Richmond Hill Economic Development
225 East Beaver Creek Road L4B 3P4 Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

Richmond Hill based Laipac Technology Inc., a leader in the development of IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) and Telehealth, announced today that their LooK SPOT COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test received CE IVD clearance for Europe. It uses AI technology to deliver real-time test results within 5 to 8 minutes. Read news release here ==> http://bit.ly/3sLxuEP

Apply now for the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant where eligible businesses can receive between $10,000 and $20,000. This grant helps small businesses (including sole proprietorships) that are required to close or significantly restrict services under the new Provincewide Shutdown effective December 26, 2020. More info ==> http://bit.ly/3oNeCmp

Ontario has announced a second Declaration of Emergency - Province issues a stay-at-home order and introduces enhanced enforcement measures to reduce mobility. Learn about the additional public health restrictions for your business here ==> http://bit.ly/3bzg9Zy

Did you know the popular Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy, was filmed in Richmond Hill? Two filming locations were used, can you guess where? We will reveal the locations on Monday, or you can find the answer by checking out the Film Storymap here ==> http://bit.ly/39xFUoY

Tools to grow your business!

The province-wide shutdown means that more people will be staying home or running their small businesses from home. The Ontario Government has taken steps to ho...ld the price of electricity at 8.5 /kWh for electricity used from January 1 until the end of the day on January 28, 2021. Residential, small business and farm customers on Time-of-Use and Tiered price plans set under the Ontario Energy Board’s Regulated Price Plan will pay that fixed price. So, no matter what time of day you use your electricity, or how much you use, the fixed price will apply. The price change will happen automatically. No customer action is required. For more information, visit www.oeb.ca See more

The city is set to inch back to normalcy with its 2021 vision.

To help small businesses succeed in 2021, Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre is launching a Business Plan Builder series in February. This multi-session program is designed to help #smallbusiness owners gain clarity on their business by understanding the key components of writing a meaningful business plan. Register now - http://bit.ly/3pLYMZw

On behalf of the Richmond Hill Economic Development team, we would like to wish you and your family Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year!

Richmond Hill has partnered with Public Services and Procurement Canada and their government partners to host the first virtual Government to Business (G2B) Information Fair and Workshop event on Thursday, November 26. Here's your chance to engage with government officials, attend informative workshops and get informed about Canadian Innovation programs. Register for this free event ==> http://bit.ly/3kGosnw

**ATTENTION YORK REGION SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY** Important announcement regarding the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which can provide up to $20,00...0 (one-time) for eligible businesses required to close or restrict services under the Ontario Government's COVID-19 response framework. More details: https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/59788/post-4

We are pleased to announce that Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre has received support from the Ontario government to assist our small business community. Support includes expanding the capacity of virtual business advisory services and to improve access to funding, crucial information and resources to help businesses navigate COVID-19 and beyond. https://bit.ly/3kLsYAZ

Richmond Hill headquartered Facedrive Health is featured in York Link - York Region Economic Development. The company's TraceSCAN technology utilizes wearable devices to assist with contact tracing and has been used by Air Canada to help protect employees and passengers. Read article ==> https://bit.ly/2Kse3PD

They are a wide variety of services for pickup (and delivery) available at the Hillcrest Mall. This info is being updated constantly and for the most up-to-date... info please see the link below. "The health and safety of our customers, all employees at Hillcrest, and our community will always be our highest priority. To help keep everyone as safe, and to play our part in the containment of COVID-19, in compliance with the order of the Government of Ontario, only stores and services deemed essential will be open effective 12:01 am on Monday, December 14 for the next 28 days." Click here http://hillcrestmall.ca/centre-info/covid-19-updates/ to find the following... A list of Essential Stores & Services A list of stores offering Storefront & Curbside Pickup A list of food and beverage retailers offering Takeout & Delivery A list of different ways to Shop Hillcrest From Home

