Municipal Resources for Small & Mid-Sized Business Owners
There are a number of resources that municipalities have created for small businesses in the their cities to help them navigate through this COVID-19 pandemic. We have created a listing of some of the resources offered in the City of Toronto, the City of Peterborough & the City of the Kawartha Lakes. Make sure to check them out.
City of Toronto
CurbTO
To help businesses, services, and community agencies that are open support physical distancing outside and inside their buildings while also accommodating increased demand for delivery and pickup services, the City is offering two programs: Temporary Parking Pick-up Zones and Curb Lane Pedestrian Zones.
From the City of Toronto Website
The CurbTO program allows businesses to request road space for either Temporary Parking Zone for Pickups or for a Curb Lane Pedestrian Zone.
The Temporary Parking Zone for Pickups is designed to allow customers to park for a maximum of 10 minutes to pick-up an order from your business. It is designed for locations that do not already have sufficient parking space and/or where there is a no parking sign posted in front of the business.
The Curb Lane Pedestrian Zones can be set up for stores who require a lineup on the sidewalk to ensure physical distancing within their stores. This Curb Lane Pedestrian Zone will allows customers to line up while others can pass by at a safe distance.
More information on existing Temporary Parking Zone for Pickups and Curb Lane Pedestrian Zones can be found at the City of Toronto’s website.
BusinessTO
The BusinessTO Support Centre provides one-on-one virtual support to help businesses complete applications for Government of Canada COVID-19 funding programs while providing guidelines, tools and resources which can support businesses as they reopen.
From the City of Toronto Website
The BusinessTO Support Centre is available to business owners in Toronto provides information on various programs offered by the Federal Government as well as providing support for businesses as they reopen.
For more information and to request a consultation visit the BusinessTO website here.
CafeTO
Once approved, the CaféTO program aims to provide more outdoor dining areas to help restaurants and bars create physical distancing for patrons on patios during the summer months.
From the City of Toronto Website
Although the CafeTO program has yet to be approved. It is proposed to allow cafes, restaurants and bars utilize space in the public right-of-way by expediting the current application and permitting process for sidewalk cafés. Business owners who register for the program will receive guidelines from the city for the installation of a temporary sidewalk café or curb lane café.
The program is subject to current provincial restrictions on cafes, restaurants and bars. being lifted.
A simple registration process will be shared as soon as it is finalized. The most up-to-date information can be found here.
City of Peterborough & City of Kawartha Lakes
Weekly Webinars
The City of Kawartha Lakes hosts weekly webinars for business owners. To see the schedule visit their website.
Past webinars are available to view and include:
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How to Create a Marketing Plan to Relaunch Your Business After the Crisis
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How to Create a Business Plan to Relaunch Your Business After the Crisis
The BORO
The Peterborough Downtown BIA created the website The BORO as a platform for Peterborough Businesses who are members or associate members of the Peterborough Downtown BIA to sell and promote their products online.
Businesses wanting to be listed must be located in or near downtown Peterbrough and have their own online store, ordering system, gift cards or streaming.
At OmniWorx Inc. our Kawartha office can help Peterbrough based businesses build an online store. just reach out to us by email here.
To see if your business qualifies and get listed visit The BORO here.
Business Reopening Program
Provided by the Township of Selwyn, this Economic Recovery program is to help support Selwyn Businesses and Organizations, who have been impacted by COVID-19, with immediate recovery costs. The aim is to increase customer confidence in accessing stores. Grants are available for up to $2,500 to cover COVID-19 adaptation related expenses.
Eligible expenses include but are not limited to:
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PPE
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Screens
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Signage & Floor Markings
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Sanitizing Stations
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Customer Service
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Changing Room Adaptations
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Implementation of online sales platforms or expansion of on-line presence
For more information and to apply visit the Community Futures Peterborough website.
From the Community Futures Peterborough website.
Signage Resources.
OmniWorx Inc. is offering small and mid-sized business owners free signage resources to help with a safe reopening. To access these resources click here.
About OmniWorx Inc.
OmniWorx Inc. is a boutique design firm based in Scarborough in Toronto’s east end, with an office in Lakefield in the Kawarthas, providing graphic design, branding, marketing services to individuals, local small & mid-sized businesses and architectural firms. More...