Waterloo Region Small Business Centre
200 King St W N2G 4V6 Kitchener, ON, Canada

Looking for opportunities to network with and learn from your peers? Join one of our upcoming Peer2Peer sessions! Mon, Jan 25th is our P2P: Side Hustles with Jeff Mitchell at 3:00 PM Tues, Jan 26th is P2P: Digital Transformation with our Digital Service Squad at 9:00 AM... Neither of these dates and times work for you? Shoot us a DM and we'll see how to accommodate for our future P2Ps! To find out more & to register, visit our Events page here: https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/events/ See more

If you're feeling stressed, overwhelmed, tired or frustrated (or all of the above!) right now and need some support and advice, join us for our panel discussion on Managing and Leading During Difficult Times. In this panel, we'll be joined by Experts in the fields of managing stress, anxiety and loss, and leading others during change and challenging times, including: - Tawanda Chirenda, Founder, Becoming a Willing Student Academy... - Denise Davis-Gains, Director, Atlas Studio - Angela Vandommele, Director of Ways to Wellbeing, Creator of the Healing Trauma Documentary RP(Q), MACP, BA CYC, CYW For more info on our Panelists & to register for the session, visit our Events page: https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/events/ See more

Is 2021 the Year of Your Side Hustle? The Maker's Collective has built a grassroots community, an ecosystem of experts, & a blueprint for you to take your side hustle from idea to launch. Side Hustle 101 is a 6 week online course that will provide you with the mindsets, skill sets & systems you need to take your side hustle to the next level. Are you ready to take the leap to transform your life through side hustling? Learn more about Side Hustle 101 & how you can make 2021 the Year of Your Side Hustle during this info session. The journey begins January 26th! Link is here: https://bit.ly/2M2XJpD

Is 2021 the Year of Your Side Hustle? The Maker's Collective has built a grassroots community, an ecosystem of experts, & a blueprint for you to take your side hustle from idea to launch. Side Hustle 101 is a 6 week online course that will provide you with the mindsets, skill sets & systems you need to take your side hustle to the next level. Are you ready to take the leap to transform your life through side hustling? Learn more about Side Hustle 101 & how you can make 2021 the Year of Your Side Hustle: https://bit.ly/35aFVzF The journey begins January 26th!

Happy Holidays from our team at WRSBC! We know it's a been a hard year for our small businesses, but the support and love for our local community has been overwhelming this Holiday season. Thank you to everyone who has shopped and supported local!

HoopOUT Owner, Colleen, began her entrepreneurial journey by attending some of the webinars at the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre. She found these webinars very valuable in building the confidence needed to start her small business. Colleen started using the Digital Service Squad over a year ago. Having just began her business, it was very helpful to have access to the checklist provided by the Digital Service Squad with what was needed to become more successful. Coll...een also appreciated that the Digital Service Squad recently reconnected with her to check on her progress and provided additional support. "It's always nice to have another person to talk to about our business tech questions. They are super resourceful!" In February 2020, things were picking up for HoopOUT with live events, bookings and shows to attend. Less than a month later when the pandemic started, Colleen believed it would be a short break to do some learning including exploring next steps for her business, website design and marketing options. Colleen quickly realized that she would have to rethink her business model or risk letting her dream go, as many others had to do. Skills that she had thought she would never consider learning have now become essential, like social media and turning to online classes. In retrospect this year has been a challenge but came with small successes, including meeting people all over the world and knowing that we are not in this alone.

If you need help accessing the government’s COVID-19 support programs, please Ask the Expert. The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce and Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, along with Chamber Check which is powered by Axonfiy, have professionals offering free advice to all business operators every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-3 p.m. Visit www.chambercheck.ca

The New Ontario Small Business Support Grant provides up to $20,000 to eligible businesses Small businesses required to close or restrict services under the provincewide shutdown will be able to apply for this one-time grant. Each small business will be able to use the support in whatever way makes the most sense for their individual business. For example, some businesses will need support paying employee wages or rent, while others will need support maintaining the...ir inventory. Eligible small businesses include those that: Are required to close or significantly restrict services due to the Provincewide Shutdown being imposed across the province effective 12:01 a.m. on December 26 Have fewer than 100 employees at the enterprise level Have experienced a minimum of 20 per cent revenue decline in April 2020 compared to April 2019. More info here: https://bit.ly/3aC2yk2 See more

