At The Bradford Board Of Trade our mandate, to enrich the lives of our member businesses, has not changed. We believe it is more critical than ever that the BBT support local businesses through community building, education and networking. We have had to change the way we deliver our services of promotion, advocacy and information sharing but our dedication to our members remains strong.
In the coming days, we will continue to:
- Share new legislation, information and directives as they become available via the established network of trusted authorities here and on our Facebook page.
- Remain dedicated to assisting local businesses in this time of incredible need. We are available to assist, guide and refer wherever possible. Make sure you let us know what you need by sending us an email.
- Assist our members to network – online during this time. It is critical that we all do what we can to help local small businesses survive. We are actively sharing business updates from our members on our Facebook page.
Together, we will get through this. Stay healthy and help us help businesses prosper.
The Bradford Board Of Trade is keenly aware of the concern the COVID-19 Pandemic has brought to our members and BWG. Please refer to this page to find updates from all levels of government, as well as business resources to support you during this extraordinarily challenging time.
Updates are being released frequently in this very fluid situation. We will do our best to maintain this page as frequently as possible. Below you will find links to resources for business and government status updates & recommendations regarding COVID-19. Feel free to contact us if you have any requests or suggestions.
March 23rd, 2020 – Mayor Rob Keffer Declaration Of Emergency for Bradford West Gwillimbury – Click Here for details
For the purposes of this order, businesses include any-for-profit, non-profit or other entity providing the goods and services described herein. This does not preclude the provision of work and services by entities not on this list either online, by telephone or by mail/delivery.
Note that teleworking and online commerce are permitted at all times for all businesses.
April 26th, 2020 – Schools remain closed to May 31st, 2020
May 4th, 2020 – List of business reopenings – full article
Opening Mid-May, 2020 – Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)
May 14th, 2020 – Ontario Announces Additional Workplaces that Can Reopen
Additional seasonal, retail and household businesses must follow public health guidelines. READ MORE….
June 8th, 2020 – Ontario doubling limit on gatherings, more businesses to reopen in next stage of COVID-19 recovery plan
Premier Doug Ford outlined the details of Stage 2 of Ontario’s plan to lift restrictions on its lockdown, to gather in groups of up to 10 and many more businesses and services will be allowed to begin operating again as part of the next stage of the province’s regional reopening, set to begin in some areas. READ MORE….
July 17th, 2020 – Some areas of Ontario moving on to Stage 3 of Reopening
Stage 3 is another significant step towards fully restarting our economy. In Stage 2, over 90 per cent of economic activity was enabled to resume, which resulted in employment increasing by 377,900 net new jobs in June, including 66,200 jobs in the manufacturing sector. READ MORE…
September 19th, 2020 – Ontario rolling back to smaller gatherings across ALL OF ONTARIO: To help stop the spread of COVID-19, our government is reducing limits on the number of people allowed to attend unmonitored social gatherings and private parties. How we face the next surge and hold off the next wave will depend on everyone continuing to follow public health rules. READ MORE…
– 10 People Inside
– 25 People Outside
September 26th, 2020 – Starting at 12:01am, Alcohol serving restrictions: Last call 11pm, complete consumption by midnight & closing. READ MORE…
Contacts At A Glance
Business & Financial Resources, please click logos below:
Digital Main Street
As part of a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, Digital Main Street is proud to announce three new programs to support businesses across Ontario.
ShopHERE: a program that provides independent small businesses and artists with a quick, easy and no-cost way to get selling online right away. More information here.
Ontario Grants Program: providing main street businesses with $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants. More information here.
The Future Proof Main Street program delivered in partnership with Communitech and Invest Ottawa helps businesses identify new markets, pivot their business model, and develop and implement a deep digital transformation plan. More information here.
Downtown businesses with a commercial designation (C1 or C2) are eligible for the Digital Transformation Grant. A full list of eligibility criteria is attached. The program is delivered by the Digital Service Squad, which helps businesses achieve digital transformation by providing FREE one-on-one training to Simcoe County businesses and to activate free and easy to use tools such as Shopify, Google My Business and social media.
For more information, please contact Chris Vond at chris.vonditsianos@gmail.com.
COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program – Small Business (CEAP-SB)
The Government of Ontario is providing $8 million to support small business and registered charity customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. Applications open as of August 31st, 2020.
The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) provides a one time, on-bill credit to eligible small business and registered charity customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments. Small business and registered charity customers may be eligible for up to $850 in support towards their electricity bill if they primarily use electricity for heating, or up to $425 otherwise. Small business and registered charity customers could also be eligible for up to $425 in support towards their natural gas bill.
CEAP-SB is being delivered by electricity distributors, natural gas distributors and unit sub-meter providers (USMPs), in accordance with rules laid out by the OEB.
You must apply for CEAP-SB through your utility or USMP. More info….
A Framework for Reopening our Province: Stage 3
Learn about the third stage of the framework for reopening our province and restarting the economy.
Read More….
Download PDF
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
EXTENDED TO DECEMBER – More Details….
To help businesses keep and return workers to their payroll through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic: Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. This would provide a 75 per cent wage subsidy to eligible employers, retroactive to March 15, 2020.
