City of Vaughan enhances successful frontline relief efforts for businesses as COVID-19 increases demand

Municipalinfonet.com
June 16, 2020

Small business remains the backbone of Vaughan’s economy. While the global COVID-19 pandemic persists, the City of Vaughan continues to take action to help local businesses recover from the unintended consequences of the virus. A variety of resources and relief programs continue to be successfully utilized by businesses throughout the community -- including frontline services via telephone, teleconference or online at vaughanbusiness.ca.

Implemented by the Economic and Cultural Development (ECD) team, the demand for these business support programs continues to increase as the pandemic evolves. In fact:

• ECD saw an increase in service demand of more than 75 per cent between the first and second month of the pandemic.
• As of June 1, there have been 815 significant service inquiries since March 13
• Over the same period, there have been nearly 260 advisory consultations, business strategy meetings and planning sessions delivered
• The ECD team continues to offer services - including business consultations, workshops, and seminars - virtually and via telephone. In response to COVID-19, online program and resource offerings have been further expanded to reflect the current business landscape with the Digital Main Street ShopHERE program.

 

In partnership with ECD and Digital Main Street, this program enables local businesses to have a quick, easy and no-cost way to initiate operations online. Through Digital Main Street ShopHERE, Vaughan businesses can expect to receive more than 17 hours of hands-on assistance to set up and launch their online store, in addition to operations support like digital marketing and shipping. The program is open to independent small businesses, including artists and those who are home-based. To be eligible, an applicant must:

have a registered business
have fewer than 10 employees or fewer than 25 employees if it is a restaurant or bar
not be a corporate chain or franchise
For more information and business registration, view the Digital Main Street website.

Additional ECD business support programs and resources in place include:

• One-on-one support programs, including guidance on adapting online business models, virtual consulting on provincial and federal grants, and connecting those businesses that can supply personal protective equipment with organizations in need.
• The Digital Boost Vaughan Small Business Resiliency Program, which provides free training and mentorship to help local businesses adapt to the changing environment.
• The Open for Business online directory, which lists essential services and businesses that remain open. Vaughan businesses can apply through this online form to be included in the initiative led by By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services.
• The vaughanbusiness.ca website, which features user-friendly access to business programs, services, research products and marketing messages.
• Business resource webinars and workshops hosted by the City or in partnership with organizations like the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce and Niagara University listed on vaughanbusiness.ca/events
• The #ShopVaughanLocal campaign to encourage shopping remotely with local businesses and restaurants. Residents can order takeout or delivery from a local restaurant, buy gift cards for use at a later date, order online and use the hashtag on social media.

 

For more information on support for local businesses, sign up for the City’s ECD eNewsletter, or contact the ECD department by email at ecd@vaughan.ca or by phone at 905-832-8526. 

These programs are in addition to other efforts implemented by the City to help relieve local businesses. These include:

• the Vaughan Business Action Plan to safeguard the city’s local economy and support small-business owners impacted by COVID-19. The plan includes support for restocking store shelves; enhancing the movement of goods; improving business ground transportation; suspending the Municipal Accommodation Tax; and maintaining small-business services.
• further extending the suspension of the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) until Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Council originally voted on March 17 to suspend it to June 1 to support the travel and tourism industry by not requiring accommodation providers to charge the MAT at Vaughan properties.
• establishing a 90-day period for business licence renewals, which defers renewal of existing business licences up to 90 days past the expiry date.

For more information on City matters, contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.