Despite the chaos this virus has created, several DMZ companies (current and alumni) are pushing their traditional boundaries and devoting additional time, money and resources to help those in need. Some startups are cutting platform subscription fees for small businesses, while some are forming charitable partnerships within the community. Others have staff working around the clock to build new functionality to save customers millions of dollars.

Webinar recording. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Main Street programs have been moving rapidly to offer support to local businesses and the community as a whole. This webinar provides updates from the National Federation of Independent Businesses on the impact to the business community and current resources and guidance, followed by a panel discussion of local program directors and the work their doing to #SupportLocalSafely.

Links & description of services for each farm-based company participating in delivery services in the Greater Toronto area

MaRS-supported startups are banding together against the coronavirus — shifting their everyday business pursuits in hopes of bringing the crisis to a decisive end. This link provides a platform for partnering, procuring or learning more from these Canadian companies

The moderated Q&A with the Mayor and Chair of the Development Services Committee was delivered by the City in partnership with the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Oshawa BIA.

Some of the adaptations include live streaming of fitness classes, online health consultations, preordered restaurant meals and home delivery of everything from beer to books. For many entrepreneurs, the changes aren’t just about business survival, but also keeping themselves and their employees busy and motivated during the coronavirus crisis.

Site organized by the Edmonton Downtown Business Association showcasing downtown restaurants, retailers and other businesses who have found a way to deliver their goods and services to the people of Edmonton. Includes those businesses offering online classes or streamed services, gift cards, virtual appointments, equipment rental, delivery or curbside pickups and food specials such as custom meal boxes. Some businesses are offering deep discounts and specials during this time, or free items, donations & specials to first responders and hospital workers.

La campagne J’achète bleu est une initiative de la FCCQ visant à soutenir l’économie québécoise et le commerce de détail par la découverte d’entreprises locales. Sur son site internet et via ses réseaux sociaux, la FCCQ relaiera régulièrement des exemples d’entreprises d’ici offrant des services en ligne. Nous invitons également les entreprises à faire part des différentes initiatives et offres commerciales qu’elles mettent en place à leur chambre de commerce locale.

WFDT has provided our drivers with sanitizer, and the debit machines are being cleaned between every delivery. Contactless delivery & payment via e-transfer is also available upon request.

Dans le contexte de la COVID-19, qui a une forte incidence sur les entreprises, la Ville offre un soutien financier d’urgence et prend des mesures pour aider les entreprises, les organismes à but non lucratif et les travailleurs autonomes à faire face aux défis actuels.

Includes links to restaurants, groceries and shopping

The web portal will be a one-stop site for businesses to get the latest information on government updates, relief packages and services offered by the City.

This local resource includes a list of London retailers with online stores, a pledge for residents to sign onto to do one activity a day to help a local London business, and ecommerce advice.

The idea is to promote services and products that local small businesses can continue to offer in alternative and safe ways, while extending a helping hand to the community in the COVID-19 era. So far, offers have included everything from reduced rates for dog walking to free mental health counselling, to complimentary front porch delivery of biscotti.

Eat Later allows residents to support local bars and restaurants in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto & GTA, and Vancouver.

Sanitizer distributed to businesses for use by customers

Through UChicago’s Partnering for Community Impact initiative, support will come through three main programs: preparing and delivering meals to South Side residents; supporting South Side businesses and their employees; and supporting South Side nonprofit organizations and the vulnerable populations they serve. The programs will help address the urgent food security needs on the South Side, as well as begin to bridge the financial and resource gap for local businesses and community-based nonprofits.

Hometown Hub is a platform to get brick and mortar businesses up and running within days and continue sales in a strictly digital economy. This initiative was put together in a matter of days and involves a partnership between the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Rising and EatShopPlay.

Economic development departments from the Region of Niagara, the Cities of St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne and Welland, and the Towns of Lincoln and Fort Erie have jointly launched the Niagara Economic Rapid Response Team to assess and plan for the needs of the business community in the region, in light of COVID-19.

To support Minneapolis’ unhoused residents, the city has followed in the footsteps of other cities like San Diego and Los Angeles by partnering with a local organization to pilot a storage program for those experiencing homelessness. The pilot comes as a record number of people are experiencing homelessness across the state. The program allows people experiencing homelessness to store their belongings in bins located in a secure room. Belongings are checked in and out of bins by volunteers from Minneapolis’ Downtown Improvement District, the city’s partner in the venture.

The Ottawa-based company is calling on the public to donate or rent out unused items like tablets, smartphones, webcams and laptops, so they can get into the hands of those who need them. Ruckify will provide pickup and delivery of the items. The items will be sanitized when picked up and dropped off, and it will be insured for damages in case something happens.

With many businesses around the National Capital region temporarily shut down or re-imagining their offerings due to COVID-19, this site is a resource for residents to find local spots to order from and support.

Professional teachers from different Toronto-based studios are coming together to launch the Toronto Online Dance Collective: a shared platform for live online classes so that we can socially connect and dance together while we’re physically distant.

Greenrock Real Estate Advisors’ (GREA) has developed a series of initiatives to assist its residents and community members including: $300,000 towards local charitable organizations; a rent assistance program that allows residents to use their last month’s rent deposit as a credit towards their rent payments; the deferral of rent increase notices; $200,000 of grocery gift cards for all Greenrock managed residential units; and a specialized germ protection treatment program.

Main Street America is a non-profit organization helping to revitalize commercial districts compiling existing resources, opportunities, and community response examples to help Main Street districts during this crisis.

Two dozen small business owners and small business experts provide recommendations on how city and state policymakers can help them survive this crisis for small business.

The city is launching a program that will pay local restaurants to make and deliver boxed or bagged lunches to nearby homeless shelters. Working with Central Square Business Improvement District and Harvard Square Business Association, the goal is to deliver about 1,800 to 2,000 meals to nine different shelters in a week.

Coming Together Vancouver brings provides connections to share resources, extend a helping hand to our neighbours, show solidarity for healthcare workers and the vulnerable, and highlight social movements that are fighting for access to healthcare, housing, and workers’ rights.

The University of Laval’s Faculty of Business Administration is hosting a three-part webinar series with advice on how individuals and organizations can adapt to the crisis.

Edmonton’s Downtown BIA has compiled a list of resources for businesses impacted by the pandemic, as well as one for employees.