Join us next Thursday, November 26 for the first virtual Government to Business (G2B) Information Fair and Workshop event. Engage with government officials, attend informative workshops and get informed about Canadian Innovation programs. Learn about services available to support your business! Register here - http://bit.ly/3kGosnw

Join us online on November 20 from 12 noon to 1 PM for a discussion with MP Majid Jowhari , MPP Daisy Wai and Anthony Ierullo, the City’s Director of Richmond ...Hill Centre and Economic Development. City of Richmond Hill Let’s talk about how to prepare your business with new and updated programs and tools. Cost to attend is $10 and the proceeds for the event will go to our friends at Hill House Hospice. Register today through the events tab on our website. RHBOT.ca #richmondhillbusiness #richmondhill #businessthroughcovid #secondwave #ontarioprograms

Join us on December 16 for our first online Winter Showcase and Holiday Mixer! This is the perfect time to drop in, catch up with old friends and make some new ...connections. This event is free to attend and we will be collecting donations for the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank. Please register through this link or click our bio and register through the events tab on our website. https://bit.ly/RHBOTShowcase If you're interested in hosting a table and showcasing your business we are offering 6 tables to members on a first come, first served basis. Contact Lisa for more information [email protected] #bettertogether #richmondhillbusiness #richmondhill #holidaymixer #virtualgathering

Congratulations to LearningRx Richmond Hill on their virtual Grand Opening of Canada's first LearningRx Brain Training Centre! Thank you to the centre owners, Jeri Situ and Khai Woo, for the virtual tour and the brain training presentation by LearningRx CEO, Kim Hanson.

Last chance to sign up for the Richmond Hill Entrepreneurship Finance Conference happening tomorrow! Be connected with the sources of capital you need for your business, including government, banks, incubators, accelerators and more. Don’t miss out on this free event. Register now - https://bit.ly/34iPbSc

Congratulations to Richmond Hill headquartered Olympus Canada for being recognized as one of Greater Toronto Canada's Top 100 Employers for the fifth consecutive year! https://bit.ly/2LgEyIs #GTATopEmployers #TopEmployers2021

Richmond Hill is working with the Richmond Hill Board of Trade and The Village of Richmond Hill to encourage Richmond Hill residents to shop local and support our businesses and restaurants. Visitors to RichmondHill.ca/ShopLocal can access gift guides, special holiday offers, and participate in an upcoming scavenger hunt to win great prizes from our local downtown businesses.

Applications are closing soon for two of these incredible opportunities for York-Region based artists and arts workers! Apply by the deadline on Sunday, December 6!

Successful Richmond Hill entrepreneurs will share their stories on entrepreneurship and their path to success at the Entrepreneurship Finance Conference on Nov 12. This is a half day virtual conference you don’t want to miss. Register now at https://bit.ly/34iPbSc

At the Entrepreneurship Finance Conference on November 12, Bernadeen McLeod from Mentor Works Ltd. will discuss access to government grants, loans and COVID-19 support for business recovery. Register now ==> https://bit.ly/34iPbSc

Richmond Hill shoppers urged to buy local amid COVID-19. The Richmond Hill Board of Trade and the BIA has offered an array of programs to spur the local businesses. READ-->https://bit.ly/3fThUkE

Congratulations to Ajay Mirchandani from Richmond Hill for winning the 2020 eBay Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The annual awards program recognizes Canadian entrepreneurs using eBay's global marketplace to build and scale their thriving businesses. Read news release here ==> https://bit.ly/3o8zX9l