A 10% subsidy will be available for those who do not qualify for the 75%. Click here
How to apply
Opened April 27, applications will be open for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.
- Most businesses may apply using My Business Account
- If you represent a business, you may apply using Represent a Client
- Alternatively, you may apply using a separate online application form (available April 27)
The CEWS will be processed at the payroll program (RP) account level, so you will have to file a separate application for each RP account. Read on….
Establishing a Business Credit Availability Program
We established a Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) to provide $65 billion of additional support through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC).
BDC and EDC are working with private sector lenders to coordinate on credit solutions for individual businesses, including in sectors such as oil and gas, air transportation, exportation and tourism.
This program includes:
Canada Emergency Business Account The new Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.
The qualifications for this program were changed May 19th, to include sole proprietorships and those utilizing contractors. Please reach out to your banking institution to apply.
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses
The July and August extensions are now available
- If you have previously been approved, you automatically qualify for the extensions and no additional documents are required. Not all tenants in the original application need to be included in the request for the July and/or August extension.
- If you haven’t yet applied for CECRA for small businesses, you must apply for July and August as part of your entire application.
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
To provide bridge financing to Canada’s largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing, in order to keep their operations going. The objective of this support is to help protect Canadian jobs, help Canadian businesses weather the current economic downturn, and avoid bankruptcies of otherwise viable firms where possible. This support will not be used to resolve insolvencies or restructure firms, nor will it provide financing to companies that otherwise have the capacity to manage through the crisis. The additional liquidity provided through LEEFF will allow Canada’s largest businesses and their suppliers to remain active during this difficult time, and position them for a rapid economic recovery.
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
Resources to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace
Find sector-specific guidelines and posters to help protect workers, customers and the general public from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ontario.
We will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:
- workers who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.
- workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.
- working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.
- workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
- wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be accessible through a secure web portal starting in early April. Applicants will also be able to apply via an automated telephone line or via a toll-free number.
Business Loans
· Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
· Working capital loans of up to $2MM with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses.
· Postponement of payments for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1MM or less
· Funding may also be in the form of guarantees provided by BDC to Banks, or BDC may step in to take over debt and reduce the risk to the Banks
· New loan guarantee program through the EDC Business Credit Availability Program Guarantee (EDC BCAP Guarantee)
· Offers financial institutions a guarantee on a client’s operating loan or one year working capital term loan.
· Some key insights include on the EDC BCAP Guarantee:
o A program built on the same principles as the Export Guarantee program with expanded risk appetite targeted at SMEs
o A 75% guarantee to your FI on the underlying credit facility
o Up to 1 year on an operating line up to $5MM
Consulting Assistance with Applications Program CAAP
Free Local Business Consulting Service and Assistance with Relief Applications
The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury has contracted with Nottawasaga Futures to host a free consulting program. Nottawasaga Futures can assist with applications for business assistance and:
- Ensure your website is optimized for buying or booking appointments online
- Setup online ordering for both delivery and take-out on your website
- Convert existing stores to e-commerce to offer online buying capabilities
- Offer online and/or live classes or consultations using Skype, ZOOM, etc.
For more information, please contact 1-800-509-7554 or ced@nottawasaga.com.
COVID-19 Business Resources
The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is taking many precautions to help protect our residents and businesses during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We are aligning efforts between all levels of government, private sector support agencies, local community organizations and health authorities to ensure a coordinated response.
Information contained on this page helps link to various resources available to the business community. Please check back frequently as the situation unfolds.
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses
The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
On March 18, 2020, the Prime Minister announced a new set of economic measures to help stabilize the economy during this challenging period. These measures, delivered as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, will provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses.
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Helping to improve outcomes for children, youth, families and individuals who need support, advancing the interests of women across Ontario and helping new immigrants settle and integrate.
Employment Insurance benefits and leave
Employment Insurance benefits and leave information for workers, families, fishers and sickness, as well as how to apply and submit a report.
EI sickness benefits: Apply Here
Apply as soon as possible after you stop working. If you wait more than 4 weeks after your last day of work to apply, you may lose benefits.
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has developed a program to help agribusinesses and food processors operate through this challenging period.
- A deferral of principal and interest payments up to six months for existing loans; or
- A deferral of principal payments up to 12 months
- Access to an additional credit line up to $500,000, secured by general security agreements
Businesses need to be prepared for any human-resources or operational-related disruptions. It is important for organizations to consider whether and how some aspects of their operations can be continued remotely. While some companies have opted to have their staff work from home, working virtually is essential if quarantines and self-isolation are required. It is equally important to anticipate staff absences for periods of about two weeks at the height of a severe pandemic wave, and lower levels of staff absence for a few weeks either side of the peak.The guidelines and resources contained in this toolkit have been prepared to help businesses plan for and adapt to the disruption of COVID-19 and any future influenza pandemics.
COVID-19 information & updates, please click below:
Learn how the Ministry of Health is helping to keep Ontarians safe during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak. Find out how to protect yourself and how to recognize symptoms.” Regularly Updated
The Government of Canada has created the infrastructure to respond to the public health threats of the virus, and is well prepared to act—in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments and international partners—to minimize the health, economic, and social impacts of this rapidly evolving public health issue.” Regularly Updated, many links to programs, reports and more.