SERVICES  | PROGRAMS | RESOURCES | EVENTS | ABOUT  | FAQ

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

Marlon has joined BACD on a contractual basis as a Business Advisor. Marlon brings experience as an entrepreneur, award winning inspirational speaker and as a speaking coach to support their business development.

A lifelong student of personal and professional development, Marlon's audacious goal is to read 50 books each year to increase his expertise and the value he provides to his clients. In 2018, Marlon was awarded the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation, the highest level of educational achievement in Toastmasters.

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

The Ontario Government's new grant provides a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to help eligible small business owners during this challenging period.

Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with dollar for dollar funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Provincewide Shutdown.

Summer Company Youth Entrepreneurship Program (for full time students aged 15-29)

We are now accepting applications until May 23rd, 2021.

Turn your idea into a business! The program starts in June/July and finishes by Labour Day and provides Ontario students ages 15-29 up to $3,000 and hands-on coaching and mentoring to help you start and operate your business.

There are changes to the program due to COVID. Learn more

Next Cohort starts February 2021 - APPLY NOW

Starter Company PLUS is a great opportunity for existing business owners who are market ready/ready to sell to expand their business through 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 Orzala Quddusi and Jamie Nowe and 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.

In this episode, Patrice Esper talks with Hannah about how she had to handle and adapt her business to thrive during COVID-19 and tips and tricks to stay on top of your business!

Connect with Hannah:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

We invite you to join business advisor Patrice Esper and our new virtual advisor Marlon Shaw to connect, network and build relationships online!

This session is open to all businesses.

Please register for the event so we can send you the Zoom link for the event.

Bring your lunch or support a local restaurant and order in!

FREE Business 101 Workshops - REGISTER NOW

Start working on the the next steps in your business with these free virtual sessions. Presented by one of our business advisors, we provide you with resources, answers to questions you might have and leave with an action plan. Take them in any order. We repeat them monthly.

Marketing & Sales: January 19; February 16

Start Up Session: January 21, 27; February 3; 9; 17; 24

Business Plan Masterclass: January 26; February 10; 23

Financials & Operations: January 27; February 25

Business Planning: February 4

January 21, 28 and February 4, 11, 18 | 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 19 | 1 - 2:30 PM

Please join the Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce along with, Monique Leroux, Vice-Chairman of Fiera Holdings Inc. and Chair of the Industry Strategy Council, Murad Al-Katib, President and CEO of AGT Foods, and Ben Cowan-Dewar, Co-founder and CEO of Cabot Links to discuss the Industry Strategy Council and Canada’s economic competitiveness. Presented by by Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

January 19 | 2 - 3:30 PM

This session is an interactive online Q&A session that’ll teach you how to start, grow, or scale your email marketing to make more profit. Presented by by Digital Main Street.

January 19 | 7 - 8 PM

You don't need a big budget to get noticed on the web - you just need creativity! Savvy businesses are using bootstrap digital marketing techniques to amplify their message online. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn the tricks and tools needed to market your business effectively on a shoestring budget. Webinar by The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative.

January 20 | 9:30 - 10:30 AM

COVID-19 had a significant impact on both the economy as well as all of our lives in 2020. We expect that to continue for the months ahead in 2021. As we ring in the new year, we invite you to join Dan Condon and Christine Ashton on January 20, 2021 for a webinar which will address the top concerns for employers as 2021 begins in order to ensure that your business is positioned to thrive in 2021. Presented by APBOT.

January 20 | 1 - 2:30 PM

On the second anniversary of legalization of recreational cannabis for adult use, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s National Cannabis Working Group is launching an industry-led review of the Cannabis Act to provide recommendations on how the government should improve Canada’s federal legislative and regulatory frameworks for cannabis. Presented by Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Learn how you can diversify your business with specialty crops through our 4-part workshop series led by OMAFRA crop specialists. Presented by Invest Durham.

Listen to Christina Fuda, Mental Health First Aid Coordinator at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences to listen to her talk about supporting our mental health at work during Covid-19. Presented by Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce.

Return to Work Considerations – Pre & Post COVID Vaccinations

This webinar will cover the key elements for employers when managing COVID-19

related issues. Presented by CBOT.

January 28 | 6 PM

Katie Zeppieri of Girl Talk Speakers sits down with one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women - Bailey Parnell.

Bailey is the Founder and CEO of SkillsCamp - a soft skills training company that works with businesses and educational institutions to help their staff and students develop the essential skills needed for personal and professional success like personal branding, stress-management, emotional intelligence and more. She is also the Founder of #SafeSocial, an organization that helps people understand the impact that social media has on mental health. Presented by Spark Centre in partnership with BACD.

More events can be found on the Invest Durham calendar and from local Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce

An original podcast from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. This podcast is different from other financial podcasts as it takes a business to business perspective, speaking directly to financial educators as opposed to providing tips directly to the consumer. We bring up key issues, trends and tips as they relate to financial education for many different audiences.

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