We just finished a full-day 'Government to Business Information Fair' virtual event in partnership with the Office of Small and Medium Enterprise (OSME) and other government stakeholders. Participants had a unique opportunity to engage with government officials, participate in various workshops, be informed about Canadian Innovation programs, and learned about programs/services available to support and grow their businesses. Thank you to the following government partners for... their informative presentations and engaging with attendees at the virtual booths: - Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Contract Security Program Service Canada - (SC) - Environment and Climate Change Canada - (ECCC) - FedDev Ontario - Small Business Services - (SBS) - Office of the Privacy Commissioner Canada - (OPC) - National Research Council Canada - Industrial Research Assistance Program - (NRC-IRAP) - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council - (NSERC) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office - (CIPO) - National Defence - Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security - (IDEaS) - Canada Revenue Agency- Scientific Research & Experimental Development - (CRA SR&ED) - Competition Bureau Canada - (CBC) - Global Affairs Canada - Trade Commissioner Service - (GAC-TCS)

Join us at the Entrepreneurship Finance Conference on November 12. Chief Economist of BDC, Pierre Cleroux, will present an overview of the economic situation and the outlook for the future. Don’t miss out and register now - https://bit.ly/34iPbSc

The Entrepreneurship Finance Conference on November 12 provides entrepreneurs access to capital to start and expand their businesses. It will feature presentations from BDC, Mentor Works, EDC, Futurepreneur, CIBC, Scotiabank and much more. Register for this free event https://bit.ly/34iPbSc

The Film Story Map news article was highlighted in The Liberal newspaper: Showbiz buzz: Richmond Hill is the real-life location of ‘The Umbrella Academy’ and more hit TV series ==> https://bit.ly/31PM7vb

Richmond Hill is excited to host the Entrepreneurship Finance Conference on November 12. Be connected with the sources of capital available through the federal and provincial governments, as well as banks, incubators, accelerators, and other financial institutions. Register for your free ticket now - https://bit.ly/34iPbSc

Muhammad Kermalli of Richmond Hill-based Skytek Executive Offices, a Success Centre for business owners and professionals, was interviewed by Hilda Gan for her podcast. Muhammad shared where he got his idea for Skytek, how he got defrauded and finding the work-life balance. https://bit.ly/3kkhjKc

Richmond Hill has become a popular destination with film companies and film crews. Our newly launched Film Story Map offers unique locations available for #filming, including Buildings, Natural Spaces, Unique Places, and Crew Break Facilities sections - http://bit.ly/39xFUoY

Congratulations to Venture X Canadal on the grand opening of their collaborative shared office space in Richmond Hill’s East Beaver Creek business park. We celebrated the grand opening launch yesterday with a red ribbon-cutting ceremony and joined by Councilor Godwin Chan, Mayor Dave Barrow, Venture X's Office Manager Errol Da-Ré, Venture X Canada's CEO Saleh Al Aroud, MPP Michael Parsa and MPP Daisy Wai. Venture X Richmond Hill also presented a cheque to the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre in support of the entrepreneurship programs to help entrepreneurs start and grow in Richmond Hill.

Mayor Dave Barrow has delivered his 2020 State of the City Address. This year’s address focused on how Richmond Hill has weathered the global pandemic, includin...g providing tax relief, celebrating businesses that are making a difference and launching the Recover Richmond Hill Action Plan. Read a full transcript here: https://bit.ly/3k0jpP0

Film Industry Shines a Spotlight on Richmond Hill’s Unique Features. Richmond Hill is open for filming and offers Film Story Map to attract film companies. Read news release here - https://bit.ly/340zIpL

[Big Announcement] Richmond Hill has developed an online Film Story Map that highlights unique film locations as well as previous productions that have filmed in the city. Check out the Film Story Map here - http://bit.ly/39xFUoY

Filming has started again in Richmond Hill! Netflix, Amazon, Hallmark Channel, CTV, CBC, PBS and many others have discovered hidden location gems that Richmond Hill has to offer for #filming. Be on the look out for a big announcement next Tuesday.

Check out the outdoor street food market at Hillcrest Mall that opens this weekend.

