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Economic Development in Woolwich

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COVID-19 General Information Essential Workplaces Report Price Gouging

COVID-19 Updates for Businesses

Effective February 17, 2022, Ontario further eases public health measures, including, but not limited to:

Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
- Cinemas
- Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
- Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs
Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.

Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, retail and shopping malls, will be maintained at, or increased to, the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.

Past News: January 20, 2022: Ontario Outlined Steps to Cautiously and Gradually Ease Public Health Measures

Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen

On May 20, 2021, the province released the Roadmap to Reopen, which outlines the three-step plan that will guide a safe and gradual reopening of the province and the lifting of public health measures based on the provincewide vaccination rate and improvements in key public health and health system indicators.

Grants and Financial Support:

Visit Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan for a list of Federal support programs.
Visit the provincial webpage (Businesses: Get help with COVID-19 costs) for a list of Ontario support programs.

For the latest Provincial updates, visit Ontario's Newsroom.

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

FREE Masks for Woolwich Businesses

Thank you to Eclipse Automation of Cambridge, ON, for the generous donation of level-3 surgical grade masks to the Township of Woolwich and greater Region of Waterloo.
We are pleased to be able to coordinate the FREE supply of masks to small and medium size businesses (50 or fewer employees) in the Township of Woolwich.

Request your masks by completing the mask distribution form.

To purchase Canadian made PPE, you can visit the Supply and Protect website.

Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace

Visit the Region of Waterloo website for resources on preventing COVID-19 in your workplace.

Rapid Point of Care (POC) Testing

Fact Sheets:

Employers - POCTestingEmployers.pdf

Employees - POCTestingIndividuals.pdf

Business Screening Requirements

Public Health requires all businesses to screen patrons and workers before entering or coming to work.

Patrons - Active Screening:

Businesses listed in the Provincial COVID-19 Screening Tool must actively screen when they are in the accompanying colour zone.
It is up to the business to determine how they will screen, whether it be requesting the customer to complete in hard copy or use the online customer screening tool at the time of entry or prior, with proof they completed it.

Patrons - Passive Screening:

All other organizations can passively screen, and can do so by displaying a sign at the business entrance in accordance with the COVID-19 Signage Questions for Businesses and Organizations.

Employee Screening:

Workplaces must ensure all employees screen before coming to work. The province created the online COVID-19 Worker and Employee Screening tool to make screening easier.

Accessing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Find supplies here:

Accessible PPE for the Waterloo Region
Ontario's Workplace PPE Supplier Directory
Buy/ Sell PPE on the Rapid Response Platform initiated by BASF

Sell supplies here:

Apply to be added to Ontario’s list Workplace PPE Supplier Directory
Sell/ Buy PPE on the Rapid Response Platform initiated by BASF
- Email economicdevelopment@woolwich.ca to expedite your appearance on the list.
Sell through Canada’s COVID-19 Public Tender platform

Public Health Posters and Signage

"Help Reduce the Spread" poster from the Government of Canada
"Know the Facts About Coronavirus" poster from the Government of Canada
"Attention Visitors" poster from the Province of Ontario
"Physical Distancing" poster from Ontario Public Health
"Physical Distancing" poster from the Public Health Agency of Canada
"Cleaning and Disinfection for Public Settings" from Public Health Ontario
"Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces" poster from the Public Health Agency of Canada
Additional awareness resources from the Government of Canada

Mental Health

Here4Help is an online repository of useful tools and techniques to manage the stresses of dealing with COVID-19. This website is a complimentary support to the direct service that is offered by CMHA Waterloo Wellington and Community Partners.

More than ever, staying healthy now means protecting our mental health. Despite anxiety and uncertainty, work still needs to get done, children need structure and attention, and daily meals need to be prepared. Taking care of our mental health, and discovering our own resilience is even more important now, so that we are able to cope with stress, and care for others who depend on us. Here you can find resources, information, and guidance to help navigate this ‘new and temporary’ normal.

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.

#TastetheCountryside dining event

Taste the Countryside Maple Trail

#TastetheCountryside returns March 24th – April 3rd, 2022 with a tasty twist – MAPLE SYRUP!

It’s a 10-day dining event in the Region’s beautiful countryside that features delicious menus incorporating locally-sourced produce and maple syrup and highlights our townships’ amazing restaurants, craft brewers and eateries.

Guests can dine their way through the region’s countryside as they taste delicious maple-inspired $20 or $45 prix fixe menus! Each menu features dishes created using locally-sourced items and Maple Syrup, providing diners with a true Waterloo Region taste of place experience.

For more information, visit www.tastethecountryside.ca

Register Your Business To Be Part Of Taste The Countryside Maple Trail

If you are a restaurant/ craft brewer/ food establishment located in the townships of Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot or North Dumfries you are invited to participate in Taste the Countryside and submit your $20 or $45 Prix Fixe menu (menus can be purchased for dine-in and/or take-out). You can find more information on Taste the Countryside Maple Trail here.

Registration deadline to be part of Taste the Countryside is Friday, March 4th at 5pm.

Other 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
MaRS Discovery District helpful resources.
CBC Arts Information for Canadian artists and freelancers to find help during COVID-19 shutdowns
Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) COVID-19 Small Business Help Cent

Economic Development Waterloo Region

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.

Explore Waterloo Region

Founded in 2007, Explore Waterloo Region is the Destination Marketing Organization for the Region of Waterloo. We are a nonprofit organization responsible for marketing our destination to increase the number of visitors and length of stay. We also work with our partners to promote festivals, events, attractions, restaurants and hotels and to develop new product offerings.

Explore Waterloo Region is an initiative of the Region of Waterloo and its seven member municipalities, including Woolwich. The goal: to deliver a single, focused message that Waterloo Region is a dynamic, year-round destination with much to offer the individual traveller, families on vacation and corporate visitors.

Explore Waterloo Region has partnered with hundreds of members to further their marketing efforts by promoting the Region to high-potential markets.

Explore Waterloo Region maintains an events calendar covering the region. It is a storehouse of information on area entertainment, restaurants, attractions and accommodation choices. We also offer information and assistance specific to the needs of meeting planners, tour operators, sport event planners and travel media. Visit the events calendar.

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 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.

Waterloo Region Small Business Centre (WRSBC)

Chris Farrell, Manager Tel: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.

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