Economic Development in Waterloo Region

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Business Gathering

COVID-19 Updates for Business

Sign up for the Woolwich Business Newsletter to receive updates from the Economic Development and Tourism Department.

List of Essential Workplaces

Read the list of essential workplaces in response to COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus). If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.

Woolwich Municipal Support

In an effort to help with potential financial pressures facing Woolwich residents and businesses, the Woolwich Council approved immediate financial flexibility for residents and businesses including:

Waiving penalties and interest on property taxes for the months of April and May 2020,
Waiving late payment charges on utility bills and miscellaneous receivable invoices for the months of April and May 2020,
Waiving NSF (non-sufficient funds) fees charged by the Township on customer accounts for the months of April and May 2020, and
Suspend transferring Water & Wastewater accounts in arrears to Property Tax accounts during April and May 2020.

*Please note that current due dates will remain as is and no changes are being made to these dates. The approved actions are meant to give customers additional time to make payments on both their property tax and utility accounts if needed. Through these actions property owners and utility customers can still continue to pay in full or if need be, partial payments, without being penalized.

Customers can continue to make payments through a Pre-Authorized Payment Plan, online banking, by mail or by the payment box located at the Maple Street side of the Township Administration Building located at 24 Church Street West in Elmira.

For additional information, please contact:

Teresa Armstrong,

Phone: (519) 669 - 6016

Email: tarmstrong@woolwich.ca

*View the full media press release for more information - Woolwich Township Council Approves Financial Flexibility*

Restaurants and Retail Stores; share your updated service offerings

During this difficult time, we want to help you get the word out about your alternative service offerings. If you are a Restaurant offering takeout or Retailer offering phone or online shopping, please enter your business information here: https://bit.ly/2QPAs9U.

We are working with the St.Jacobs Village BIA, Downtown Elmira BIA, Explore Waterloo Region and the Woolwich Observer to spread the word!

Financial Support Programs for Businesses

Temporary Wage Subsidy

A 75% wage subsidy (up to a max. $847 per week) to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020.
All businesses that have seen revenue drop by 30% or more relative to the corresponding month last year (e.g. March 2020 vs March 2019) because of COVID-19 are eligible for the wage subsidy.
Businesses can re-hire recently let-go workers and place them on subsidized wages.
Businesses can apply for the wage subsidy through a Canada Revenue Agency web portal that will be launched within 3 weeks, and they can expect to receive their first payment within 6 weeks.
Businesses will be required to re-apply for the wage subsidy each month. More information will be released in the coming days but you can find a backgrounder on the wage subsidy here.

Work-Sharing Program

Instead of being laid-off, multiple workers’ hours and pay are reduced, with the federal government making up the shortfall in the workers’ income.

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

This program supports direct lending and other types of financial support at market rates to businesses with viable business models whose access to financing would otherwise be restricted.
Businesses seeking support through BCAP should contact the financial institutions with whom they have a pre-existing relationship, so that the financial institutions may assess the client’s financial request. If the needs of the client exceed the level of support the financial institution is able to provide, the financial institution will work alongside BDC or EDC to access additional resources the Government has made available under BCAP.

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. To qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $50,000 to $1 million in total payroll in 2019. Talk to your bank if you haven’t already done so.

Tax Deferrals

Businesses can defer the payment of any income tax amounts, until after August 31st, that become owing on or after March 19th and before September. In addition, GST/HST payments, as well as duties & taxes owed on imports, are deferred until June 30.
Ontario is helping businesses with cash flow through a number of measures: payment of most provincial taxes is deferred for 5 months without penalty or interest; Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) payments are deferred for 6 months and most businesses are not required to pay the Employer Health Tax.
The Township of Woolwich waived penalties and interest on taxes for April and May, for those who need it.

Emergency Small Business Loan

Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures (WWCF) has developed an emergency assistance loan for small businesses in Woolwich, Wellesley, North Dumfries and Wilmot. The WWCF Emergency Fund Assistance Loans will help local businesses get through the financial challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a very quick application process.

Loan Information:

Up to $15,000 to cover overhead expenses
6% interest
No payment required for up to 6 months
Flexible repayment terms and no prepayment penalties

Application Process:

Submit completed Loan Application to paula@wwcf.ca
Provide most current financials (in-house is acceptable)
WWCF staff review documentation
Funds normally made available within 3 days after Offer Letter is returned to staff

*For more information visit https://www.wwcf.ca/wwcf-emergency-fund-assistance-loan/

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) COVID Capability Fund

NGen is investing at least $50 million in Supercluster funding to support companies as they rapidly respond to the COVID-19 crisis by building a Canadian supply of essential equipment, products and therapeutics.

NGen will fund projects that can have an immediate impact in supporting Canada’s COVID-19 response. Project selection will be prioritized based on critical needs as identified by the Government of Canada.

Farm Credit Canada

Summary of current program details

To ensure producers, agribusinesses and food processors can remain focused on business-critical functions rather than worrying about how to access funds to keep operating through this challenging period, effective immediately, FCC has put in place:

a deferral of principal and interest payments up to six months for existing loans; or

a deferral of principal payments up to 12 months

If you’d like more information on these options or on how FCC can help improve your financial position, please contact your local office or the Customer Service Centre at 1-888-332-3301 for further details.

Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BESTWR)

The Region of Waterloo, all seven area municipalities, Waterloo EDC (Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation) and local partners have created the Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BESTWR) to help all types of local businesses cope with challenges caused by COVID-19.

This group will encourage businesses to continue to reach out to their existing economic development contacts with any inquiries or needs, and common requirements will filter up through the Business and Economic Support Team. The group will also work closely with the Regional Pandemic Control Group to ensure a coordinated community response to the COVID -19 pandemic.

Requests for Supplies, Innovation and Ideas to help combat COVID-19

Call to action: Canadian manufactures needed to help combat COVID-19
Ontario Together: help fight Coronavirus
Local: Covidhealth.ca

Other Business Resources

Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Resources
Waterloo Small Business Centre
Communitech COVID-19 Info
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) COVID-19 Resources
Sociavore Free 90 day trial available - Helping independent restaurants sell gift cards and sell online (takeout /curbside pickup).
Shopify Free 90 trial available - ecommerce and point of sale features you need to start, run, and grow your business.
MaRS Discovery District helpful resources: https://learn.marsdd.com/collection/managing-cash-flow-during-covid-19/
CBC Arts Information for Canadian artists and freelancers to find help during COVID-19 shutdowns: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/here-s-where-canadian-artists-and-freelancers-can-find-help-during-covid-19-shutdowns-1.5503360

The Region of Waterloo is strategically positioned as an export-driven economy because of the close proximity and access to large scale road, rail, and air transportation systems, including ready access to Canada's most important road transportation corridor (Highway 401) and three major Canadian-United States border crossings: Niagara; Windsor/Detroit; and Sarnia/Port Huron. Built on the success of entrepreneurship and innovation dating to our first settlement of Mennonite farmers, Waterloo Region is known for its hard work ethic and highly sought after talent pool. View the Region of Waterloo Township of Woolwich Incentives.

Below you will find key resources to assist you in learning more about Economic Development in Woolwich and Waterloo Region.

Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation (Waterloo EDC)

Erin D'Alessandro, Director, Business Development and Client Services

Tel: 519-747-2541 ext 300
Email: Erin.D'Alessandro@wredc.ca

Waterloo EDC is Waterloo Region’s investment promotion agency that serves the economic interests of the three urban cities and four townships of Waterloo Region. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, we are primarily funded by the Region of Waterloo and the seven Area Municipalities. At Waterloo EDC, we aim to foster, support and deliver a coordinated and integrated approach to economic development in Waterloo Region. Our vision is to be locally rooted, internationally competitive and globally renowned.

Global Affairs Canada, Ontario Regional Office

Syed Sameer S. Ahmed, Trade Commissioner

Tel: 519-571-6656

Email: Sameer.Ahmed@international.gc.ca

Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

Amy Britten, Senior Business Advisor

AdvisorTel: 519-571-6074

Email: Amy.Britten@ontario.ca

Waterloo Region Small Business Centre (WRSBC)

Chris Farrell, ManagerTel: 519-741-2604

Email: info@waterlooregionssmallbusiness.ca

The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre encourages and contributes to the enterprising spirit and economic vitality of our community by assisting entrepreneurs with the development of new or existing businesses. The centre provides a variety of services to individuals preparing to start and grow their business in the Waterloo Region, including: business registration assistance; one-on-one business consultation and advice; market research assistance; seminars; events & networking opportunities; public computer workstations; library & reference materials; and, youth entrepreneurship incentives.

Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures Development Corporation (WWCFDC)

Tel: 519-846-9839

Toll Free: 1-866-997-9928

Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures (WWCF) promoting economic growth of the County of Wellington and the Region of Waterloo, WWCF offer two types of services including business financing (for start-ups, small business expansion, and community projects), and an award winning business training program.

Woolwich Township Economic Development

Economic Development & Tourism Officer

Tel: 519-669-6020

*Our Economic Development focus has shifted to assisting businesses with accessing Federal and Provincial financial aids, working with partners to promote business services that are still available (like restaurants offering take-out and retail stores offering online purchasing) and continuously monitoring economic impact so we can make informed decisions towards recovery, when the time comes. We are committed to doing what we can to support businesses and continue to monitor and act as required to the needs of the business community.

The Economic Development Division provides services to support three major objectives designed to encourage and promote a stable, diverse and strong business community in Woolwich.

Encouraging new investment in Woolwich
Supporting existing business with their expansion needs
Assisting small business and new entrepreneurs to establish in Woolwich

Staff of the Economic Development Division is ready to assist you with your business requirements. Please contact us:

If you are considering expansion, relocation or establishment of a new business in Woolwich
For assistance in searching for available land or buildings for your business
For economic, statistical and market information
For assistance dealing with government agencies
Or if you require general business information

As part of the Township of Woolwich's economic development strategy, the Township, in partnership with local businesses holds multiple events throughout the year to showcase our business leaders and share in their success stories.

Sponsorship opportunities

Looking for a way to "give back" to your community? Have you ever considered sponsoring a program, activity or event? We have several opportunities for sponsorship available throughout the year including business networking events, State of the Economy, and supporting the growth and achievements of agriculture through the Agriculture Innovation Showcase.

In return for your sponsorship, we will include your organization/company name and logo on the flyers, posters and online advertisements for the event, and indicate your support in our social media coverage.

For more information on the opportunities available, please contact the Economic Development & Tourism Officer.