The Digital Transformation Grant is a $2,500 grant available to eligible Main Street Businesses to help in their digital transformation. Businesses must be in a BIA or zoned commercial core to be eligible. There's still time to apply for the grant before the deadline extension of December 15th! Need help submitting your application or finding out if you're eligible for the grant? Book an appointment with our Digital Service Squad today: https://bit.ly/3oJyTcv

I am so excited! We officially have a website! Throughout the 1st lockdown we did pre-orders once a week, but we didn't have a website. Which means we could on...ly reach our customers who followed us on fb! Thanks to Waterloo Region Small Business Centre for allowing me the opportunity to participate in the starter company plus program I was awarded with a grant to help make this a reality! Its not entirely finished but its functioning and you can place your orders for next week starting today!!! www.nookcafemarket.ca

Good News! The deadline to submit your application for the $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant has been extended to December 15th. Need help with your application or want more information? Book an appointment with our Digital Service Squad as soon as possible: https://bit.ly/2Vk725S

Deja Vu Salon & Spa has been in business for 20 years. For the owner, Sandra Gibson, it is important to have a connection with their clients, and for them to feel welcome and relaxed in her salon/spa. Once Sandra was faced with the reality of the lock down, she made sure she was informed and researched what other businesses were doing to help keep staff and clients safe. She ordered plexiglass screens for their manicure stations and front desk area, PPE for staff, one of her... staff made cotton masks to use in the salon, and they updated their infection control protocol while they were closed. Sandra also used the time while closed to take nail art classes, online skin care classes, and was able to access webinars through the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre that were helpful, including teachings about social media platforms, how to take photos, customer engagement, and e-commerce sessions. After taking these webinars, Sandra reached out to clients through social media by creating videos and posting on How to do at home Pedicures, Facials, and Manicures". Clients were able to purchase products and tools to assist them to maintain their treatments at home, through curbside pick up and local delivery. This holiday season, Deja Vu Salon and Spa has created the Beleza box (Beleza means beauty in Portuguese - a way to embrace Sandra's heritage), a fun and festive box for clients to purchase for themselves or someone on their gift list. A little pamper at a time we all need it!

Counterpoint Brewing Company made the proactive decision to develop their e-commerce infrastructure, which made sure they stayed one step ahead when COVID-19 hit. They utilized their online retail platform to keep their customers, and themselves, safe. As a brewery, they are lucky that beer is traditionally something both enjoyed in their taproom and purchased for home consumption. Albeit, they did lose out on taproom traffic, they were fully supported by their community wh...o adapted to their new system. To help adapt and focus on this new business model, Counterpoint Brewing attended Digital Main Street webinars, peer-to-peer discussions at WRSBC, and had a personal consultation with Vaibhav, a Digital Service Squad member, who was instrumental in helping see the big picture on how to use not only the tools they were accustomed to, but all online resources.

If you are a new side hustler, freelancer, entrepreneur OR if you would like to become one, there is a community to support you, a pathway to follow, and resources to empower you to start and grow your thriving side hustle! On December 9th, from 7:00-8:30pm, join the FREE Side Hustle Starter Kit webinar and kickstart your journey to starting and growing your thriving side hustle. Register here: https://bit.ly/3kJRyT0

Applications are now open for Starter Company Plus! This cohort of the program offers opportunities for training in Restaurant Recovery, pivoting your business to Consumer Packaged Goods. You’ll learn about the packaging and labeling regulations to maintain a longer shelf life and how to sell to retail, service and wholesale companies. Deadline to submit your application is January 10th, 2021. There's only a limited 20 spots so apply quickly!... Visit the click here for more information & to submit your application: https://bit.ly/2WntUBP

Kasper Skinner of K Skinner Designs moved to Canada this past March, during the height of the pandemic. Having worked as a craftsman back in Ireland, Kasper was keen to bring his work to Canada, but found the task daunting. There were a lot of key differences to how things were done between the two countries. Kasper needed advice on concrete steps needed to set up a business legally and logistically in Canada, and that is where the webinars from the Small Business Centre real...ly helped. He booked a one-to-one online session with one of the Small Business Advisors, who had given the webinar. Kasper has received the guidance he needed and his questions were answered. Kasper recommends the WRSBC team to people looking to start up or grow their small business. Kasper used the time given to him from the lockdown to research, develop and prototype products which he then streamlined, costed, photographed, and advertised on the website provided by ShopHere. The Digital Main Street ShopHere team provided Kasper a tailored service, and with their help he had a functioning and professional website within a month! The ShopHere service would appeal both to those who want to design their website themselves, or to those who would rather describe their vision and have the professional team create one for them. In the few months since setting up his business, Kasper has met other like-minded individuals who are running interesting and vibrant businesses and are welcoming and supportive of newcomers starting their own ventures. See more

