cover how to distinguish your brand from other brands in terms of associated brand attributes, benefits to users, and/or market segment emphasis. Great brands understand who their potential customers are, how they think, what they need, and very importantly, where they spend their time at. Presented by Ajax Pickering Board of Trade.

January 13 | 2 - 3:30 PM

In this interactive online Q&A session, we'll cover the financials you need to know as a business owner and how to calculate your break-even point. You'll get a unique opportunity to get simple and direct answers from experts about your most pressing financial questions. Presented by Digital Main Street Future Proof Program.

January 13 | 7 - 8:30 PM

There is a great deal to consider when you’re building a new website or redesigning an existing one. This beginner workshop covers everything you need to know, from choosing and registering a domain name, to building the website itself, to making sure it’s secure. Presented by The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative.

January 14 | 12 - 1 PM

Are you interested in diversifying your business by growing niche and specialty crops? Join us for our 4-part specialty crop workshop series to learn all about producing and marketing specialty crops. The first workshop will focus on specialty crops as a whole, with the following three sessions focusing on several specific specialty crops. Presented by Invest Durham.

COVID-RELATED RESOURCES

New Ontario Small Business Support Grant to Provide up to $20,000 for Eligible Businesses

For employers with non-unionized employees, the government is extending regulatory changes brought forward under the Employment Standards Act to July 3, 2021.

The CPA Canada Financial Literacy Program has put together resources to help small businesses manage their finances in conjunction with tools you needed because of the pandemic. Visit website

The government is taking targeted action to support Canadians and Canadian businesses, non-profits and charities that continue to face uncertainty and economic challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the media release

For questions about what will be open or impacts to your business, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659, or the Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729

To learn about their services, visit their website: pathwise.ca

Subscribe to our Step Up Your Business Podcast Series