Economic Development Update - March 2023
Subscribe
Back to SearchCheck out the latest in economic development news.
To view a full list of resources from a variety of sources and organizations, visit the Town’s Business Support webpage.
Still have questions? Reach out to the Economic Development Officer at Heather.Hyde@SaugeenShores.ca
Apply for the Digital Transformation Grant
Eligible small business owners can apply for the Digital Transformation Grant — up to $2,500.
This grant is offered by Digital Main Street. Applications are open until September 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.
Digital Service Squad in Saugeen Shores
Great news! The Digital Service Squad program in Saugeen Shores has received more funding.
Our Digital Service Squad team member will continue to provide free one-on-one support for local businesses and their digital needs until the end of July 2023.
Contact Will LeGrand today at dsswilliamlegrand@gmail.com for one-on-one digital support.
The Big Spend Saugeen Shores
April 28-30
The Big Spend is a national shop-local campaign designed to support small businesses, stimulate local economies & build hope in communities from coast to coast to coast.
Locally, the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Saugeen Shores have partnered to help advertise the event in Saugeen Shores.
How it works:
Register Your Business: Join The Big Spend by registering your business. The pre-tax cost per business listing is $99. You can register by contacting the Saugeen Shores Chamber at director@saugeenshoreschamber.ca or on the big spend website at www.thebigspend.com/register
Create Your Business Listing: You’ll then fill out an online form to create your own customized, searchable business listing on the national campaign website.
Promote the Event: Promotional resources provide to businesses and Chambers to help spread the news as The Big Spend draws near!
The Big Spend - April 28-30: The Big Spend culminates in a three-day shop local spending spree in individual communities and across Canada!
Together, thousands of small purchases result in one huge boost to your business, your Chamber & the Canadian economy.
Keep Up The Momentum: The Chamber will receive a report on the results of The Big Spend, get event feedback and keep the shop-local momentum going!
Why join The Big Spend?
- Cost effective advertising
- Marketing support
- Local and national visibility
- Community Building
Contact the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce to learn more.
Explore Free Training and Information Sessions Curated for Bruce County Businesses
Browse upcoming workshops and information sessions:
Newcomer Workplace Support for Employers – March 30
The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot with IRCC - April 4
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program with Service Ontario - April 6
How Building Experiences Can Help Your Bottom Line - April 11
Apply for a Spruce the Bruce Grant!
Attractive storefronts help create a more vibrant and welcoming atmosphere on our main streets. Make your vision come to life with grant funding from Spruce the Bruce. Eligible downtown businesses can apply for grants to help cover the costs of revitalizing their storefronts including signage, awnings and patio installations.
Have you received a grant before but still need another exterior improvement? You might be eligible for funding again!
Book a meeting or visit sprucethebruce.com to find out more!
Bruce County’s Summer Company Open to Youth Entrepreneurs
Students ages 15 to 29 can get valuable real-world skills through side interests and make money doing it!
Whatever their plans are after high school graduation, you can encourage the youth in your life to start their own small business this summer. Funding and mentorship are available to help them begin.
Summer Company applications close on May 15, 2023.
Is your business on ExploreTheBruce.com yet?
It’s one of the best ways to compete for online visibility AND gives you search engine optimization clout! After all, the more places you are online, the bigger your reach.
Get your listing now -- or update an existing one -- to make sure your location, hours and information are all up to date before the busy tourism season begins!
Tourism Businesses!
Save the Date for Brochure Swap!
May 9, 10:00am-12:00pm
Hosted in partnership by Bruce County and Grey County, this event is about networking and learning about tourism offerings in our area.
Meet at the Sydenham Campus parking lot, pop your trunks and tailgates, and swap your brochures with each other.
We'll supply coffee and refreshments. Once the swap is done at noon, you’re welcome to stay for (a prepaid) lunch to continue networking and tour the Sydenham Campus.
Please pre-register by May 5th.
Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) Partnership Program
RTO7 is accepting applications on an ongoing basis until the deadlines OR until available funds are completely allocated. We recommended you submit your application as soon as possible, even if your project isn't happening until 2024.
Here are the most accessed categories of partnership focus on development of collateral and advertising:
Collateral Development
Video & Image Development
- Book a photo or video shoot to create an up-to-date library of images and videos to use in your future advertising, on your website or in print media.
- RTO7 is offering recruitment videos are again so tourism operators can develop a video to advertise for staff through their Recruitment Implementation Program
Storytelling
Advertising (often, although not necessarily) using the collateral developed above
- Social Media Advertising
- Digital Advertising (leverage is now $1:$1)
Other Partnership categories include:
- Trade Show Booth Space Reimbursement
- Tourism Wayfinding, Trails & Cycling Signage (leverage is now $1:$1)
- Translation
- Experience Development (now includes accredited Sustainability Certification for businesses and destinations with a lower minimum partner contribution than other Experience Development projects)
All applications (and Guidelines) can be found here. If you have questions or require more information, please email Alex Hogan, ahogan@rto7.ca
Implementation Programs
Operations Implementation Program (OIP)
Designed to assist stakeholders in Bruce-Grey-Simcoe Counties with social media marketing, we show how operational expenses can be leveraged into a four-week advertising campaign.
Eligible expenses include mortgage payments, rent, insurance, inventory purchases, etc.
Recruitment Implementation Program
Designed to offer additional support for tourism operators to help with recruiting staff, we show how stakeholders can leverage operating expenses into a social media campaign.
Eligible expenses include mortgage payments, rent, insurance, inventory purchases, etc.
Sustainability Inclusivity Program
This program has been modified to assist tourism operators to promote an inclusive business practice, in addition to helping to promote a new sustainable product, experience or initiative you’ve invested in with a social media marketing campaign.
Learn more and apply on RTO7.ca. Deadline to apply is January 31, 2024.
Contact: Robyn Hewitt, rhewitt@rto7.ca or Kim Clarke, kclarke@rto7.ca for questions.
Digital Branding for New Entrepreneurs
March 30, 12:00pm-1:30pm
Join Adam Gibeau of Digital Dorsal as he walks through the techniques behind:
- the creation of a successful brand,
- what colour theory influence has to do with what you buy, and
- some of the worst fonts you could ever use!
If your business branding needs a refresh, this free online webinar will help you deep dive into the How-To of branding.
How An Online Store Can Boost Your Business
March 30, 11:30am
The goal of ShopHERE powered by Google is to build and optimize online stores for small independent businesses and artists in just a matter of days. With ShopHERE powered by Google, businesses get to expand their selling opportunities into the online market.
Web Presence 101 - Ensuring Your Foundation is Set
Apr 4, 10:00am
Often you will hear about needing to optimize for search engines (SEO). What is it, and how does it impact your digital presence?
In this webinar, the Digital Service Squad will explain SEO and the best tactics your business can use to increase your ranking in the search engine result pages.