Local Business and Economic Development News

Director's Message: Looking Forward to 2021

With 2020 soon behind us, we look forward to the promise of a brighter year in 2021. None of us have escaped the wide-reaching impacts of this pandemic. Yet through one of the most challenging years on record, I have seen the astonishing generosity and resilience of our community come together.

Within...

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Ontario Small Business Support Grant

In January 2021, applications will open for the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will help small businesses that are required to close or significantly restrict services under the new Provincewide Shutdown effective December 26, 2020.

Details

Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses,...

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Canada Summer Jobs Program Now Open for Applications

Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.

Objectives

The Canada Summer Jobs program...

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Cameras are rolling in Brantford

The Economic Development and Tourism Department was pleased to welcome ten productions to the City of Brantford in 2020—a new record for the city, despite a three-month provincial shut down of the industry from mid-March to mid-June. Eight of those productions occurred between August and December,...

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City Impliments Changes to Licensing Fees to Support Local Businesses

Given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on local businesses is expected to continue into the 2021 licensing year (April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022), Brantford City Council has approved a plan to provide additional flexibility and relief to businesses that are part of the City's Business Licensing program.

 In...

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Support from the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy

Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to the pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses.  This subsidy provides payments directly to qualifying renters and property...

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November 2020 Construction Numbers

The City released its November 2020 Report on Construction Activity demonstrating a construction value of $14.920 million for 68 permits issued. The year-to-date construction value for 2020 is a record-breaking $240.178 million for 1,012 permits issued, which is 26 per cent above last year’s year-to-date...

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COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Businesses

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.

The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) provides a one time, on-bill credit to eligible...

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SME Supports from Enterprise Brant

The Pandemic has affected all of us and changed the way some of us will operate going forward. Many small businesses and community organizations have been impacted from closures and other public health measures put in place to keep us all safe.  Fed Dev Ontario has announced 30M in additional RRRF...

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November 2020 Labour Market Update

The latest Statistics Canada local labour market report customized for the Brantford CMA for last month is now available.

November Unemployment Rate: Brantford 6.6% [-] Ontario 9.1% [-] Canada 8.5% [-]

Be sure to review the participation rate and the employment rate (reported as percentages), as well...

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