Business Basics Workshop provides tools for new entrepreneurs in Haldimand County
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – On Monday, May 29, 2023 Haldimand County Economic Development and Tourism is partnering with the Brantford Business Resource Centre and the Grand Erie Business Centre to bring the Business Basics Workshop to Haldimand County.
This interactive workshop will walk you through the basic start-up requirements including: registering a business and choosing a business name (the process and cost), legal entity structures (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation) and their advantages and disadvantages, sources of financing, essential government & industry regulations (licensing, permits, zoning, taxation, WSIB, payroll), business planning and legal and insurance considerations.
“We are seeing an increasing interest in starting small and home-based businesses in Haldimand County. This workshop is a great opportunity for new entrepreneurs and those thinking about starting a business to learn the basics,” explained Lidy Romanuk, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism.
This free workshop will be offered in a hybrid format on Monday, May 29, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. – in person at the Haldimand County Administration Building – Haldimand Room, 53 Thorburn Street South, Cayuga or Virtual via Zoom.
Haldimand County is proud to announce the launch of a new Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) program designed to support and grow local businesses.
Officially titled Real Haldimand Business Support, the BR+E program will focus on identifying and addressing the needs of existing businesses in the County, with the goal of retaining and expanding current businesses, as well as implementing actions that will support the attraction of new businesses to the area. The program will provide a range of services to local businesses, including one-on-one interviews with economic development staff, follow-up supports connecting business owners to applicable resources, expansion information and available industry-specific marketing opportunities.
The program also includes a targeted BR+E survey that’s used during confidential one-on-one interviews to gather information from local businesses about their current operations, challenges, and future plans. The intent of the survey is to support businesses looking to expand, identify areas where businesses may be struggling, and to provide information that can be used to develop policies and programs that will help key sectors to grow and thrive.
“Haldimand County is home to a diverse and vibrant business community, and we are committed to supporting the growth and success of our local businesses,” said Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Haldimand County Economic Development & Tourism Division. “Real Haldimand Business Support will provide the resources and support those businesses need to thrive, maintain their operations in Haldimand and create jobs. Now is the right time to check in with our businesses to better understand the lasting impacts of the past three years and any resulting opportunities or change in priorities. In addition to helping our businesses succeed, information gathered from this program will allow us to assess any changes we might need to make with our existing strategic plans.”
The BR+E program is looking to engage businesses of all types, and will place additional emphasis on connecting with businesses in some of Haldimand’s key industries: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism, Downtown Retail, Professional Services and Healthcare. These sectors are vital to the local economy, and the program will work to identify and address the unique needs of these businesses.
Businesses interested in learning more about the program or getting involved can contact Jaymie Nelson, Project Manager Business Retention & Expansion at Opportunity@HaldimandCounty.on.ca to schedule an interview, or visit the website to fill out a contact form. All businesses large and small are encouraged to connect.
In light of the potential weather event and warning, Haldimand County has made the difficult decision to postpone the Business Excellence Breakfast event to Wednesday, April 26, 2023. The safety of all attendees is our top concern. We look forward to now welcoming businesses on the rescheduled date of Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
This is a free networking event at the Riverside Exhibition Centre in Caledonia. The Business Excellence Breakfast is presented by Haldimand County in partnership with the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program, Grand Erie Business Centre and Caledonia Agricultural Society.
This year’s breakfast will feature Eric Termuende speaking about One-Degree Shifts: Building Tomorrow’s Greatest Places to Work. In this engaging and takeaway-loaded presentation, workplace expert Eric Termuende will share what years of research, stories and insights uncover about the one-degree shifts leaders use to adapt to an ever-changing world around them and build incredible teams.
“The Business Excellence Breakfast is an opportunity for Haldimand County to thank our local businesses for all they do to make Haldimand County a great place to live and work,” said Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley. “This year in particular, we would like to celebrate and acknowledge businesses for their achievements and challenges that they have overcome through the pandemic.”
“This event is also a great opportunity to connect with other local business owners, partners and members of Council,” added Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism.
The My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator program is delivered by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario with an overall Government of Canada investment of $23.25 million through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to support the recovery and strength of main streets and local businesses in southern Ontario.
“Main streets play a vital role in growing local communities and economies for everyone, said the Honorable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “The Government of Canada will continue to invest in My Main Street and the small businesses the program serves, resulting in local economic growth and more vibrant neighbourhoods for Canadians and their families to call home.”
