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In this challenging and constantly changing business environment, the West Niagara Chambers of Commerce want to support our Members by providing relevant and up-to-date information. This includes government announcements and support programs, resources, webinars, surveys, and other important updates.

This is a collaborative email to share information that applies to our memberships at large, sent on behalf of the Grimsby Chamber, Lincoln Chamber, and West Lincoln Chamber.

From the West Niagara Chambers of Commerce
With the end of the province-wide stay-at-home order coming near and the long weekend right around the corner, it is important to remain vigilant and continue to drive numbers down to reduce the threat of COVID-19 variants.

Please stay home unless for essential reasons or unless you are participating in the approved outdoor recreational activities, and continue to wash your hands frequently, wear a mask, and physical distance.

Find guidelines and recommendations from Ontario Public Health on preventing the spread of COVID-19 here.

With that being said, enjoy yourselves this weekend! We hope you have a chance to kick back, relax, and safely enjoy some time spent in this warm weather!
The West Niagara Chambers of Commerce are dedicated to supporting local businesses during the pandemic through advocacy, connecting you to information and resources, offering a space to develop a support system of Chamber peers, and more. Please reach out to Rebecca Shelley (Grimsby), Lindsey Hendriks (Lincoln), or Denise Potter (West Lincoln) if there is anything our Chambers can do to assist your organization during these difficult times.

We're with you!
Government of Ontario
Current stay-at-home order remains in place until June 2, but outdoor sports reopen.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced today that outdoor sports are set to reopen across the province on Saturday, May 22 as part of a three-step plan aimed at gradually allowing more indoor and outdoor activities to resume by the end of summer. 

Outdoor sports include the following:
  • Parks and recreational areas 
  • Baseball diamonds
  • Batting cages
  • Soccer, football, and sports fields 
  • Tennis courts
  • Basketball courts
  • BMX parks 
  • Skate parks 
  • Golf courses
  • Frisbee golf 
  • Cycling tracks and bike trails
  • Horse riding facilities
  • Shooting ranges 
  • Ice rinks 
  • Playgrounds 
  • Boat and watercraft launches
  • Archery ranges
  • Other winter sport activities 

The current stay-at-home order is still in place until June 2, with the exception of these newly announced outdoor recreational activities.

Three-step plan

Under this new three-step plan, restrictions will be eased gradually through June, July, and August based on vaccination rates and key public health indicators.

The three phases of the province's plan are as follows:
  • Phase one - planned to start the week of June 13
  • An initial focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower.
  • This includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining with up to 4 people per table, and non-essential retail at 15 percent capacity. 
  • Phase two
  • Further expanding outdoor activities and resuming limited indoor services with small numbers of people.
  • This includes outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people, outdoor sports and leagues, personal care services, as well as indoor religious services, rites, or ceremony gatherings at 15 percent capacity.
  • All indoor gatherings in this phase will require face coverings. 
  • Phase three
  • Expanding access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are large numbers of people and where face coverings can't always be worn.
  • This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness, indoor dining, museums, art galleries, libraries, casinos, and bingo halls, with capacity limits.

The province says it will remain in each step of its plan for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health indicators. If at the end of the 21 days, the following vaccination thresholds have been met, along with positive trends in other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move to the next step:
  • Step 1: 60 percent of adults vaccinated with one dose.
  • Step 2: 70 percent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 percent vaccinated with two doses.
  • Step 3: 70 to 80 percent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 percent vaccinated with two doses.

Read the whole article here.
Niagara Region
Retention Niagara Survey
Understanding employer expectations is important.

That's why The Niagara Chamber Partnership, in cooperation with Trusted Time Inc. and the Niagara Workforce Planning Board, created a survey for businesses to help improve their employee retention, engagement, and productivity.

This survey is open to all employees working in all industries across Niagara!
Niagara Region Economic Rapid Response Team (ERRT)
The Niagara Region Economic Rapid Response Team is committed to offering long-term, ongoing support to help ensure Niagara's businesses remain supported and connected throughout these unprecedented times, and re-emerge prosperous and sustainable.

Additional stakeholders like the Lincoln, Grimsby, and West Lincoln Chambers of Commerce have been, and will continue to be, critical partners in assuring that communications about new programs are widely shared and businesses' challenges are being brought to the forefront.

Niagara’s ERRT now has up-to-date information on the state of recovery of Niagara’s businesses, thanks to a recently completed Niagara COVID-19 Business Impact Survey - Part 3.
 
This survey ran from March 29 to April 16, 2021, and was completed by 786 respondents from all 12 municipalities.

Click here to read the key findings.

And click here to view the ERRT's complete Plan.
Niagara College Industry Partner Intake
Thanks to government funding and service opportunities available within Niagara College Innovation Centres, Niagara College’s Research & Innovation division is currently offering small and medium-sized businesses a way to advance their product development, improve their performance, or take an innovative leap forward!

Niagara College can help solve your innovation challenges related to technology adoption, in the sectors of: 
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Food & beverage
  • Agriculture/greenhouse and environmental technologies
  • Business & commercialization

The Niagara College team of expert faculty, students, and researchers from their Innovation Centres will work with businesses to access resources to address technology and innovation challenges. As a result of this partnership opportunity, industry partners will:
  • Develop new prototypes, products, and procedures
  • Explore shelf-life exhaustion
  • Enhance greenhouse operations
  • Test results that validate their products and services
  • Advance horticultural practices
  • Improve manufacturing production process
  • Bring their products closer to market
  • Gain market research, marketing plans and/or social media plans

For more information, access these resources below:
Vaccination Information
New Vaccination Clinic Dates Available as Eligibility Expands to 18+
Those who are 18 and over are now eligible to book a COVID-19 vaccination!

New clinic dates have now been added into the provincial booking system for Niagara for June 1-5 at MacBain Community Centre in Niagara Falls.

Appointments are also still available at clinics in Pelham, West Lincoln, and Port Colborne in May.

Eligible residents can book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination either online through the provincial portal or by calling the provincial booking system at 1-833-943-3900.

Most recently, the following groups became eligible to book an appointment:
  • Individuals age 40+ (born in 1981 or earlier)
  • Those with at-risk health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
  • People who cannot work from home (Group Two) including grocery store and restaurant workers 

For a complete list of those currently eligible, visit the vaccination webpage.

To view Ontario's entire COVID-19 vaccination plan, click here.
Upcoming Events
Complimentary Webinar on Tax and Government Subsidy Updates
Join DJB’s Tax Managers, Lynne Vidal, and Neil Patel, on May 27 from 12:00 - 12:35 as they host an informative webinar covering a number of important tax updates.

The presentation will include commentary on the Federal and Ontario budgets, as well as COVID-19 government subsidies.
Share YOUR Message

Want to place your communication in our collaborative newsletter? For just $150 + HST, we’ll send your message to our collective 1000+ contacts!

Limited to one paid spot per bi-weekly newsletter edition, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Content to be approved by all three Chambers ahead of time. Must be a member (associate or full) of all three Chambers.

Contact your home Chamber for more details and to reserve your spot:

Contact Your Local Chamber
Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce

Executive Director

Lincoln
Chamber of Commerce

Executive Director

West Lincoln
Chamber of Commerce

Executive Director

This email was sent by on behalf of the West Niagara Chambers of Commerce, which consists of the Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and the West Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. You have received this email because you subscribed to our newsletters; your email address will not be shared and will be used only for these updates.
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Please contact your local Chamber if you have any questions or concerns.