Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland
600 William Street, Suite 700 K9A 3A5 Cobourg, ON, Canada

SUPPORT: NEW Small Business Support Grant opens tomorrow (January 15). Get help with COVID-19 costs. Find out if your business is eligible for grants to help with the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) and your property taxes and energy bills through Ontario's new Small Business Support Grant portal opening tomorrow, Friday, January 15th. https://www.app.grants.gov.on.ca/msrf/#/

In regards to yesterday's announcement with further restrictions, this document may be helpful detailing which businesses are permitted to open and sector specific restrictions. https://files.ontario.ca/moh-enhanced-provincewide-shutdown

Funding opportunity for eligible employers. Closes January 29.

Here we go for 3 days of in depth GrowthWheel certification training. An intricate, visual, business advisory planning tool to help assist entrepreneurs make decisions and take action. SBEC’s (us) are the largest group of certified advisors in Canada! Collaborating with advisors from; Hawaii, Florida, Oregon, California, Mississippi, Virginia, Texas, and across Ontario.

Check this out! After months of planning and prep we have a new accessible website to showcase our programs and services. www.becn.ca

Upcoming opportunities for women entrepreneurs!

The new and improved CEWS will provide businesses with a longer runway for recovery. Learn how the redesigned program can support your business.

He's back! Our popular seminar and conference speaker, Andrew Patricio of BizLaunch: WED NOV 4 @ 2PM. FREE Seminar on "Creating A Business Plan to Grow Your Business." What it takes to become a successful business owner in this new economy. The last 12 months have been an incredibly difficult and unique time for business owners across the province, the country, and the world. In order to survive, businesses have had to constantly innovate, evaluate, and adapt. But to go beyo...nd survival to start recovering and thriving, businesses are going to need a plan. At a time when it feels like there are so few answers to be had, join us for an interactive online Q&A session that’ll allow you to get direct answers to your questions about how to grow your business in this new economy. You will get the opportunity to have your questions answered by entrepreneurs who understand the challenges you’re going through What it takes to become a successful business owner in this new economy. How to innovate and pivot. Creating a business plan for your new business model. Q&A session where we’ll discuss some of the unique challenges small business owners are facing and how to deal with them. PRE-REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/3kiOBct

Upcoming Women in Business Series: Virtual events with the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce. TUES OCT 27 & TUES NOV 24. Click the event for more information and to pre-register. https://fb.me/e/2UKnRq6Sg

A wonderful, creative event the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce had hosted on Oct 1 at the Port Hope Drive In, in recognition of the 2019 Business Excellence Awards. Congratulations nominees and award recipients! Watch the full event below. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a86_1OxtPw

Digital Main Street has some great webinar opportunities coming up to celebrate Small Business month. "Why Your Business Needs An Online Store" "Small Business Stories - Challenges, Wins & Going Digital" "Forging the way forward online: get started with e-commerce" https://digitalmainstreet.ca/events/

GOOGLE FREE RESOURCES: Get help for your business with simple steps and free resources Help people find you online, know that you're open, and stay connected to customers with simple steps and free resources. Click below:

TODAY @ 1PM. Sofie Andreou & Associates offers FREE Thursday Virtual Webinars: Today Sofie will discuss the "3 Steps to Help Increase Sales & Event Success with Digital Marketing." To attend: Visit www.123DigitalPower.com for your link.

A wonderful collaborative video from Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce of examples of the measures local businesses are taking to keep you and their employees safe and healthy. To learn more about all of the businesses in Trent Hills, visit www.buylocalTrentHills.ca #buylocalTrentHills

Stay safe, Happy Thanksgiving! Just as a reminder, we are closed Monday, October 12.

