Economic Development Update - October 2024

Updated Saugeen Shores Community Improvement Plan Approved

On Monday August 26, Town council approved the updated Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for Saugeen Shores. CIPs are tools used by municipalities to incentivize development and provide business support within their boundaries.

Specifically, four new programs were added to the CIP that are Business Accessibility Adaptability, Product and Experience Development, Residential Improvement and Agri-Food Tourism grants. County Council committed $15,625 in funding for businesses to apply for the four new grant categories immediately.

Funds are available through to the end of 2024. To learn more about the programs and funding, visit https://www.brucecounty.on.ca/business/business-supports/spruce-the-bruce

 To learn more about the updated CIP, visit www.saugeenshores.ca/CIP

Saugeen Shores Community Connectors

The Town of Saugeen Shores hosted its first Community Connectors event on Tuesday, September 10 at the Port Elgin Library.

In partnership with Settlement Services Grey Bruce and the Port Elgin Library, the event was designed to help new Canadians and new residents of Saugeen Shores connect with local services and resources, and the opportunity to integrate into the community through programs and groups.

Attendees engaged with Town staff and community organizations and groups to discover:

• Sports and recreation options for the whole family
• Programs offered by the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, and Southampton Arts
• Upcoming community events
• Local clubs, including fishing, chess, and curling

Thank you to all who attended and made it a great event.

Registration Now Open! Bridges to Better Business

Hosted by the County of Bruce, registration is now open for the annual Bridges to Better Business Event on October 17.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Program begins at 5:30 p.m.

West Coast Catering will be serving up a delicious dinner! Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect, learn and grow your business. Click here to learn more and register today.

Southampton BIA Gift Card Program

The SBIA have signed up many member businesses for the Hello Card.  If you have not signed up to be a part of the program, and would like more information, please email the BIA coordinator. Sign up is quick and easy and encourages shopping downtown Southampton.

Businesses in Saugeen Shores – Wait to Hear from Us!

The Town has launched the Saugeen Shores Business Review program in collaboration with the County of Bruce to collect important data from businesses through ongoing interactions. The program will help the Town make data driven decisions and better support our existing businesses. The program will help the Town understand current business challenges, provide necessary business support, help with succession planning, and inspire more people to pursue entrepreneurship.

Businesses/business owners in Port Elgin and Southampton can expect to hear from our team either by phone call or in-person to learn more about your business, and how we can support your success. The program launched on July 2, 2024.

To view a full list of resources from a variety of sources and organizations, visit the Town’s Business Support page.   

Still have questions? Reach out!