As part of the Town’s Economic Resiliency Action Plan, today, the Town of Newmarket will launch an innovative Mentorship Access Program (MAP). This program provides small and medium-sized businesses access to a directory of volunteer mentors available to provide strategic advice and guidance on how to adapt to these unprecedented times and map out a business plan, during and post COVID-19.

Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery includes an introduction to using streets for recovery and response (pdf) and detailed implementation information about the following street strategies:

• Lanes for Biking & Rolling (pdf)
• Sidewalk Extensions (pdf)
• Transit Lanes (pdf)
• Slow Streets (pdf)
• Pick-Up & Delivery Zones (pdf)
• Outdoor Dining (pdf)
• Markets (pdf)
  Note: Individual PDFs coming soon

In the form of a survey, the Adopt-A-Business program, is asking companies to mobilize team members in support of businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

How does it work? People/organizations are encouraged to pick a restaurant or other business impacted to support via en masse takeout purchasing or online ordering, a virtual tip jar, mass support on social media or other means of your choice! A signup form is provided, suggesting choosing 3 businesses to adopt. The Chamber will use their marketing and social media to amplify efforts.

Governments around the world are acting decisively to protect their businesses and people from the economic disruption being caused by the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Whether through tax cuts, investment incentives or changes to filing deadlines, tax systems will play a significant part in helping to alleviate the financial and economic turmoil that is now occurring.Policy changes across the globe are being proposed and implemented on a daily basis. The EY COVID-19 Stimulus Tracker provides a snapshot of the policy changes that have been announced in countries around the world in response to the ongoing crisis.

As part of its commitment to Kitchener-Waterloo, Sherpa Marketing wants to help by providing $25,000 in professional marketing services to one local company hit by the economic effects of COVID-19. Local Kitchener-Waterloo companies who want to donate their time, products or services can do so by joining the Adopt-A-Business Challenge. Sherpa will evaluate applicants and choose a company in Kitchener-Waterloo most in need. Of particular concern to Sherpa Marketing are all the small businesses that make Kitchener-Waterloo so diverse and vibrant.

The Reopening Guide addresses health and sanitary issues that event and venue professionals need to consider in order to protect both patrons and workers. Since there is still insufficient testing, no contact tracing, and no vaccine against COVID-19, this guidance is particularly detailed. The first edition is tailored to be especially useful for event professionals reopening the smallest events with the fewest resources available to mitigate their risks, since in every municipal reopening plan these will be allowed to reopen first.

Shop from 45+ vendors and over 350 local products, then on Wednesday or Saturday pick up orders from a local hub locations in the Valley or HRM. During the State of Emergency due to COVID-19 , there are added steps to ensure safe pick-ups and proper distancing.

The idea is a decentralized delivery system, shared and managed collectively by Toronto restaurants, with no commissions or fees. Everyone shares in the costs and the profits.

Members of the Ottawa business community can access the toolkit online. It provides guidance on preparing your workplace, employees and operations to resume while ensuring physical distancing, and also provides links to official resources such as public health signage, sector-specific guidelines and government financial assistance programs. Information and resources will be updated regularly on the website as guidance from the Government of Ontario and Ottawa Public Health continues to evolve.

The movement to take back Montreal’s streets for pedestrians during this time of social distancing is spreading rapidly across the city. From full-on car-free zones to family streets to superblocks, Montreal, like many cities around the world, is reimagining the use of public space during this pandemic at an unprecedented pace.

Radish enables restaurants, drivers and consumers on the platform to have a say in how the platform is operated. This is made possible by the cooperative nature, which means that each member is entitled to a vote in the direction of the organization. Restaurant delivery is being performed in an ethical and socially conscious manner.

Rules around temporary patios, sidewalk cafes and outdoor retail expansions are relaxed to create more space for customers in alignment with Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines. Until the end of 2020, businesses have the option to expand patio or retail space by following a set of guidelines and signing a declaration form.

Keys For Covid is a music project launched in May 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. This project aims to raise donations and provide relief to Canadians most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All proceeds will go towards supporting Canadian food banks (with a focus in Alberta and Ontario). Inspired by virtual music concerts like #CanadaTogether, Keys for Covid hopes to bring amateur artists & musicians together to create music, and make a positive impact.

S.H.I.N.E. (Support, Help in Nourishing Everyone) is a new food initiative started at the start of the COVID 19 Crisis in Brampton by a group of volunteers who wanted to help shine some light and help those struggling financially and physically during COVID 19

Grimsby’s Downtown Improvement Area (DIA) board – with support from the Town of Grimsby –is helping frontline staff. Every business in the DIA area will receive two face shields – with an option to acquire more – to help with employee and customer safety. These shields were made by a local retooled business

From Toronto’s Roncesvalles BIA, these signs can be put in the window of shops to clearly show their services

If you need help, just say “put it on my Friends’ Tab” at participating locations. Each location has a sign up about what’s covered (e.g. up to $10 or $20 of your grocery bill, one coffee and one food item at a local coffee shop, essential repair expertise and materials, etc.). If you want to donate to help a neighbour you can donate by adding it on to your purchase at participating locations or donating at FOKM.ca

Dans la mesure du possible, les entreprises pour qui travaillent les employés correspondront à ces dons.

Where possible, the companies the employees work for will match those donations.

Use the app to collect points, then redeem those points for discounts at locally-owned businesses. For instance, 50 points gets you $5 off your next purchase of $20 or more at the Dutch Bakery & Diner.

L’écoute des gens les aide à garder leurs #healthyathome

Listening to people helps keep them #healthyathome

By giving restaurants the tools to do it themselves, restaurants avoid the hefty commissions of current food delivery apps.

This grant will support the purchase of required safety equipment which must be installed prior to re-opening. Businesses can apply to receive a maximum of $500. Under the program, only commercial property and business owners within the Business Improvement Area (BIA) will be considered.

Leveraging Toronto’s technology community, the City of Toronto and Digital Main Street have brought together a range of partners to build and optimize online stores for Toronto’s independent businesses and artists at no-cost. Toronto’s independent small businesses and artists can access ShopHERE to get their online store built and launched with hands-on support throughout the entire process in just a matter of days.

The company is presenting a viable option for restaurants while UberEats faces backlash for steep fees and commissions.

Available to neighbourhood businesses such as bookstores, hardware stores, bakeries, fruit markets. Non-perishable products can be delivered using this new, safe and affordable home delivery service. Delivery people on bikes will pick up orders one to five times a day depending on volume, and deliver them directly to clients’ homes. Maximum cost per item is maximum $5+ tax. Items picked up before 1 p.m. are delivered that same afternoon, after 1 p.m. are delivered the following morning.

The Mayor suggests that temporary seating areas could become permanent, creating more animated spaces throughout the City. If this pilot program is successful, it can be part of building more people-oriented public spaces.