Thinking of starting a new business? Take advantage of our free webinars held by our Small Business Advisors to learn the necessary steps to start your business and develop a financial plan! Link here to sign up for the events: https://bit.ly/3qnnEb2

Did you know that in 2019 & early 2020, over $5,400,000 was distributed in grants to qualifying Ontario Main Street Businesses? The Digital Transformation Grant is a $2,500 grant available to qualifying Main Street Businesses to help in their digital transformation. There's still time left to apply for your $2,500 grant before the November 30th deadline! Book an appointment with our Digital Service Squad who can help you apply for the grant & answer any questions: https://bit.ly/35zaWxr

Many of our customers are ordering our teas and enjoying a virtual tea party with friends or family over Zoom. I love seeing how people are using our tea parties to take their minds off the pandemic and as a way to reconnect with their social circles from a distance. I am so grateful for the community support of my business dream! Queen of Hearts Kitchener, a local coffee and tea house in Kitchener is celebrating its success in pivoting its business strategy during the C...OVID-19 pandemic. With some wise marketing and continuous support from the community, the business was able to surpass 2,100 Afternoon Teas To-Go since the beginning of lockdown. Only six months into operations, Queen of Hearts Kitchener found itself needing to completely re-think its business strategy as the province locked down businesses. Entrepreneur and owner, Alyshia Bestard, pivoted to offer Afternoon Teas by pick-up or delivery. An e-commerce website was created overnight and online orders began to flow in immediately. See more

Starting a new business? Take advantage of our free webinars to learn the necessary steps to start your business and develop a financial plan! Sign up here for the webinars here: https://bit.ly/2KFQumO

In her previous life, Elya Style & Fashion owner, Elvira Sakara, worked as a Marketing Supervisor. When the pandemic started, it was difficult for her to take care of her kids and have meetings all day. She realized that it was too stressful to combine corporate and personal life, so she started thinking about how she could earn a living while staying home with her kids. As a mother of two young boys, Elvira knows how important it is to look chic and put-together at any given... time, and that’s how she came up with sportswear and street style outfits! If you’re heading out to pick up your kids, do a quick grocery run, or simply wanting to meet your friends for a girl's night out, Elya Style & Fashion offers quality clothing options from Italy. It was tricky for Elvira because when she launched her business and received all the clothes, she didn't know how to sell them. That’s when she reached out to Ksenia at the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre and received a consultation where she explained about the Digital Main Street ShopHere program and their support for small businesses. She started to work with the ShopHere team right away and her website was ready very quickly! "I was very surprised at the very professional team and everything was done in a timely manner. I am very appreciated for having my website done in such short period of time and for FREE. They supported me through the whole process and even after it was done." - Elvira Elvira is still growing and learning a lot, including taking courses to understand social media, but her passion for her business, doing what she loves, and being able to take care of her kids makes it all worth it! See more

Potamus Design is an original fusion between art, handmade jewelry, & design, based in #Waterloo. It was created last year by a couple who was looking to expres...s themselves & bring joy to their lives through art & jewelry. For them, starting a business at the same time as the pandemic was a completely new adventure & a big challenge. They knew if they wanted to survive as a small business, they needed to act faster, which led them to focus on: Increasing social media presence & building community involvement including participating in virtual markets Receiving consulting & mentoring through the @waterlooregionsbc & attending their webinars Taking courses about small business Registering their business name Creating an e-commerce website Developing & launching new products They are still growing & learning about their business, & can confidently say that with all that is happening around the world, they made a great decision to continue working towards their dream & are thankful for all the people around them, who believe & support their work everyday! See more

1 WEEK LEFT! November 30th is the deadline to submit your application for the Digital Transformation Grant of $2,500. Book an appointment ASAP with our Digital Service Squad to get help through the application process: https://calendly.com/digital-service-squad

The Wooden Boat Food Company has always been proud of the fact that they do business "not-as-usual". They believe this has been the shining light in their future and the relationship they have built with their customers have proven to be one of the main pillars in their success! Chef Thompson Tran believes you must be proactive, constantly changing and adapting to the changing business climate regardless if it is during an upswing in local economic growth or in this current market of financial hardship. Their advice for moving forward: "We will continue to do what we have been doing which is staying ahead of the curve, adapting, asking for help, finding free resources and really keeping in touch with our patrons and keeping them engaged."

