Support for Businesses

Nottawasaga Futures is offering unsecured business loans up to $10,000 to help small businesses re-open and maintain full employment during the recovery period as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. The Pandemic Reopening Business Loan can assist with:

• Working capital

• Equipment purchases and upgrades

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies

• Information Technology needs such as computers, software, websites, and point of sale systems

Contact Nottawasaga Futures

The Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) provides eligible employers with a subsidy of up to 50 per cent of incremental remuneration paid to eligible active employees between June 6th, 2021, and November 20th, 2021.

Apply for the CRHP

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) provides eligible employers that have seen a drop in revenue due to COVID-19 with a subsidy to cover part of employees' wages. The CEWS enables business owners to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses, and ease back into normal operations until September 25^th, 2021.

Apply for the CEWS

The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) provides eligible businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities that have seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic with a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses until September 25^th, 2021.

This subsidy will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring the participation of landlords.

Apply for the CERS

Businesses that were required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures implemented in the fall of 2020 until July 16^th, 2021 can apply for rebates on property taxes and energy bills, provided in the form of grants, to help with their fixed costs.

Applications close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 30^th. 

Apply for Support

The Government of Canada established the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) to provide additional support to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). The program includes:

• BDC Co-Lending Program for SMEs

• BDC Mid-Market Financing Program

• EDC BCAP Guarantee

Businesses seeking support through any of the BCAP programs should contact their primary lender where they have a pre-existing relationship, so that the financial institutions may assess the client’s financial request. 

The BCAP is available until December 31^st, 2021.

The Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) provides small- and medium-sized businesses that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 with access to guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1-million to cover operational cash flow needs.

The HASCAP is available until December 31st, 2021. 

Learn more about the HASCAP

RTO7 has a line-up of programs geared to support tourism operators, businesses, and organizations as they recover from the effects of COVID-19 on the tourism sector. 

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, Farm Credit Canada (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

• access to an additional credit line up to $500,000, secured by general security agreements.

Learn more about the FCC COVID-19 Support Program

The Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) provides 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.

Apply to to the LEEFF

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) financial relief package allowed businesses to defer premiums due from March to August of 2020. All businesses that chose to participate in the financial relief package had until June 30^th, 2021 to repay deferred amounts, interest-free. As of July 1^st, 2021 interest is being applied to outstanding amounts and clearance eligibility for businesses with remaining balances may be impacted.

Learn more about the WSIB Relief Package

On April 29^th, 2021, the Ontario Government amended the Employment Standards Act to require employers to provide employees with up to three (3) days of paid infectious disease emergency leave because of certain reasons related to COVID-19. This entitlement is in addition to employees’ rights to unpaid infectious disease emergency leave.

Learn more about the benefit

Temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program have been made to better support Canadians looking for work. 

Learn more about EI

The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

If you are eligible for the CRB, you can receive $1,000 ($900 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period until you reach 21 periods (42 weeks).

If you have already applied for 21 periods, or are applying for your first CRB period on or after period 22 (July 18^th to 31^st, 2021), you may receive $600 ($540 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period.

You may re-apply up to a total of 25 eligibility periods (50 weeks) between September 27^th, 2020 and September 25^th, 2021.

Apply for the CRB

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. 

If you are eligible for the CRSB, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a 1-week period. If your situation continues past 1 week, you will need to apply again.

You may apply up to a total of 4 weeks between September 27^th, 2020 and September 25^th, 2021. You cannot apply for periods that are closed.

Apply for the CRSB

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they are sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19.

If you are eligible for the CRCB, your household can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period. If your situation continues past 1 week, you will need to apply again.

Each household may apply up to a total of 42 weeks between September 27^th, 2020 and September 25^th, 2021.

Apply for the CRCB

The Town's Temporary Restaurant Patio Program provides restaurants with the opportunity to establish or expand patio spaces to take advantage of the summer weather and offer safe outdoor dining areas to their customers.

Subject to the program’s conditions and public health measures, patios can operate in parking lots and adjacent premises on restaurants’ private property, as well as on municipal sidewalks at restaurants located in the downtowns of Alliston, Beeton, and Tottenham until November 15^th, 2021.

To assist the local business community in its recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, no municipal fees will be charged to participating restaurants in 2021.

Submission requirements to obtain a permit include:

• Application form

• Property owner approval

• Site specific conceptual site plan drawing

• Health Unit Certificate of Inspection

• AGCO Liquor License (if applicable)

• Certificate of Insurance

• Professional Engineers Certificate for temporary “bump-out” sidewalk structure and traffic barrier (if applicable)

• Encroachment Agreement (if applicable)

Download the Curbside Patio Application Package

Download the Private Property Patio Application Package

For more information about the program and its submission requirements, or for assistance in completing your permit application, contact the Economic Development Office.

