COVID-19 continues to be a very real challenge in our region and across the province. As such, it is imperative that you follow the advice of public health officials. Wear your mask when out in public. Wash your hands regularly. Stick to your household as much as possible.

You can learn more on the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit's COVID-10 webpage. Additional resources can be found on the Town's COVID-19 page.

For more programs and resources please visit the Town of Wasaga Beach Business Recovery Portal. In order to serve you better, we are introducing more features to the portal page. New features include status badges and deadlines in program descriptions. We will continue to update these programs as they develop - be sure to check back.

Are you eager to launch a new business or expand your existing business in Wasaga Beach?

We have retail, commercial and industrial space, business supports, workshops, one-on-one counselling, and information about financial incentives to support your venture and help it thrive. On this page you will find local, regional, provincial and national resources to help you start or grow a business.

The Town of Wasaga Beach is undergoing a period of great change, and we invite you along for the ride. This page highlights some of our community's up-and-coming projects and show why now is a great time to invest in Wasaga Beach. Learn about the Downtown Development, Twinpad Arena and Library, the Gateway Casino and more. We will continue to update these project pages as they develop - be sure to check back.

The Façade Improvement Program is a FREE municipal Grant Program Package that assists property owners looking to revitalize and/or restore the frontage of their existing commercial, institutional and mixed-use buildings in town. Projects can include side and rear facing facades that have high public visibility.

The program will provide a grant up to 50% of the eligible costs up to $2,000 per project.

The following are eligible building façade projects that deal in the rehabilitation, restoration and improvement of existing commercial, institutional and mixed-use buildings.

For more information please view the Façade Improvement Grant Webpage or contact Economic Development staff.

Economic Development Officer

edo2@wasagabeach.com

(705) 429-3847 ext. 2284

At its meeting on December 22, 2020, Council made a decision to provide a Notice to the Registrar (of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) that the Town of Wasaga Beach has chosen to "opt-in" to the retail sale of recreational cannabis. The licensing of retail sales outlets will be done by the AGCO on behalf of the Province of Ontario.

Find out what retail cannabis means for our community and how you can keep informed. Learn more on the Town of Wasaga Beach Cannabis webpage.

The Town of Wasaga Beach has partnered with SGBT and the South Georgian Bay municipalities to offer complimentary business memberships for the entire South Georgian Bay tourism industry in 2021.

Register your tourism business to take advantage of this unique marketing opportunity. This is your chance to be part of the South Georgian Bay Tourism Association. Register for free today using the following link.

Wasaga Beach Businesses that can’t fully operate due to pandemic

The Ontario government is expanding the number of small businesses that can apply for the Main Street Relief Grant to help offset the costs of purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) to cautiously and gradually reopen in parts of the province. Small businesses with 2 to 19 employees in all eligible sectors - expanded from 2-9 employees - including those in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector, can now apply for up to $1,000 in financial support.

This one-time grant reimburses main street businesses for up to $1,000 in PPE costs incurred since March 17, 2020

TIAO announced that they will be extending the complimentary membership offer for the entire tourism industry in Ontario for 2021.

Find out more by emailing TIAO here.

Get more information about the Ontario Small Business Support Grant here.

To celebrate international Women's Day, the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce welcomes both men and women to celebrate at their upcoming fun and interactive Women In Business Awards & Mixology Cocktail Party on March 8th at 5:30pm! Get your tickets here and submit your nomination(s) online here.

The Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce also invites you to wear your workout clothes to their Business After 5 with Crossfit Mozomo Athletics on February 25 at 5:30pm. Stay connected, have some fun and win prizes. Register here.

In addition to sourcing and sharing these resources for you, our Economic Development Team is always ready and available to assist you and your business. Help us to help you. We welcome and encourage you to contact us with your questions, comments or ideas - we will do our best to steer you in the best direction as you look to start, grow or support your business - for today and tomorrow.

February 23 - Grow Your Brand on Instagram: Online Webinar

The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative - "Grow Your Brand on Instagram: Online Webinar by The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative About this Event: This workshop is for those that have already dipped their toes into the world of Instagram, and are looking to grow their business’s reach on the platform. We’ll explore different ways businesses are strategically building their following on Instagram. We’ll discuss strategies for account aesthetics, promotions, shopping and ecommerce, 'swipe up' links, stories, highlights and more."

Xcelerate Learning Series - "Do you have no idea what photos to post on your social media? Are you always using stock images and finding minimal engagement and return? Laura will cover how storytelling and impactful imagery can grab your viewers’ attention in an overwhelmingly digital world. From tips and tricks on creating show-stopping product shots to making your socials look sleek and professional, we will go through it all!"

Simcoe County - "The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact all aspects of our daily lives, including transforming the way we work, making employee mental health one of the most important issues facing workplaces today. To better understand how to support your employees' resilience during these uncertain times, business leaders are invited to join Hayley Peek, Mental Health Consultant and co-founder of 'Supporting Through Struggle TM'"

The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative - "It’s never been easier for small businesses to dip their toes into the world of ecommerce. Discover the fundamentals of selling online in this webinar that’s perfect for ecommerce beginners. You’ll learn: How to add ecommerce functionality to an existing website, How to sell through a third-party marketplace, How to build your whole website as an online store, What your options are for payment gateways and fees & How to integrate your online store to other digital systems like accounting and shipping."

The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative - "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. This webinar is presented in partnership with the Alliston BIA."

Xcelerate Learning Series - "You may have a clear idea of what to post on social media, but are you taking time to engage with your online audience? In this interactive presentation, Melissa will share activities to incorporate on your socials so you can boost your growth and engagement. Have your phone out & ready we will use it in this presentation!"

The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative - "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. You’ll learn: How to connect your website to Google Analytics, How to set up Google Analytics properly to filter out irrelevant traffic, How to create custom views and set goals within Google Analytics, How to generate 5 key reports to let you know how your website is performing, How to configure Google Analytics to automatically send you reports."

The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative - "Whether you have $0, $50, or $100 a month to spend on Facebook and Instagram, you can still reach your target customers and clients. Discover some creative ways to do so in this beginner-level webinar. You’ll learn: How the Facebook and Instagram algorithms work, so your content can cut through and be seen, even without spending money, How to decide when to boost a post, and how much to spend, What your options are for advertising on Facebook and Instagram, How to target your ads to your ideal customer or client based on demographics, geographic area, and more"

The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative - "When it comes to digital marketing, there are many things you can do yourself. But should you? Do you want to? In this workshop, a digital professional will give you all the tips for getting the most out of your working relationship. If you’re considering hiring a digital pro for website design, development, or social media management, this workshop is for you."

The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative - "This workshop is for those that have already dipped their toes into the world of Instagram, and are looking to grow their business’s reach on the platform. We’ll explore different ways businesses are strategically building their following on Instagram. We’ll discuss strategies for account aesthetics, promotions, shopping and ecommerce, “swipe up” links, stories, highlights and more."

The Ontario Digital Main Street Initiative - "Social media can be a very powerful tool for business growth, but first you need to know what it is and how it works. In this fun and interactive workshop, we’ll look at the basics of today’s popular social media channels—including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest—and decide which are right for you. You’ll develop a social media plan that will drive business results without a big investment of time and energy."

On January 28th, the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted Getting To Know Your Resources & Membership Benefits Open House. Discover the variety of programs, offers, and opportunities that are currently available to you and your business Click here to view the line-up of speakers who presented up-to-date news, resources and information about the support systems you can benefit from now.