Like many businesses in our community, COVID-19 turned Authentic Video Group's world upside down. As a video production company, their primary clients were manufacturers and suppliers. All at once, their clients pulled back marketing efforts, as cost control became their primary focus. What they did to stay in business, was take their two existing services and melded them into a unique offer. They created a product that restaurants, retail outlets, fitness centres, spas and m...any other brick and mortar businesses could use to showcase themselves in an interactive and innovative way, by merging their Virtual Tours with Video. They were even able to present the 2020 Cambridge Chamber of Commerce awards using this very service (you can see the show on their website here: https://bit.ly/35P1fLN)! In 2019, Authentic Video Group completed the Digital Main Street program and received the Digital Transformation Grant. It was invaluable to them! "We highly recommend the Digital Main Street programs and believe it can help any business navigate these difficult times." - Authentic Video Group See more

We’re so happy to be able to help out our small business community!

Looking to get tips on digital marketing strategies for your business? In our next Peer2Peer session, Lindsay Coulter will be discussing how she built her thriving business from the ground up using these strategies and how they constantly evolve! Sign up for the session here: https://bit.ly/3nd05PO

Due to the impact of the pandemic and being shutdown for three months, @Cafedumonde1 knew they had to reinvent themselves. A few things they did were: Creating an e-commerce website through Digital Main Street Creating a space in their Café to feature local makers/entrepreneurs through sourcing items that complimented their business while adding value to the overall customer experience. They are currently looking to add more local vendors/products both online at www....cafedumondecreperie.ca and at the Café! Developing and launching a frozen pizza/ crepe line of products by this winter. "It is my hope that this is successful enough to allow us to create employment. We are eternally grateful for all the support that we have received and continue to receive and want to give back to our community through job creation." - Nadia , Café du Monde Owner See more

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving weekend from our team at the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre. Don't forget to shop local for all of your Thanksgiving needs and to show support to our small business community!

It's a whole new world out there for business owners in the food-service industry. This free online webinar has been developed to provide thought leadership and... solutions to address some of the major challenges and pressing issues facing the foodservice industry. . Register: bit.ly/foodservice-landscape . Hosted by Waterloo Region Small Business Centre and Presented by The 15 Group See more

Still confused about what Digital Main Street is? Check out the short video here to see how the Digital Main Street programs have helped thousands of businesses & has been their lifeline to stay open: https://bit.ly/38tjJ6i We want to help your business thrive amongst all of the challenges presented these days. DM us to book an appointment & see how our Digital Service Squad can help at no additional cost to you!

Curious about our Digital Service Squad program? Check out our FAQs! For more information and to book a one-on-one appointment, click here: https://calendly.com/digital-service-/digital-service-squad

Don't just take our word for the expert services of our Digital Service Squad! See what businesses in the region are saying.

Canada Post events bring together industry experts on e-commerce, marketing, small business, strategic sales and customer relationships. September 17 1PM-2PM Secrets of Direct Mail Virtual Event Series 2020 Execute effective direct mail campaigns. Join us for a free virtual event series (national) to learn how to target, stand out and measure your success.... Register today: https://www.canadapost.ca//marketing/events/featured-event See more

It's a whole new world out there for business owners in the food service industry. It's time to reinvent and rebuild your business! Waterloo Region Small Busine...ss Centre brings you "Navigating the Food Service Landscape", a free webinar being held on October 15th! https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/even/event.cfm

Retail Reset: Thriving in the New Retail Climate If youre looking for new ways to connect with customers to help increase sales, looking for alternative business models and revenue streams, continue consumer interaction and maintain both a healthy business and healthy habits that make customers feel safe in your store, this webinar will unveil best practices for online and offline retailers alike to consider when it comes to delivering products to consumers. Learn from... a successful local retail owner Tips, tricks, and best practices Adopting, pivoting & overcoming challenges Q&A Peer roundtable discussion Guest speaker - Jovana Prica from Uni+Koncept in Uptown Waterloo ! Space is limited - register today! https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/even/event.cfm This workshop will be held on Zoom. The link will be provided the day before the event.

