The Listowel BIA
e-Newsletter
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We are happy to see signs of spring and to be open again! As always, we are marketing Listowel and our business community through radio, print, social media and general promotions. Our Coordinator continues to work from her home office but is available via email at lschaefer@northperth.ca or by phone at 519-444-8233. Please reach out to us at anytime. |
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Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Our AGM will be held on April 7 at 7pm. Given current covid restrictions, the AGM will be held virtually. During our meeting, we will review highlights from 2020, outline our marketing plan and initiatives for 2021 and have a keynote address!
Brayden Gingrich, owner of Off The Lens Media, will present our keynote address. He will present:
The 5 Simple Tweaks to Improve Your Digital Marketing
Brayden from Off the Lens Media will share 5 simple tweaks that you can make on your digital marketing approach to see results. Over the past 7 years, Off The Lens Media have compiled a list of common mistakes businesses often make unintentionally when selling to customers, branding, and reaching their audiences online. Brayden will speak to these mistakes and then share how you can avoid them and improve your digital presence. After the presentation, Brayden will be available for a Q&A.
About Off The Lens Media:
Started in 2015, Off The Lens set out to help businesses change the way they market online. Using high quality video, targeted online ads and custom brand strategies, they help small businesses like yours get on their feet and dominate their space. With their passion for helping others, they are aiming to change the online marketing space, and how business owners look at investing in themselves and their brands.
As this meeting is being held virtually, it is necessary to RSVP in order to receive instructions on how to attend. To attend, email Lisa at lschaefer@northperth.ca
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Listowel Loves Local Campaign
In an effort to support local businesses that have been hard hit financially by COVID-19, the Listowel BIA launched the Listowel Loves Local campaign last month, to continue to encourage locals to shop local and to take the Listowel Loves Local Pledge. Those that took the pledge were automatically entered to win Shop Local Dollars to spend in our community.
To take the pledge, locals had to commit to four specific actions which were:
- I’ll continue to take my personal safety and the safety of those around me seriously.
- As my budget permits, I’ll shop at one or more Listowel (or surrounding North Perth) businesses each week (restaurants, retailers, and service providers).
- When I am buying a gift for someone I care about, I will consider local options first.
- I will use my digital presence (likes, comments, saves, shares, and reviews) to support local businesses.
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Thank you to Local Businesses!
A special shout out to Off The Lens Media, IDA Listowel, the Listowel Florist and Diana Sweets Restaurant for supporting our Listowel Loves Local campaign! Thanks to them, we were able to provide extra prizes throughout the campaign and build momentum for the pledge program!
The prizes were:
- Diana Sweets - two $50 gift cards
- Off The Lens Media - three $100 shop local dollar packages
- Listowel Florist - ten fresh flower bouquets
- IDA - four $25 gift cards
THANK YOU for your support!
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Upcoming Chamber Initiatives
The North Perth Chamber of Commerce is inviting our community to go green! This year our annual Paddyfest festivities are not moving forward as planned but we can still get into the spirit and put our green decorations out and look forward to next year!
The Chamber is also moving their Home and Lifestyle Show to a radio style event. If you are interested in participating, see the poster for details.
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Business Helping Businesses Facebook Networking Group
The North Perth Chamber of Commerce with support from the Listowel BIA has launched a new Networking Group page on Facebook. This is where North Perth businesses can unite online to support each other, share experiences and develop a network of peers. All North Perth businesses are welcome. To join the group, go HERE.
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Discover Listowel New Fall Winter Video
The Listowel BIA has developed a new fall/winter video to showcase all that Listowel has to offer. Check out the video on our website at www.discoverlistowel.com or HERE. We hope you enjoy it. We are starting to plan our updated summer video now.
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Government Covid-19 Announcements
Provincial Government:
The deadline to apply to the Ontario Small Business Support Grant is March 31, 2021. This program provides eligible small businesses with a grant of between $10,000 - $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Provincewide Shutdown. There is a step-by-step instruction video available to assist organizations with the application process.
The PPE Support grant offered by the Provincial Government is now available to main street businesses with 2 to 19 employee; previously this grant was available to small businesses with up to 9 employees. This grant provides eligible small businesses with up to $1,000 to help offset the costs of purchasing PPE. More information about this grant can be found HERE.
The Government of Ontario recently simplified the eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) making it easier for those struggling with their electricity and natural gas bills to access financial assistance. Through CEAP-SB, eligible small businesses and registered charities can receive a one-time, on-bill credit to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments. Amounts of support have also been increased. A small business or registered charity can now receive up to $1500 towards their electricity and natural gas bills. Funding is limited with applications being processed on a first-come, first-served basis. More information on CEAP-SB and how to apply can be found at the Ontario Energy Board’s website at www.oeb.ca/ceap.
Federal Government:
As a reminder the application portal for the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HACAP) opened Feb.1, 2021. This program will provide eligible businesses with low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs. Please see the HACAP website for more information including eligible criteria. This is available to June.
Restaurant Relief Support:
There is a new private sector relief fund to help support as many Ontario food and beverage establishments as possible in reopening and recovering from the financial setbacks of the pandemic. Hockey legend Darryl Sittler has laced up his skates to endorse the Restaurant & Bar Support Fund, which looks to raise as much as $5 million for Ontario restaurants, bars, pubs, pool halls and sports bars.
The Restaurant & Bar Support Fund -- www.RestaurantAndBarSupportFund.ca -- is a registered not-for-profit established by concerned individuals who do not want to see the predicted numbers of closures and bankruptcies in Ontario’s food and beverage sector. The Restaurant & Bar Support Fund website has full details for both businesses looking for assistance and for donors looking to contribute to the Fund.
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COVID HEALTH UPDATES
With vaccine supply stabilizing and over two million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine expected from the federal government before the end of March, the province is ready to enter Phase Two of its vaccine rollout. Between April 2021 and July 2021, up to nine million Ontarians will be vaccinated. During Phase Two, groups that will receive the vaccine include:
- Older adults between 60-79 years of age;
- Individuals with specific health conditions and some primary caregivers;
- People who live and work in congregate settings and some primary caregivers;
- People who live in hot spots with high rates of death, hospitalizations and transmission; and,
- Certain workers who cannot work from home.
You can find more information HERE.
Huron Perth Public Health region is in the Yellow-Protect level of the provincial framework. To view frequently asked questions and additional tools for workplaces, visit the COVID-19 information page for workplaces, employers and employees on the HPPH website HERE or contact Huron Perth Public Health at 1-888-221-2133.
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Municipality of North Perth Supports
Shop Local North Perth is an e-commerce marketplace hosted by the Municipality of North Perth with the purpose of supplying an online platform to support and connect North Perth businesses with buyers. If you are a North Perth business or organization and have a product or service to offer for a set price, you can join this marketplace. For more information or to register, email contact@shoplocalnorthperth.ca or check out the media release HERE.
North Perth also has a website listing for businesses to let customers know of hours, services, and general operations during this time. Email Kim Kowch to add or update your business information to the North Perth Eats and Open for Business North Perth pages on the Municipality of North Perth website.
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Please reach out to us if you have any questions, comments, or require assistance. We will continue to promote supporting local during this time through various channels including social media, radio and print.
You can reach Lisa Schaefer, Coordinator, by email at lschaefer@northperth.ca or by phone at 519-444-8233.
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© Office of the Municipality of North Perth, 330 Wallace Ave. N., Listowel ON N4W 1L3
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