Looking for expert insights into navigating your business through the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic? Visit our Business Events Calendar for access to webinars, online events, and training sessions. 

Visit the Business Events Calendar

Local businesses are a vital part of New Tecumseth's economy.

They provide jobs for our friends and family, assist countless community initiatives with donations, volunteer efforts and sponsorships of our kids' sports teams, and are a part of the fabric of our Town's unique character.

Now more than ever, it's important to show them your support.

Rediscover everything New Tecumseth has to offer. Safely Make It New Tec when you shop, dine, or unwind at local merchants, restaurants, and service providers in Alliston, Beeton, and Tottenham.

Shop local. Eat local. Support local. Make It New Tec!

Support Local. Make It New Tec!

Nottawasaga Futures provides a free business consulting program to assist business owners and entrepreneurs. In addition to supports for business planning, financials, and accounting, businesses can access help with:

• confidential mental health support services;

• applying for funding programs being offered by the federal government;

• making sure their website is optimized for buying or booking appointments online;

• setting up online ordering for both delivery and take-out through their website;

• converting existing stores to e-commerce to offer online buying capabilities;

• offering online and/or live classes or consultations using tools like Skype and ZOOM;

• and much more!

Learn more about the business consulting program

Digital Main Street (DMS) is a program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs, and DMS' Digital Service Squad; a team of highly trained recent graduates who help main street businesses grow and manage their business through the adoption of digital tools and technology.

The Government of Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan includes a wide range of measures to support Canadian businesses and their employees who are facing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.

• Support for Businesses

• Support for Individuals

• Support for Sectors

• Support for Organizations Helping Canadians

Managing your business during COVID-19

Learn about changes to government programs and available supports as your business recovers from COVID-19.

Find Provincial business supports

Find small business recovery resources

Find resources to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace

Businesses or organizations must operate in compliance with the advice, recommendations instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health on screening individuals.

This requirement includes posting signs at all entrances to the premises of the business or organization in a conspicuous location visible to the public that inform individuals on how to screen themselves for COVID-19 prior to entering the premises.

For patrons

Businesses and organizations must implement passive screening for patrons by posting signs at all entrances informing people to screen themselves for COVID-19 before entry.

Download Signs to Post at Entrances

Active screening is required in accordance with instructions by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Businesses, organizations and customers may use the COVID-19 customer screening tool to meet this requirement.

Customer Screening Tool

For workers

Workplaces must actively screen all workers before entering the work environment. 

Worker and Employee Screening Tool

New electricity rates came into effect on November 1^st, 2020. Small business customers that pay Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity prices now have a choice to move to a tiered price system or continue with TOU rates.

Choose the price plan that’s right for how your business consumes electricity. With TOU, the price you pay depends on when you use electricity whereas with tiered prices, you use a certain amount of electricity each month at a fixed price anytime of the day. Once you exceed that limit, a higher price applies.

If you want to continue paying TOU prices, no action is required. If you’re considering a switch to Tiered prices, get a price comparison using the OEB’s online bill calculator. 

Use the OEB Calculator

The Province of Ontario is working with industry and agency partners to launch Ontario Live — a new virtual hub designed to promote and support the province’s tourism and cultural industries. This initiative, developed in collaboration with industry partners and leaders, will provide support for Ontario’s culture and tourism industries and help to mitigate the economic toll of the COVID-19 outbreak on Ontario’s artists, creators and attractions.

Register Your Business with Ontario Live

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in cooperation with the provincial government, has created a self-certified Safe Travel Stamp based on worldwide industry protocols for every aspect of hospitality and tourism industries.

The specially designed stamp will allow consumers to recognize governments and businesses around the world that have adopted standardized health and hygiene protocols.

Eligible businesses include hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, attractions, short term rentals, car rentals, outdoor shopping, transportation and airports.

Learn more about the Safe Travel Stamp

 Business Development Partner Resources

The Town's business development partners and service providers are regularly updating resource lists and hosting webinars to help educate business owners as they navigate this complex and challenging situation. Find more information at the following organizations' websites:

• BDC

• Canadian Business Resilience Network

• County of Simcoe Economic Development Office

• Focus Community Development Corporation

• Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre

• Nottawasaga Futures

• Ontario Business Improvement Area Association

• Ontario Chamber of Commerce

• Ontario Federation of Agriculture

• Sandbox Centre for Shared Entrepreneurship & Innovation

• Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

• Small Business Centre | Barrie, Simcoe County, and Orillia 

• Tourism Simcoe County