Don't just take our word for the expert services of our Digital Service Squad! See what businesses in the region are saying.

Want help from highly trained digital marketing specialists to help your small business grow online? We have an expert Digital Service Squad ready to help! Our Squad Experts can help you with: A Digital Assessment Google My Business... Social Media E-commerce Websites Content Management Book your appointment today: https://calendly.com/digital-service-/digital-service-squad See more

Want to learn more about the ShopHere program? Join the webinar tomorrow, Thursday, September 17 11:30 am - 12:30 pm! The goal of ShopHERE Powered By Google is to build and optimize online stores for small independent businesses and artists in just a matter of days. With ShopHERE, businesses get to expand their selling opportunities into the online market. ... Register today: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/events/

Uptown Waterloo Open Air Market Sundays, 9 am 1 pm October 4 25, 2020... Waterloo City Hall Parking Lot, 100 Regina St. S. Want to be a vendor at our Fall Open Air Market? Click here to learn more and apply: https://uptownwaterloobia.com/open-air-market/

Latest newsletter is up! Learn about new small business opportunities https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Virtual-workshops--prog

We had a great Retail Reset: Thriving in the New Retail Climate" session today! We would like to thank our Guest speaker, a successful local small business owner, Jovana Prica from Uni+Koncept in @uptownwaterloo for sharing best practices and useful tips and tricks! Thank you! 6 takeaways from today's webinar:... Provide a gift with each purchase Flash sales a great way to drive traffic and move inventory Practice what you preach live the lifestyle you sell to your customers Behind the scenes new product sneak peek, take your customers on a journey of product purchasing & trade shows Customer experience had written notes, unique packaging, a gift with a purchase for a more personable experience What is your value proposition? ask your customers why do you shop at my store?

Uptown Waterloo Open Air Market Sundays, 9 am 1 pm October 4 25, 2020... Waterloo City Hall Parking Lot, 100 Regina St. S. Want to be a vendor at our Fall Open Air Market? Click here to learn more and apply: https://uptownwaterloobia.com/open-air-market/

APPLICATIONS OPEN! Need some startup funds? Seeing gaps in your entrepreneurial skills? Then Starter Company Plus is exactly what youre looking for. Starter Company Plus is a training and mentorship program for businesses less than 5 year in age. This program offers opportunities for training in Business Planning, Marketing, and Financials. There is also an ongoing mentorship opportunity for businesses that are approved into the program.... Applicants must be over 18, and be looking to take their business full-time or expanding. There are funding opportunities of up to $5,000! Have questions? Weve compiled FAQs, requirements, grant expenditures, a schedule, and more to help you determine if this program is right for you: https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/StarterCompany. The deadline to apply is Sunday, September 13th by 11:59 pm. Join us for a Webinar on Thursday, September 8 at 10:00 am or 6:30 pm for an information session to learn more about the program. Register: https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/events/

We had a great Retail Reset: Thriving in the New Retail Climate" session today! We would like to thank our Guest speaker, a successful local small business owner, Jovana Prica from Uni+Koncept in @uptownwaterloo for sharing best practices and useful tips and tricks! Thank you! 6 takeaways from today's webinar:... Provide a gift with each purchase Flash sales a great way to drive traffic and move inventory Practice what you preach live the lifestyle you sell to your customers Behind the scenes new product sneak peek, take your customers on a journey of product purchasing & trade shows Customer experience had written notes, unique packaging, a gift with a purchase for a more personable experience What is your value proposition? ask your customers why do you shop at my store?

