Stepping up during COVID-19: How DMZ startups are finding tangible ways to support those affected by the pandemic

Local businesses

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.

COVID 19 & Main Street: Supporting Local Safely (Webinar)

General: Sector resources | Learning and education | Local businesses | Policy leadership

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.

Virtual farmers’ markets: Nine ways to get local produce, grass-fed beef, sheep’s milk gelato and artisanal cheese delivered to your door

Food | Local businesses

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

Canadian startups quickly pivoting to help combat #COVID19

Local businesses

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

City of Oshawa organizes COVID-19 Business Town Hall event

General: Tools for engagement | Local businesses | Policy leadership

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.

Business owners find creative ways to keep operations going despite storefront shutdowns

Employment | Food | General: Online communities and networks | Learning and education | Local businesses

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.

“Shop in the Heart” is a COVID-19 response platform organized by the Downtown Edmonton BIA

Arts and Culture | Food | General: Online communities and networks

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.

L’achat local c’est vital, surtout en ces temps de crise. La @Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec lance la campagne «J’ACHÈTE BLEU». http://jachetebleu.ca/ Elle relaiera régulièrement des exemples d’entreprises d’ici offrant des services en ligne.

Food | General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses

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.

WhatsForDinner is a food delivery service in Innisfil which provides online ordering and delivery for local restaurants which do not normally provide these services themselves

Food | Local businesses | Shop Local

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.

Mesures de la Ville de Montréal pour soutenir les entreprises

Local businesses | Policy leadership

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.

New web portal for St. Catharines restaurants and businesses ready to serve with pickup and delivery services

Food | General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses

Includes links to restaurants, groceries and shopping

Mississauga Launches a New Online Dedicated COVID-19 Resources for Mississauga Businesses

General: Sector resources | Local businesses

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.

“Support London Businesses” lists online stores of local businesses in London

Food | Fundraising and volunteering | General: Online communities and networks | General: Sector resources | Local businesses | Shop Local

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.

Local entrepreneur starts ‘Hamilton Helpers’ website that invites business people and others to post offers to help in the community

General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses

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.

Local Calgary businesses come together to create platform for purchasing gift cards from restaurants during COVID-19

Food | Local businesses

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

Local Rotary club working with medical community to make hand sanitizer

Public health

Sanitizer distributed to businesses for use by customers

University of Chicago providing emergency support to address immediate needs of South Side local residents, businesses, and nonprofits

Food | Fundraising and volunteering

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.

Hamilton-based Hometown Hub offers direct link to local businesses offering online services through delivery, e-commerce and gift cards

Local businesses

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.

Niagara Region municipalities launch COVID-19 business impact survey

Employment | Local businesses | Policy leadership

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.

Minneapolis Offers People Experiencing Homelessness a Simple Gift: A Safe Place for Their Stuff

Housing and homelessness | Local businesses | Policy leadership

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.

Ruckify partners with United Way to connect vulnerable people with technology during COVID-19 pandemic

Local businesses | Social isolation

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.

Together Apart initiative directs community members to local businesses to support

Food | Fundraising and volunteering | General: Crowdsourced tools and resources | General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses | Seniors | Social isolation

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.

Online Dance Collective

Arts and Culture | General: Online communities and networks

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.

Toronto-based rental company creates $500K COVID-19 relief fund

Housing and homelessness | Income support | Local businesses

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.

Website with resources, webinars, tips and peer exchange opportunities for those looking to help downtown districts through COVID19

General: Sector resources | Local businesses

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.

Supporting small business through coronavirus: ideas from experts and leaders across NYC

Local businesses | Policy leadership

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.

Cambridge to pay restaurants to make meals for homeless people

Food | Local businesses | Policy leadership | Public health

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.

Connecting neighbours in Vancouver looking for help during the COVID-19 pandemic

Food | Fundraising and volunteering | General: Crowdsourced tools and resources | General: Online communities and networks | General: Sector resources | Seniors | Social isolation

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.

Webinar series on adapting personally and professionally to COVID-19

General: Online communities and networks | General: Sector resources | Learning and education | Local businesses

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.

Resources for employees and downtown local businesses impacted by COVID-19

General: Sector resources | Local businesses

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

Pin It on Pinterest