June 17, 2021

COVID-19: Business Resources Hub

This is the Oakville Chamber of Commerce’s central hub for business resources and updates regarding COVID-19. Please visit this page often as we continue to provide the most up-to-date information.

Order of Information Listed:
1. Recent Government Announcements for Businesses & Workers

2. Navigating the Business Support Programs

3. Vaccinations & Testing

2. Financial Support for Businesses: Relief Programs, Grants, Subsidies, and access to capital.

3. Resources for Business: Workplace Health & Safety, Public Health Guidelines by Sector, Targeted Support, Hospitality & Hospitality Sector, Human Resources, Mental Health, Marketing & Digitization, Manufacturing, PPE, Self-Employed Workers, Working Remotely, and support and resources for workers.

4. Monitoring COVID-19

Recent Government Announcements for Businesses & Workers

Ontario Temporarily Moving to Modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen – January 3, 2022
Ontario Launches New Supports for Businesses – December 22, 2021
Ontario Further Strengthening Response to Omicron – December 17, 2021
Canada Temporarily Expands Access to Lockdown Program and Worker Lockdown Benefit – December 22, 2021
Ontario Further Strengthening Response to Omicron – December 17, 2021
Ontario to Raise Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour – November 3, 2021
Ontario Releases Plan to Gradually Reopen – October 25, 2021
Verify Ontario App for Businesses Available for Download – October 18, 2021
Ontario Releases Guidance to Support Proof of Vaccination Policy – September 14, 2021
Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health Issues Amended Letter of Instructions for Business/Organizations – September 13, 2021
Ontario to Require Proof of Vaccination in Select Settings – September 1, 2021
Ontario Moves to Step Three of its Roadmap to Reopen – July 9, 2021
Ontario Moves to Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen – June 24, 2021
Halton offering earlier second dose appointments to more residents starting June 18 – June 17, 2021
Accelerated Second Dose Eligibility for Ontarians – June 17, 2021
New Venture Ontario Fund drives economic growth and creation of high-value jobs – June 9, 2021
Canada and Ontario invest more than $115.1 million in municipal infrastructure to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (including Oakville) – June 9, 2021
Ontario dramatically ramping up delivery of rapid test kits – June 9, 2021
Ontario to move to Step One of Roadmap to Reopen on June 11 – June 6, 2021
Ontario releases three-step Roadmap to safely reopen the province – May 20, 2021
Oakville Chamber and the Town of Oakville partner to deliver self-screening kits for SMEs – May 7, 2021

Navigating the Support Programs for Business

Canadian Business Resilience Network – Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Canada
1-888-444-3659 – Stop the Spread Business Information Line from the Government of Ontario
Business Benefit Finder – Government of Canada
Financial Support by Industry – Government of Canada
Small Business Recovery – Government of Ontario

Vaccinations & Testing

Rapid Self-Screening Kits for SMEs in Oakville – Oakville Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Oakville
Rapid Self-Screening Kits for Businesses with 150+ Employees – Ontario Government
Vaccine Resource Hub – Canadian Chamber of Commerce
As of Friday, April 16th, eligible essential frontline workers, aged 18 years and older, who cannot work from home can book appointments online to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Halton Region. Read Halton Region’s letter to employers. Share this information with your eligible workers and provide them with a COVID-19 Vaccine Proof of Employment Attestation Form.

Financial Support for Businesses

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) – For Small Businesses, Corporations, Not-For-Profit Organizations, Registered Charities, and Partnerships
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) – For Small Businesses, Corporations, Not-For-Profit Organizations, Registered Charities, and Partnerships
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) – For Small Businesses and Not-For-Profit Organizations. Deadline: June 30, 2021
BDC Co-Lending Program – For Medium-size and Large Businesses
BDC Mid-Market Financing Program – For Medium-size Businesses
Black Entrepreneurship Program – For Black business owners and entrepreneurs and may include start-ups and existing for-profit small businesses in Canada, including sole proprietorships, social enterprises, partnerships or co-operatives.
EDC Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) Guarantee – For Businesses of all sizes
Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) – For small and medium-sized businesses that have received payments either from the Canada Emergency Subsidy (CEWS) or the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) by having demonstrated a minimum 50% revenue decline for at least three months (not necessarily consecutive) within the eight-month period prior to the date of the HASCAP Guarantee application.
Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) – For Large Businesses
Main Street PPE Fund – For businesses with 2 to 9 employees in the retail, accommodation and food services, repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, gyms and yoga studios.
Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit – Employers can make claims through WSIB for paid sick leave for their employees
Ontario Skills Development Fund – For employers, apprenticeship training delivery agents, unions, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations. Supports projects that will help relieve pandemic-induced barriers to hiring, training and retaining workers. View the Application Guide.
Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant – Government of Ontario – open until June 25, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Property Tax Rebate Grant & Energy Cost Rebate Grant – For businesses required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures (In areas categorized as Control or Lockdown).
Property Tax Deferral Program, Town of Oakville – For businesses and residents
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) – For businesses with 1 to 499 full-time equivalent employees, not-for-profit organizations that provide support services to business, and not-for-profit organizations and social enterprises engaged in commercial activities.
Short-Term Compensation Fund – For Canadian audiovisual productions

