Economic Development Updates for November

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS):

Now available to business owners struggling to pay their rent or mortgage during COVID-19.

Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for this subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses from September 27, 2020 to June 2021.

The subsidy will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring the participation of landlords.

It will cover up to 65% of rent or commercial mortgage interest on a sliding scale based on revenue declines, with an extra 25% available to the hardest-hit firms.

Learn more about CERS

COVID Workplace Safety Plans Required:

Do you have a COVID-19 workplace safety plan in place?

Under the province's five-tier colour-coded framework, the yellow "protect" zone requires employers to have a safety plan to help protect employees from contracting the virus at work.

Grey-Bruce moved into the yellow zone this week. If you don't already have a COVID-19 safety plan, click on the link below to take advantage of guidelines offered by the provincial government.

Learn more about COVID Workplace Safety Plans

Shop Here Program available through the County of Bruce:

Bruce County has registered for a program that is being offered by Digital Main Street (DMS) called ShopHERE. The program is fully funded by the province and DMS will administer the program.

ShopHERE provides independent small Canadian businesses and artists with a quick, easy and no-cost way to get selling online right away. The program provides businesses with:

• Their choice of an online store customized with their information, branding, logo, etc.
• Hands-on assistance setting up and launching their online store.
• Training to support their online store, including topics such as digital marketing, shipping and inventory management.
• Access to free tools to help support the launch of their online stores.

The businesses will be set up on a Shopify online shopping cart. The first 90 days are free but there is a monthly cost for Shopify that businesses will need to pay for after that point.

The cost for this starts at $29 USD per month. If the businesses do not find value in the shopping cart after the 3 month trail they can simply turn it off.

The ShopHERE powered by Google program is currently open to small independent businesses and artists that meet the following requirements:

• It is a registered business, or a registered non-profit organization.
• It has a commercial location or is home-based.
• It has fewer than ten employees or fewer than 25 employees if a restaurant or bar.
• It is not a corporate chain or franchise.

Saugeen Shores Business Support Webpage:

If you’re a business looking for local, regional, provincial and federal supports and information please continue to visit the Town of Saugeen Shores Business Support Webpage for the latest information.

Saugeen Shores Strong Webpage:

Are you a community member looking for ways to help support the local economy? Find out ways you can help on the Saugeen Shores Strong webpage.

Business Development Bank of Canada:

• December 1^: Live webinar: Customer experience: The secret to online sales success
• Previous webinars database

Regional Tourism Organization 7 Round 2 funding for PPE:

RTO7 will reimburse a maximum of $1,000 pre-tax towards your purchase of PPE for your tourism business (defined as masks, sanitizer, shields, costs incurred to adhere to social distancing, touchless payments, new technology, increased cleaning, sanitization, etc.). Applying is quick and easy, most applications receive same-day approval and funds deposited into your bank account within two weeks at most.  For more info and to apply, visit the Recovery Funds page on the RTO7 website.

We want to hear from local businesses:

Please take a moment to complete the following COVID-19 Impact surveys:

Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce

County of Bruce – Deadline Monday, November 30.

To request more information on any of the above please contact the Economic Development Officer at heather.hyde@saugeenshores.ca