We will be announcing the Fall intake for the Starter Company Plus applications shortly! Sign up for the program updates by visiting: https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/StarterCompany.... We are hosting INFO sessions next week. Join us and learn about the Starter Company Plus program, eligibility and timelines! Visit our EVENTS page and sign up for the INFO session! https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/events/ #bizresilience #covid19 #covid19response #covid19smallbiz #kwawesome #wrawesome #kitchener #waterloo #dtklove #uptownwaterloo #downtownkitchener #shoplocal #lovelocal #wrsmallbiz #shopping #chooselocal #supportlocal #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurship #smallbiz #waterlooregionsbc

JOIN THE INFO SESSION and get 10% discount! Looking for support to bring your side hustle to life? The Makers Collective has built a grassroots community, an ...ecosystem of experts, & a system to take your side hustle from idea to action. Side Hustle 101 is the pathway start and grow your thriving side hustle. Join the Side Hustle 101 info session on September 2nd (7pm EST) to learn more about the course and receive a 10% discount code! https://www.makerscolearning.com/side-hustle-101-registrati

Why now is a good time to restart your marketing as the Economy Reopens: https://www.bdc.ca//restart-your-marketing-as-economy-reop

The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will be managed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the national Chamber network in support of other chambers and partners to help small Canadian businesses with their recovery efforts as a result of COVID-19. If awarded, a relief grant can be used for any of the following activities: Purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, face shields, and latex gloves.... Renovating physical space to adhere to local, Provincial or Federal reopening guidelines. Developing or improving e-commerce capabilities for your business. Successful applicants will receive a relief grant of up to $5,000. We intend to support local businesses of all kinds from across the country (from retailers to barbershops to farmers). Applications for the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund will be accepted starting on August 31, 2020 at 1:00 pm! Learn more: https://occ.ca/canada-united-small-business-relief-fund/

In May and June, the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre interviewed over 100 small business owners. We heard about financial challenges caused by the pandemic, the desire to retain and support employees, the need to strengthen online presence and sales, interest in how other businesses are addressing challenges, the uncertainty of how to re-open and how to do so safely, and the emotional toll of all this. Our team offered resources and advice in an effort to support small... businesses. Now, weve compiled all those resources here. We also heard that the sheer volume of available resources is overwhelming. So, weve organized the most requested resources here in a way that we hope will help to make things a little less overwhelming. Click the link below to access the TOOLKIT: https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/Small-Business-

CEAP-SB, a Government of Ontario program with rules designed by the OEB, is designed to help small businesses and registered charities that are struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. CEAP-SB provides a one time, on-bill credit to eligible small business and registered charity customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments. As of August 31, 2020, small businesses and registered charities can apply for fund...ing through their electricity and natural gas utilities or unit sub-meter providers (USMPs). Please note that CEAP-SB funding is limited, and utilities and USMPs will process applications in the order in which they are received. Submitting an application for CEAP-SB does not guarantee funding. Full program details including eligibility criteria, on-bill credit amounts and application processes are available at oeb.ca/CEAP.

Uptown Waterloo BIA offers advertising support to businesses throughout the year; first, from January through October and then again during the holiday season in November and December. Similar to the Hand in Hand program, businesses can apply for funding of up to $350 per advertising campaign. If you are an Uptown business and would like to apply for co-op funding, please fill out the form below. For application and additional info visit https://uptownwaterloobia.com/co-op-advertising/

if you are a new side-hustler, freelancer, entrepreneur OR if you would like to become one, there is a community to support you, a pathway to follow, and resources to empower you to start and grow your thriving side hustle. Join the Side Hustle Hubs membership community to connect with side hustler from around the world, access resources and tools to grow your side hustle and attend a monthly online training session to build the skills you need to take your side hustle ...to the next level. Early-Bird Registration is now open, with 50 spots available @ $17.97/month. The Movement begins Sept. 1st. https://www.makerscolearning.com/a/32855/kBmZB8GM

Looking for support to bring your side hustle to life? Makers Collective has built a grassroots community, an ecosystem of experts, & a system to take your side hustle from idea to action. ... Side Hustle 101 is the pathway start and grow your thriving side hustle. Early-bird registration is now open, with 50 spots available @ $149.97. The Movement begins Sept. 8th. LEARN MORE: https://www.makerscolearning.com/a/32854/kBmZB8GM

Looking for space in Waterloo Region? We have prepared a list for you! Check out some local rental spots for your new business! Kitchener Market (The Marketplace)... The Courtyard Kitchen Little Mushroom Catering Bakin Me Crazy Commercial Kitchen Food Safety Training Courses at Conestoga College Visit our website and navigate to TOOLS for the full list. #bizresilience #covid19 #covid19response #covid19smallbiz #kwawesome #wrawesome #kitchener #waterloo #dtklove #uptownwaterloo #downtownkitchener #shoplocal #lovelocal #wrsmallbiz #shopping #chooselocal #supportlocal #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurship #smallbiz #waterlooregionsbc