Haldimand County invites local business owners, representatives from Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Areas and business organizations across the county to attend. There is no cost to attend but registration is required, visit the www.haldimandcounty.ca/business and follow the links for the Business Excellence Breakfast or reach out to opportunity@haldimandcounty.on.ca (905) 318-5932 ext. 6331 to RSVP.
Main streets play a vital role in growing the Canadian economy and supporting local communities. Haldimand County, in partnership with Grand Erie Business Centre and with funding received through the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program, would like to acknowledge 20 local small business owners who have received a non-repayable contribution of $10,000.
The My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program is a data-driven community economic development initiative focused on revitalizing main streets with a healthy retail mix, while providing new and existing businesses on main streets with new economic opportunities.
With the funding received from My Main Street, participating Haldimand County businesses have been able to expand their businesses through the purchase of new products and equipment, diversify their service offerings and product lines, make leasehold improvements, and in some cases, start new businesses.
Haldimand County congratulates the following businesses that demonstrated ideas that will contribute to the downtown retail environment and increase foot traffic to their own business as well as neighbouring main street businesses.
Jarvis
Luxe and Company Leasehold improvements to increase hospitality for customers.
The My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator program is delivered by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario with an overall Government of Canada investment of $23.25 million, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to support the recovery and strength of main streets and local businesses in southern Ontario.
Quotes
“Main streets play a vital role in growing local communities and economies for everyone. The Government of Canada will continue to invest in My Main Street and the small businesses the program serves, resulting in local economic growth and more vibrant neighbourhoods for Canadians and their families to call home.”
The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“The program has changed the scale of how we think about our business, we have always been focused on local and now we are building a creative destination and with the My Main Street non-repayable contribution we have been able to expand our ability to offer those programs.”
Lacie Williamson, Owner, LVW Creative Barracks
“Haldimand County would like to thank the Government of Canada, FedDev Ontario and the Economic Developers Council of Ontario for their support of local business. Emerging from the pandemic, many businesses were seeking ways to encourage people to come back and shop in our downtowns. These funds assisted the start-up of three new businesses and helped the remaining businesses make purchases of equipment and tools to diversify and attract new customers to our downtowns.”
Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism
“The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) is delighted to be delivering the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program to support local business and main streets across southern Ontario. Thanks to the support of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, local businesses will have access to resources to help create economic opportunities for these main street communities, which is an essential component to a successful local economy.”
Doug Lindeblom, Managing Director, My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator
Haldimand County is pleased to announce the return of the Business Excellence Breakfast. This free networking event will take place on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 7:00-9:30 am at the Riverside Exhibition Centre in Caledonia. The Business Excellence Breakfast is presented by Haldimand County in partnership with the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program, Grand Erie Business Centre and Caledonia Agricultural Society.
This year’s breakfast will feature Eric Termuende speaking about One-Degree Shifts: Building Tomorrow’s Greatest Places to Work. In this engaging and takeaway-loaded presentation, workplace expert Eric Termuende will share what years of research, stories and insights uncover about the one-degree shifts leaders use to adapt to an ever-changing world around them and build incredible teams.
“The Business Excellence Breakfast is an opportunity for Haldimand County to thank our local businesses for all they do to make Haldimand County a great place to live and work,” said Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley. “This year in particular, we would like to celebrate and acknowledge businesses for their achievements and challenges that they have overcome through the pandemic.”
“This event is also a great opportunity to connect with other local business owners, partners and members of Council,” added Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism.
The My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator program is delivered by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario with an overall Government of Canada investment of $23.25 million through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to support the recovery and strength of main streets and local businesses in southern Ontario.
“Main streets play a vital role in growing local communities and economies for everyone, said the Honorable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “The Government of Canada will continue to invest in My Main Street and the small businesses the program serves, resulting in local economic growth and more vibrant neighbourhoods for Canadians and their families to call home.”
Haldimand County invites local business owners, representatives from Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Areas and business organizations across the county to attend. There is no cost to attend but registration is required, visit the www.haldimandcounty.ca/business and follow the links for the Business Excellence Breakfast or reach out to opportunity@haldimandcounty.on.ca (905) 318-5932 ext. 6331 to RSVP.
Haldimand County’s Economic Development and Tourism division has released the annual Haldimand Wish Book – a one-stop guide for local gift ideas, and unique experiences. This is the third year the wish book has provided residents with ways to ‘shop local’ for the holidays.
