August 12th Newsletter

Applications open for Grow Your Business Online grant

As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program, the Government of Canada has partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to deliver the Grow Your Business Online grant.

Through this program, small business owners can receive a micro-grant worth up to $2,400 to help get their business online, give their e-commerce presence a boost, or digitalize business operations. Grant recipients must commit to maintaining their digital adoption strategy for at least six months.

In addition, e-commerce advisors will be available to work with grant recipients to help identify their digital needs, provide links to digital resources, help with completing applications, and answering questions on the Grow Your Business Online program.

Click here for more information and to check your eligibility.

How to Master Bookkeeping for Your Business Without an Accounting Degree

Entrepreneur

Bookkeeping is the foundation for all small business insight. If you’re running a small business, you’ve got to make it habitual. All too often, bookkeeping is put aside by small business owners to tackle the most pressing matter of the moment. If it’s not that, it’s procrastination or number phobia (the fear of getting it wrong).

Trust me, don’t put it aside. Far too many small business owners often allow a backlog of transactions and expenses to build up before organizing them, which can hurt your business in at least two significant ways.

Click here to read more.

Ontario Speech from the Throne highlights supply chains, labour shortages, inflation

The Lieutenant Governor today opened the Speech from the Throne with remarks on the challenges posed by supply chain interruptions and the war in Ukraine, 370,000 unfilled jobs in Ontario, inflation at a near-four-decade high, and new fiscal challenges from unprecedented spending through the pandemic. She also warned of the need to be prepared for a “near-term economic slowdown.”

“There are no easy solutions,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Infrastructure and investment played a key part in the speech, highlighting government priorities such as highways, electric vehicles, and a skilled trades strategy. Although the speech noted serious issues with the healthcare system,  observers noted that no new solutions were proposed. The speech did highlight investments in home and community care, health infrastructure, and commitments to add capacity and staff to healthcare which had been previously announced.

Click here to read the speech.

Ontario commits $4bn to broadband internet expansion

The Ontario government is bringing high-speed internet access to up to 266,000 unserved and underserved homes and businesses, marking another milestone in its stated goal to help connect every corner of the province by the end of 2025.

The province has signed agreements with eight internet service providers to bring access to as many as 339 municipalities across Ontario. The internet service providers were selected through a two-stage competitive process and are part of Ontario’s historic investment of nearly $4 billion to bring access to reliable high-speed internet across the province.

Bell Canada and Rogers have both received funding under the plan to expand internet access in Niagara.

Click here to read more.

13 for 13 cultural festival to be held August 14

On Sunday, Aug. 14, bring yourself, family and friends to Canada Games Park anytime between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. for Niagara Region’s 13 for 13 Cultural Festival event, in partnership with the Province of Ontario and FirstOntario Credit Union.

The all-day event includes free admission and live performances by Splash’N Boots, Deanne Petcoff and Scott Helman. There will be merchandise booths, local vendors, food trucks, a farmers market and kids programming for guests of all ages to enjoy. This is an opportunity for Canadians to come together in celebration of what makes this country so special.

Click here to read more.