Vol. 11 - Issue 1
January 21, 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
  • Digital Main Street Program Provides Support to Halton Hills’ Small Businesses
  • Applications Now Open for Ontario Small Business Support Grant
  • COVID-19 Government Support Program Updates for 2021
  • Halton Hills Economic Development Services and COVID-19 Information
  • COVID-19 Updates from the Town
Digital Main Street Program Provides Support to Halton Hills' Small Businesses
The Town received funding to administer the Digital Main Street (DMS) program in Halton Hills from October-December 2020. The DSM was created to support small businesses in Ontario by expanding and building their virtual or online offerings.

Halton Hills’ DMS was very successful and enabled the Town to support 67 local businesses by improving their digital presence. A wide range of small business sectors benefited from the program, including retail, food and beverage, arts and culture, health and wellness, and the trades.

Twenty-three local businesses received $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants through the program, resulting in $57,500 of grants flowing directly to Halton Hills’ businesses.
Applications Now Open for Ontario Small Businesses Support Grant
In response to the Province-wide shutdown that began in Ontario on December 26, 2020, the provincial government is offering one-time grants from $10,000 to $20,000 to eligible businesses such as:
  • Business that were required to close or significantly restrict services subject to the Ontario province wide shutdown on December 26, 2020.
  • Business that have less than 100 employees.
  • Businesses expected to experience a minimum of 20 per cent revenue decline as a result of the shutdown.

Registered charities and non-profit groups are also eligible to apply for funding. 
COVID-19 Government Support Program Updates for 2021
As of December 4, 2020, CEBA applicants can receive a $60,000 loan (an increase from the previous $40,000 maximum amount). Previous applicants who received the $40,000 CEBA loan may apply for the $20,000 expansion, and all applicants have until March 31, 2021 to apply.

CEWS is a wage subsidy program offered until June 2021 to qualifying employers who have seen a drop in revenue due to COVID-19. The CEWS wage subsidy rate has been increased from 65 per cent to 75 per cent for the period December 20, 2020 to March 13, 2021.

The CERS program replaces the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program, which ended on September 30, 2020.

The CERS program is available retroactive to September 27, 2020 and through June 2021, and is comprised of two parts: a base rent subsidy available to organizations that continue to endure declining revenues, as well as Lockdown Support which provides an additional top-up to organizations that must either close or significantly restrict their activities due to public health orders.

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

The CRB replaces the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) – which provided a $2,000 per month payment to Canadians who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and concluded in October 2020.

Though the CRB also provides $2,000 per month and has similar eligibility requirements, it is also now available to employees who have returned to work but taken a 50 per cent pay cut.

Small businesses with 1-9 employees in the retail, accommodation and food services, repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, gyms and yoga studios sectors can still apply for a one-time grant of up to $1,000 to help cover the costs of PPE and keep employees and customers safe.

Businesses required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to public health measures can still apply for rebates, provided in the form of grants, to help with their fixed costs. Business Support Grants portal.

Businesses who need assistance to pay their energy bills can also apply to the Ontario Energy Board.
Halton Hills Economic Development Services and COVID-19 Information
Halton Hills’ Economic Development, Innovation and Culture division provides a full suite of high-quality supports to the business community that in turn fosters a prosperous economy and enhances quality of life, including:
  • Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) programming.
  • Elevating and promoting Halton Hills’ competitiveness in the global marketplace.
  • Delivering a comprehensive Business Concierge program.
  • Site selection assistance.
  • Market research.
  • Industry engagement.
  • Implementation of the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and the Manufacturing Expansion Fund (MEF).
  • Amplifying tourism’s economic benefits.
  • Leveraging the arts and culture to raise quality of life.

Economic development staff are focused on engaging, informing and supporting the economic interests and needs of existing and future residents, businesses and/or organizations located in Halton Hills.
 
As part of an ongoing commitment to engage with and support the local business community, Economic Development staff continue to update and add to the Town’s COVID-19 Business Supports web page.
 
Staff is continuously gathering and updating information and supports to help businesses navigate through the resources being announced by all levels of government.
 
Contact the Town’s Economic Development for more information and assistance.
COVID-19 Updates from the Town
Stay up-to-date on the most recent COVID-19 updates from the Town. Click the subscribe button on the bottom right of the page and get updates right to your inbox on topics such as vaccinations, provincial announcements, service adjustments and more.
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