Congratulations to Mackenzie Health for earning the 2020 College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) Digital Health Most Wired recognition. Mackenzie Health is the only Canadian recipient to be recognized this year. Read media release - https://bit.ly/3lmGmMD

The Virtual MedTech Conference started today to highlight the newest advancements in medical technology. Richmond Hill has a strong #medtech sector and is home to a variety of health companies that are creating cutting-edge innovation to bring better healthcare to Canadians and people around the world. https://bit.ly/36yNNME #MedTechCon

The final date to submit a proposal for the Municipal Business Innovation Contest is October 8. City of Richmond Hill is looking for companies to submit ideas on technologies/products/services that solve civic challenges, help the municipality be more innovative and find cost effective ways to do business. Apply here ==> bit.ly/32CQ9aV

ventureLAB's Hardware Catalyst Initiative is the only incubator of hardware and silicon-focused solutions in Canada. The deadline for cohort 2 is October 15, 2020. Apply here ==> https://venturelab.ca/hci/

The Business Support Hotline is your one-stop-shop to get all your questions answered, from government business support to reopening and recovery programs. Our advisors are here to assist you with your business. Call our hotline Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at 905-771-5558 https://bit.ly/304gNby

NEW: We are launching an e-newsletter to help keep you updated with the latest news on City services, innovations and accomplishments. Visit RichmondHill.ca/Newsletter and subscribe today!

Are you a Richmond Hill business? Interested in piloting your innovative solution with the City of Richmond Hill and receive up to $10,000 towards the cost of implementation? Apply for the Municipal Business Innovation Contest , the deadline is October 8 - http://bit.ly/32CQ9aV

Congratulations to the five Richmond Hill companies who made The Globe and Mail - Canada's Top Growing Companies 2020 list : Acentury Inc. - Creates technologies to design, test and build telecommunication networks Carbon60 Networks - Provides managed cloud services for mid-market and enterprise firms COMsolve Inc. - Provides technical services for clients in telecommunications... E.B. Box Co. - Manufactures folding cartons The Logistics Factory Ltd. - Provides freight-forwarding services to Canadian importers and exporters View the full list here ==> https://bit.ly/30aZqW5

Telus has been recognized as having the fastest network in the world, as it brings 5G to 50 Communities across Canada including Richmond Hill. https://on.mktw.net/3mPvh8G

City of Richmond Hill is looking for innovators to solve civil challenges. The Municipal Business Innovation Contest will be a collaboration between a Richmond Hill based company and the municipality. This is an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their innovative solutions in a municipal setting. Apply now - http://www.RichmondHill.ca/InnovationContest

Join Steven Karpenko, Senior Business Advisor of Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, on a webinar to discuss key business decision making during the re-opening. Key topics include leading through crisis and identifying opportunities while operating within the new normal. Register here ==> https://bit.ly/3bHxxJH

Richmond Hill Contest Promotes Innovation and Partnerships with Local Businesses. Top idea to modernize government will receive up to $10,000 to implement project. Read news release here ==> https://bit.ly/2RGQBPk

City of Richmond Hill is excited to launch the Municipal Business Innovation Contest! We're looking for companies to submit ideas on technologies/products/services that solve civic challenges, help the city to be more innovative and we will provide up to $10,000 towards the cost of implementation. Apply here - http://bit.ly/32CQ9aV

Congratulations to Makerwiz for making a difference!

Richmond Hill's sustainable rideshare company, Facedrive, was featured in York Link - York Region Economic Development's #YRtech blog series - "Where Tech Grows: Canadian Tech IPO and Stock Market Success in Toronto Area’s York Region" Read article here ==> https://bit.ly/32tscTg

Richmond Hill's 2018 Innovator of the Year and #IoT tech company Laipac Technology Inc. is highlighted in EP&T Magazine, including an interview with one of the founders, Diego Lai. Read article here ==> https://bit.ly/32jzcSS

In response to the changing landscape resulting from the COVID-19 emergency and with a view to planning for the future, Richmond Hill Council is developing a new 2020-2022 Strategic Plan. The plan will outline priorities for the remainder of this Council term to ensure the City is focused on meeting the evolving needs of the community over the next two years. We are inviting Richmond Hill residents and businesses to provide input into the plan through a short, online survey at http://RichmondHill.ca/StrategicPlan.