The Holiday Wish Book celebrates local, hand-made products and features over 36 local businesses in the print version. Copies are being distributed to all households in Haldimand by mail and will also be available for pickup at Haldimand Libraries. An online, downloadable version of the Holiday Wish Book is available at https://tourismhaldimand.ca/wish-book/.
“The Holiday Wish Book is a great opportunity for residents to find great gift ideas for everyone on their list while supporting local business,” said Manager of Economic Development & Tourism at Haldimand County, Lidy Romanuk.
Through the online directory, also located at https://tourismhaldimand.ca/wish-book/, shoppers can also find an additional number of local businesses, holiday events, experiences and gift inspiration.
For more information on the Haldimand Holiday Wish Book and support local this holiday season, visit tourismhaldimand.ca/wish-book. A social media campaign is currently in market that highlights participating businesses, so be sure to like and share your favourites. Find Tourism Haldimand on Facebook and Instagram.
For any questions, or businesses who want to be added to our online directory, contact the Economic Development and Tourism division at opportunity@haldimandcounty.on.ca
Haldimand County is pleased to announce the receipt of a non-repayable contribution of $94,105 from Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization to create a new tourism experience development program, “From Great to Grand: Growing Tourism Experiences in Haldimand County.” The program aims to bring multiple businesses through the experience development process, promoting the launch of new market-ready experiences by early 2023.
This funding is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization received nearly $11 million from FedDev Ontario to help local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the pandemic and prepare for future growth.
The “From Great to Grand: Growing Tourism Experiences” program will focus on creating four new experiential tourism products as travel motivators that engage visitors in a series of memorable travel activities, revealed over time, that are inherently personal, engage the senses and make connections on an emotional, physical, spiritual or intellectual level. The program will encourage operators to respond to a traveller’s desire to venture beyond the beaten tourist paths and dive deeper into authentic local culture.
There has been a great local response to the program, and Tourism Haldimand will be working with the following four businesses as experience partners to carry out the goals and priorities of this program:
Forest Fit – nature’s gym without walls
Potting Shed – Experience a new era of gardening
Rabi’s Grand Kitchen – social enterprise hub and food incubator
Cottonwood Mansion – preserving local history
In addition to Haldimand County’s successful application to the Tourism Relief Fund, five other Haldimand County organizations also received funding. Congratulations to the successful applicants:
Caledonia Business Improvement Area
Ruthven Park National Historic Site Inc.
Toronto Motorsports Park
Twisted Lemon Restaurant
Windecker Woods Flower Farm
Quotes
“The Government of Canada’s $78-million investment through the Tourism Relief Fund is helping communities across southern Ontario. With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.”
The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“Tourism development enables a range of benefits to all stakeholders involved. It increases income and jobs from tourist spending, helps preserve cultural and natural heritage for tourists, and increases understanding of other cultures. Community-led projects such as the ‘Great to Grand: Growing Tourism Experiences’ program and small-scale business supports at the local level provide significant contributions toward community improvement, and we’re thrilled to be able to deliver this program with support from the Ontario Southwest Tourism Relief Fund.”
Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism.
“Tourism innovators from across the region have demonstrated the abundance of creativity and opportunity for continued tourism growth within Ontario’s Southwest. Through the Tourism Relief Fund, we’re seeing infrastructure improvements, new experience development and destination management projects. These projects will extend more travel into the shoulder seasons, prioritize environmental sustainability and inclusivity, and are innovative and bold. We’re pleased to be working with FedDev Ontario to administer the Tourism Relief Fund in Ontario’s Southwest.”
Haldimand County, in partnership with the Haldimand Business Network, is pleased to announce the return of the Small Business Breakfast, which is being hosted by the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce. The free event will take place on October 20 at the Hagersville Community Centre from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and all local business owners are invited to attend.
This year’s guest speaker is hometown hero Becky Kellar, three time Olympic women’s hockey gold medalist. Becky, who was born and raised in Hagersville, will share an impactful and motivational message about the journey to excellence and how to challenge our limits, find our passion, believe in ourselves and grow on our own ‘path to gold’.
“We are pleased to partner with the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce and the Haldimand Business Network to reconnect with business owners across Haldimand County and to celebrate the impact each business makes in our communities,” says Lidy Romanuk, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism. “The Small Business Breakfast provides an important opportunity for business owners to network and celebrate one another.”