Joing our Peer2Peer groups! Peer2Peer groups provide an opportunity for individuals in similar industries or roles to share best practices, ideas, and provide guidance on current business challenges. Whatever problems you face, someone in your group has faced it and remedied it. Sign up for a link to join us on Zoom!... https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/Peer2Peer.htm

Looking for support to bring your side hustle to life? The Makers Collective has built a grassroots community, an ecosystem of experts, & a system to take your side hustle from idea to action. Side Hustle 101 is the pathway start and grow your thriving side hustle. ... The movement begins September 8th! Join the Side Hustle 101 WAITLIST to learn more about the course & enter a draw to win 1 of 3 free spots in the course! https://www.makerscolearning.com/a/32210/57NG9nD3

Connect with us! Sign up to our newsletters to receive information about small business tools, webinars, programs and resources! Sign up by visiting: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Grants---Programs-for-s

Nobody was ready for COVID-19. But looking forward, the Small Business Centre is here to help with programs, resources, and tools so you can get back to business. Take a look at our our COVID-19 Recovery resources page! https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/COVID-RECOVERY.

Join the Side Hustle Hub WAITLIST today and enter a draw to win 1 of 3 free 3 month memberships! If you are a new side-hustler, freelancer, entrepreneur OR if you would like to become one, there is a community to support you, a pathway to follow, and resources to empower you to start and grow your thriving side hustle. Join the Side Hustle Hubs membership community to connect with side hustler from around the world, access resources and tools to grow your side hustle ...and attend a monthly online training session to build the skills you need to take your side hustle to the next level. JOIN TODAY: https://www.makerscolearning.com/side-hustle-hub-waitlist

New program for women-led SME: Eligible activities should support the reopening, rebuilding and revival of the business, such as: Acquisition of required/mandated Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)... Workspace reconfiguration to accommodate physical distancing Hardware/software upgrades to enhance online capacity, client servicing and accessibility Selected projects will be eligible for a one-time non-repayable performance-based contribution up to $5,000 on eligible expenses net of HST. The minimum supported project will not normally be less than $3,000. Upon request, an initial contribution advance will be considered to support eligible activity and pending the execution of an approved project Contribution Agreement. All projects will be subject to a 20% hold back until completion of the project and all Contribution Agreement requirements are met. WHAT TYPE OF WOMEN-LED SMES QUALIFY FOR THE PURPOSES OF APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY? Projects in the following priority segments will be considered: Small retail Sole proprietor Personal service industry Application: http://www.windsoressexsmallbusiness.com/re3 See more

Our latest newsletter is out! Small business updates, opportunities and programs! Read more:... https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Grants---Programs-for-s If you have not joined our newsletter yet, today is a good day! https://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin #bizresilience #covid19 #covid19response #covid19smallbiz #kwawesome #wrawesome #kitchener #waterloo #dtklove #uptownwaterloo #downtownkitchener #shoplocal #lovelocal #wrsmallbiz #shopping #chooselocal #supportlocal #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurship #smallbiz #waterlooregionsbc

Rhyze Ventures Applications are open, apply now! Rhyze Ventures is a transformational change for women-led businesses. Push your leadership and your business to the next level. Rhyze Ventures is a custom-designed program created by female entrepreneurs, for female entrepreneurs.... Small Business Stream Scalable Business Stream Social Enterprise Stream Learn more and Apply! https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/Rhyze.htm #bizresilience #covid19 #covid19response #covid19smallbiz #kwawesome #wrawesome #kitchener #waterloo #dtklove #uptownwaterloo #downtownkitchener #shoplocal #lovelocal #wrsmallbiz #shopping #chooselocal #supportlocal #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurship #smallbiz #waterlooregionsbc

Still a few spots left! Join us and learn how to effectively market your product/service by applying the "4 Ps of Marketing". Attendees will learn to utilize this strategy to create a sales and marketing strategy. Your business will be better equipped to identify your target market, create best practices for promotion and understand how this direction can be used to increase your sales.... FREE registration: https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/even/event.cfm #bizresilience #covid19 #covid19response #covid19smallbiz #kwawesome #wrawesome #kitchener #waterloo #dtklove #uptownwaterloo #downtownkitchener #shoplocal #lovelocal #wrsmallbiz #shopping #chooselocal #supportlocal #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurship #smallbiz #waterlooregionsbc