The City of Richmond Hill is once again at the forefront of innovation and support for the local economy as the first municipality in Canada to partner with Freshworks for Startups. This partnership gives local startups an edge with priority access to Freshworks’ suite of support. Read news release here ==> https://bit.ly/3lKSoQZ

Richmond Hill BIA's new website is live! This is your community guide to the historic downtown Richmond Hill by highlighting the various businesses including promotions, updates and specials as well as the listing of upcoming events, festivals and performances. Visit www.richmondhillbia.com

Richmond Hill BIA launching website to offer businesses ‘best chances of survival’ in post-COVID-19 era. Residents encouraged to visit site and subscribe to be part of official launch in September at www.richmondhillbia.com. Read news article here ==> https://bit.ly/3lzI7as

The COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (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. Apply on Aug 31 ==> https://bit.ly/3luBtls

Questions with government grants, business & recovery planning, reopening, PPEs, B2B resources? Our advisors can assist you through the Business Support Hotline Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at 905-771-5558. Give us a call, we are here to help! https://bit.ly/304gNby

The City of Richmond Hill received an award today from Visual Defence recognizing its leadership, innovation and collaboration in using the ROVER artificial intelligence (AI) system to help keep roads safer. As the first municipality to embrace this innovative technology, ROVER identifies and analyzes potholes, leading to more efficient pothole repairs and increased road safety. Read news release here ==> bit.ly/2ED88EN Ontario Centres of Excellence

The Village of Richmond Hill BIA's new website will be launching on September 1. It acts as a community guide to local happenings, from events to festivals and performances, as well as a community gallery and much more. Sign up for updates so you don't miss out on the big launch ==> www.richmondhillbia.com

Venture X is a new innovative shared workspace that's been added to our list of shared and short-term office space in Richmond Hill. Located in East Beaver Creek, they offer event space rental and provide their members with a diverse, inspiring and collaborative work experience. Check out Venture X ==> https://bit.ly/31nK2Xf List of Shared and Short-Term Office Space ==> http://bit.ly/2lVOyKo

The Agri-Food webinar series provide small food and beverage processors in York Region with an opportunity to learn about practical solutions and strategies to support their recovery from COVID-19. Register here - https://bit.ly/3jdgJNt

Richmond Hill’s Resource Integrated, a provider of retail merchandising and visual solutions, has retooled to provide a full range of PPE, sanitizing, safe distancing and signage products to support businesses as they reopen. Learn how Richmond Hill businesses are making a difference in the fight against #COVID19 ==> http://richmondhill.ca/rhbizhelps

Richmond Hill's Cloud Constable, a leader in A.I technology, has launched a COVID-19 screening solution that uses facial and voice recognition to screen for potential COVID-19 symptoms in high-traffic areas. Learn how Richmond Hill businesses are making a difference in the fight against #COVID19 ==> http://richmondhill.ca/rhbizhelps

Not sure about how to reopen your business? Let our team of experts assist you through our dedicated Business Hotline. Our advisors are available to answer your questions - Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Call our Business Support Hotline at 905-771-5558 https://bit.ly/304gNby

Are you an existing business impacted by COVID-19? Do you have a physical location? If so, the Richmond Hill Small Business Recovery Grant Program is here to help with micro-grants of up to $5,000 each. We also provide free business training and mentorship to help you learn new digital skills, improve your online presence, and build a resilient business. Apply here - http://ow.ly/prWC50ASOvu

Need help with reopening and recovery programs? We have launched a dedicated Business Support Hotline to support your business. Our team of experts will have your questions answered right away! The hotline is available Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at 905-771-5558 - https://bit.ly/304gNby

Mackenzie Health in partnership with Philips, became one of the first hospitals in Canada to implement a new digital pathology platform designed to help diagnose patients quicker and ultimately improve care. Read article ==> https://bit.ly/2E0AyrQ