Business Resources

Workplace Health & Safety

Provincial Employment Standards Call Centre (webes@ontario.ca) and Occupational Health and Safety Contact Centre (webohs@ontario.ca) to answer small business health and safety questions.
Guide on How to Develop a Workplace Safety Plan – Government of Ontario
COVID-19 Health & Safety Resources – Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces – Government of Ontario
Using masks in the workplace – Government of Ontario
Resources to prevent COVID-19 in the Workplace – Government of Ontario
COVID-19 Workplace Safety Posters – Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Public Health Guidelines by Sector

COVID-19 General Information for Halton Workplaces – Halton Public Health
Updated Public Health Guidelines for Shopping Malls and Retail Stores – Halton Public Health
New guidelines for food and drink establishments – Halton Public Health
Sports and Recreational Fitness Public Health Guidelines – Halton Public Health
COVID-19 Sector-Specific Health and Safety Guidelines – Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Targeted Support

Black Entrepreneurship Program – Government of Canada – For Black business owners and entrepreneurs and may include start-ups and existing for-profit small businesses in Canada, including sole proprietorships, social enterprises, partnerships or co-operatives.
Black Innovation Program – Government of Ontario
The Community Building Fund – Ontario Trillium Foundation – For Tourism, Culture, Sports & Recreation Organizations – Deadline May 5
COVID-19 Relief Fund for Francophone Non-Profit Organizations – Government of Ontario
Feminist Response and Recovery Fund – Government of Canada
Futurepreneur Program for Young Entrepreneurs – Government of Canada
Ontario Skills Development Fund – For employers, apprenticeship training delivery agents, unions, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations. Supports projects that will help relieve pandemic-induced barriers to hiring, training and retaining workers.
Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant – Government of Ontario – open until June 25, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Short-Term Compensation Fund – For Canadian audiovisual productions
Support by Industry – Government of Canada

Hospitality & Toursim Industry: Support & Resources

Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant – Government of Ontario – open until June 25, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Our Restaurants Campaign – Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Freeze the Alcohol Tax Campaign – Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Business Insurance Action Team – Insurance Bureau of Canada
BarterPay Grants for Restaurants – BarterPay in partnership with Restaurants Canada

Human Resources

Chambers Plan: COVID-19 Business Resource Centre – The Chambers Plan
Payroll and COVID-19 – Canadian Payroll Association

Mental Health

Working Towards Mental Wellness: A Toolkit for Employers – Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Mental Health Resources – Canadian Mental Health Association
Mental Health Resources – Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
How to Manage Return Anxiety as the Lockdown Lifts – Mental Health Commission of Canada
Resource Hub: Mental health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic – Mental Health Commission of Canada
Support & Resources – Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch

Marketing & Digitization

Recovery Activation Program – a FREE program offered in partnership by the Toronto Board of Trade, World Trade Centre Toronto, and the Scale-Up Institute. an immersive online workshop program that connects businesses with industry experts for guidance, mentorship, and practical advice about process modernization and end-to-end digital transformation. It is completely free for businesses and supports firms of any size across Ontario. Start by taking your FREE Digital Assessment Needs.
Digital Main Street – In partnership with the Government of Ontario and Government of Canada. Includes:
Distantly.ca – An online crowd-funding platform to connect small businesses with community donations. Learn how to set up your business page.

Manufacturing

Ontario Made – Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

PPE

PPE Supply Hub – Government of Canada
Workplace PPE Supplier Directory – Government of Ontario
PPE Rapid Response Platform – Matches supply with demand, simplifying supplier discovery during the procurement process.
Halton Region Chambers of Commerce PPE Procurement Portal
Main Street PPE Fund – Government of Ontario

Monitor COVID-19

Stay up-to-date on the rapidly evolving situation, and on the nature of the virus itself, by frequently checking municipal, provincial, and national websites.

Category: News

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