Our scheduled CRA Covid webinars are cancelled! Due to expected changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), we are postponing our scheduled webinars on Covid Measures. This delay will allow us an opportunity to gain a broad understanding of the changes to better serve your business group in our presentation and live question and answer period. We apologies for any inconvenience.... #bizresilience #covid19 #covid19response #covid19smallbiz #kwawesome #wrawesome #kitchener #waterloo #dtklove #uptownwaterloo #downtownkitchener #shoplocal #lovelocal #wrsmallbiz #shopping #chooselocal #supportlocal #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurship #smallbiz #waterlooregionsbc

Ontario entrepreneur? Dont miss your chance to join Canadas #1 private business accelerator, Accelerator Centre, get $30,000 in seed funding, 7 months of one-to-one mentorship and more through AC JumpStart! Apply before August 9: https://www.acceleratorcentre.com/programs/ac-jumpstart

JOIN the WEBINAR and learn Why Your Business Needs An Online Store - ShopHERE powered by Google The goal of ShopHERE Powered By Google is to build and optimize online stores for small independent businesses and artists in just a matter of days. With ShopHERE, businesses get to expand their selling opportunities into the online market. When I sign up with ShopHERE, what do I get?... An online Shopify ecommerce website customized with your information, theme, logo and branding Hands-on assistance setting up and launching your online store Additional training to support your online store including topics like digital marketing, shipping and inventory management Access to free tools to help support the successful launch of your online store July 23 11.30am". Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/why-your-business-needs-an-onli

Still a few spots available for CRA Covid Response Session tomorrow at 10am! https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/even/event.cfm

Join #BESTWR for a panel discussion led by Minto Schneider, CEO, Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation. Minto will be joined by Nick Benninger (Fat Sparrow Group), Alex Kastner (Cambridge Mill), Jody Palubiski (Charcoal Group), as well as Public Health and the AGCO, for a conversation on best practices for restaurants in a COVID-19 setting. Hear what other restaurants are doing and ask your questions on setting up your patio, public health guidelines, and other n...ew best practices. This session is truly a one-stop shop for restaurants in Waterloo Region. We hope to see you there! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/covid-19-best-practices-for-wat

Download a poster from the Region of Waterloo to inform your customers about The Face Covering By-law, in effect as of Monday July 13. The Face Covering By-law makes it mandatory for residents to wear face coverings in enclosed public places such as shopping malls and retail shops, restaurants, museums, grocery stores and more. Business owners/operators are responsible for posting clearly visible by-law signage at all entrances but are not required to ensure compliance wi...th the by-law. The by-laws exempt children under the age of five and those who are unable to wear a face covering (due to a medical condition, disability, etc). POSTER: https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca//Face-Mask-By-law-Poster_a More about the regulations: https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca//face-covering-by-law-for-

In partnership with the CRA we are bringing CRA COVID-19 Response webinar, which will cover small business tax obligations related to Covid 19 measures such as the CERB and CEWS. We have booked dates in July, August and September. Take a look at our events page for the upcoming dates:... https://www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com/events/

Do you miss Waterloo Public Square and our Art Market? Not to worry, take a virtual visit on Friday, June 26th during our Virtual Art Market. Now you can shop from the comfort of your own home. While you are virtually in the Square, check out the music or view the public art. How does it work?...Continue reading

2020-21 edition of the Francophone Community Grants Program! The Francophone Community Grants Program is a two-stream, application-based funding program: - the Economic Development stream helps francophone entrepreneurs and businesses improve front-line services and better serve their French-speaking clients and partners. ... - the Cultural and Community stream, invests in local cultural and community initiatives, demonstrating the governments ongoing commitment to protecting and promoting the French language and culture. New this year, the Economic Development stream has been extended to include not-for-profit organizations, in addition to for-profit organizations. Please see the attached guidelines for more details on the eligibility criteria. The deadline to submit an application is August 5, 2020 and projects must be implemented between October 15, 2020 and March 31, 2021. All applications must be submitted through the Transfer Payment Ontario portal: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-funding-ontario-government