Breakfast will be served by Barin’s Kitchen of Hagersville. There is no cost to attend but registration is required. Local businesses and business organizations who wish to register may visit www.BusinessHaldimand.ca and follow the links for the Small Business Breakfast or reach out to opportunity@haldimandcounty.on.ca to RSVP.
Haldimand County is setting the stage for regenerative tourism development in Ontario with the launch of its new program “From Good to Grand: Growing Tourism Experiences in Haldimand County.” As part of this program, Haldimand County will be looking for four operators or organizations to develop new tourism experiences to be brought to market in early 2023.
“In August 2022, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) identified four key pillars to best underpin a new federal Tourism Growth Strategy and ensure the industry achieves its key goals by 2030: 1) Attract and Retain a Sustainable Tourism Workforce, 2) Improve Access for Visitors to and within Canada, 3) Develop and Promote Tourism Assets, and 4) Build a Regenerative and Inclusive Tourism Industry. Experiential Tourism is a key method to achieve these goals,” explains Lidy Romanuk, Haldimand County’s Manager of Economic Development and Tourism, “we value and understand the role that Tourism Haldimand and Haldimand County play in building a resilient and inclusive tourism sector.”
Joanne Wolnik, Executive Director of Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization, furthers, “Experiential tourism development invites stakeholders new to tourism, as well as seasoned operators, new ways to diversify their business, welcome visitors, and access the tourism economy. Across Ontario’s Southwest, we’ve seen artisans, producers, historians, chefs, musicians, farmers and more, share what they’re passionate about while adding new revenue streams to their business by developing and offering experiential programming for travellers. Ontario’s Southwest regional tourism organization has been investing in experiential tourism development since 2017 and Haldimand County Economic Development & Tourism, has been a key player in this initiative. We are thrilled to see this continued investment in sustainable industry growth.”
An open call for participants has launched, and interested operators and organizations are encouraged to apply by Monday, Sept. 19 at 11:59:59 p.m., EST. The selected participants will receive support to bring their tourism ideas to market including access to 40 hours of one-on-one coaching with industry experts; participation in experience development workshops; and marketing and advertising support to promote and encourage bookings. The program will run until December 31, 2022.
Haldimand County, in partnership with Grand Erie Business Centre, has announced that it has received a $118,000 grant from the Digital Main Street program for a two-year Digital Service Squad program, which provides small business owners with the tools and support needed to digitally transform their businesses.
“Haldimand County and our partners Grand Erie Business Centre are thrilled to be able to offer the Digital Main Street program through to March 2024. Since the first introduction of the program in the Fall of 2020, we’ve seen a significant impact to local businesses. To date 123 businesses within Haldimand County have received a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant and 529 businesses have received assistance and we’re pleased that the program will be continuing. Businesses who connect with a member of our Digital Service Squad receive valuable one-on-one assistance to successfully navigate today’s digital landscape helping to enhance the economic strength of Haldimand County and apply for a Digital Transformation Grant.” Lidy Romanuk, Manager, Economic Development and Tourism, Haldimand County.
Digital Service Squads (DSS) are the cornerstone of Digital Main Street (DMS), with trained specialists who meet with brick-and-mortar small businesses, at no cost, to help them complete an online assessment and to introduce them to online training modules designed to build their digital knowledge and skills. This one-on-one DSS assistance includes support for basic website setup, Google Business Profiles, 360⁰ photos, social media presence, and much more. Squad members are also trained to help qualified small businesses with the development of their Digital Transformation Plan and then with the application process for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant.
“Small businesses are innovative and entrepreneurial, but often lack the resources to respond to change, be resilient, yet flexible,” said Kay Matthews, Executive Director, OBIAA. “OBIAA is delighted to work once again alongside the Digital Main Street team and is thrilled to support Haldimand County’s squad. The Digital Main Street program’s resources, grants, training, and Digital Service Squad assistance provide the means for more small businesses in communities across Haldimand County to adopt innovative ways, create new revenue streams, expand their markets, and face the future with optimism and confidence.”
The Digital Transformation Grant application window is open and will close on October 31, 2022. All interested Haldimand County business owners are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Digital Main Street has also extended its ShopHERE program. This amazing opportunity creates online stores for independent small businesses and artists at no cost. For more information about the Digital Transformation Grant, the ShopHERE program, or to book an appointment with the Digital Service Squad, email opportunity@haldimandcounty.on.ca or call (905) 318-5932.