Ontario Supports Small Main Street Businesses with Funding through PPE Grant: A one-time grant of up to $1,000 for eligible main street small businesses in retail, food and accommodations, and other service sectors with 2 to 9 employees to help offset the unexpected costs of personal protective equipment (PPE); Ontario's Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network, which links 47 Small Business Enterprise Centres (that's us!) across the province as places where small b...usinesses can access tailored advice and information on local, provincial and federal programs; Digital Main Street Squads to help small businesses grow online; Mental health supports for families, frontline workers, young people, children, and Indigenous communities; Ontario's Small Business Recovery Webpage to provide single window access to small business supports. For more info click below: See more

GRANT OPPORTUNITY: McDougall Insurance & Financial is offering "The Big Grant, For Small Business"to help improve small businesses within local communities. Deadline: October 30th, 2020. The top 3 small businesses will be selected by a panel of judges. Awarding $5,000 to the 1st place winner, $3,000 to the 2nd place winner and $2,000 to the 3rd place winner. To apply and for more information, click below:

RRRF FUNDING STILL AVAILABLE: The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) provides financial contributions (interest-free loans) to help support fixed operating costs of SMEs, where business revenues have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and they have been unable to access other Government of Canada measures. There is still funding available for businesses to access under the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund. For info & application:... https://www.feddevontario.gc.ca//site/72/eng/h_02581.html See more

Effective September 25, 2020, all businesses in Ontario must screen workers and essential visitors who enter their premises. Workers include staff, students, contractors and volunteers, and essential visitors include those providing a service in the establishment who are not employees or patrons of the establishment (such as delivery, maintenance and contract workers). Free Ministry of Health Covid-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces: https://bit.ly/33hvWYs

Ontario Supports Small Main Street Businesses with Funding through PPE Grant: A one-time grant of up to $1,000 for eligible main street small businesses in retail, food and accommodations, and other service sectors with 2 to 9 employees to help offset the unexpected costs of personal protective equipment (PPE); Ontario's Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network, which links 47 Small Business Enterprise Centres (that's us!) across the province as places where small b...usinesses can access tailored advice and information on local, provincial and federal programs; Digital Main Street Squads to help small businesses grow online; Mental health supports for families, frontline workers, young people, children, and Indigenous communities; Ontario's Small Business Recovery Webpage to provide single window access to small business supports. For more info click below: See more

Did you want to stay up to date on Northumberland business information? Sign up for various e-newsletters for information on programs, services, Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre, Northumberland tourism businesses, and Economic Development information. More details below: https://subscription.northumberland.ca/subscribe

RRRF FUNDING STILL AVAILABLE: The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) provides financial contributions (interest-free loans) to help support fixed operating costs of SMEs, where business revenues have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and they have been unable to access other Government of Canada measures. There is still funding available for businesses to access under the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund. For info & application:... https://www.feddevontario.gc.ca//site/72/eng/h_02581.html See more

Northumberland County is developing a strategy to address broadband challenges in Northumberland. Take the County’s free online internet speed test during each of the three specified time periods to help the County gather data about local internet connection speeds. Complete the test at: www.SMARTnorthumberland.ca

Tri-Association Virtual Manufacturers Conference 2020: Thursday October 22, 8:00am - 4:00pm. From the comfort of your home/work office, enjoy a full day conference via a robust, interactive platform utilizing the latest in virtual event technology. Tradeshow format with workshops on the following: Creating Front-line Problem Solvers, A Resilient Health & Safety Culture, Supply Chain Disruption, A Mobile Workforce - Infrastructure & Security. For more information and tickets...: https://www.themanufacturingconference.ca/ Northumberland Manufacturers' Association See more

Ontario Transportation is developing a transportation plan to connect people to places across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, including Northumberland County, and enhance the economic competitiveness of the region. Complete an online survey, available until October 26, to share your thoughts on transportation priorities, travel patterns, and new and existing transportation challenges: https://www.ontario.ca//greater-golden-horseshoe-ggh-trans.

Recognizing these consumer habits may assist your business with the right tools to capture more of your customers. 53% of North American buyers said that the pandemic has changed the way they will shop going forward.

The Ontario government is helping protect jobs and businesses by extending protection to prevent temporary layoffs from automatically becoming permanent job losses. Although Ontario is now in Phase 3 of reopening, this extension will give businesses more time to reopen and return to full operations. This extension will last until January 2, 2021.