July 2021

Welcome to the new Norfolk County Business Bulletin, the monthly newsletter for Norfolk's business community! You'll receive all the latest news and updates from Norfolk's Economic Development team, delivered straight to your inbox. Let us know what you think at business@norfolkcounty.ca.

County Updates

Visit Norfolk - Tourism App

Now onboarding

Does your business thrive from tourism visitation to Norfolk County? Would you like to showcase your business on a new Norfolk County tourism app called Visit Norfolk? We are now onboarding businesses. The process takes only ten minutes and we will take care of adding your information to the app. To register, please email colin.schuringa@norfolkcounty.ca

Learn more

Norfolk County’s Economic Recovery Grant Program

Now accepting applications! All non-commercial enterprises (not-for-profits, charities, community organizations) that offer business assistance services may now apply for grant funding for projects that will assist businesses to recover. Grants are targeted at supporting businesses and organizations in Norfolk’s Downtown areas, Arts & Culture Sector and Agriculture Industry.

Apply for funding today

Shop Norfolk

Are you a retailer that would like to sell products online, or sell more products online, including during COVID-19?  Then Norfolk County would like to hear from you.  

Safe Travel Stamp Program

On June 16, the County hosted a webinar to provide information about the Safe Travel Stamp program. The specially designed stamp will allow travelers to recognize companies around the world which have adopted health and hygiene global standardized protocols – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’.

Miss the workshop? View the how-to info

Building Permit Statistics

Cumulative “year-to-date” number of building permits issued and value of building permits issued, for the months Jan – May, in years 2018 – 2021.

Assistance for Businesses

Government Funding Opportunities

Norfolk County's Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is over 70% subscribed with over $100,000 already allocated.
The Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant has been extended to July 9.

The Modern Family Farm Transition Webinar

Hosted by: Farm Credit Canada

Date: July 13, 2021

Time: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Presenter: Dr. Tom Deans

Destination Ontario Webinar

Understand behaviour of consumer segments that are planning to travel within Ontario

Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Sobeys’ Local Sourcing Event

Through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ (OMAFRA) “Vendor Engagement Program”, on August 19, 2021, Sobeys will be hosting a one-day meeting program with Ontario producers and processors interested in expanding their local sales into Sobeys.

OMAFRA launched its Vendor Engagement Program (VE) in 2011 to drive sales of Ontario produced and processed food and beverage products into retail and food service markets across the Country. The VE program has connected over 3,000 food and beverage processors to retail and foodservice operators across Ontario since its creation.

To date, more than 150 new Ontario suppliers have been introduced to Sobeys through the VE program, resulting in 200 new Ontario products being listed in stores.

If you are a producer/processer looking to expand your local sales with Sobeys, please contact Stephen Smith at Stephen.p.smith@ontario.ca by July 25th, 2021.

Note that this is an Expression of Interest and as a result not all inquiring businesses will be guaranteed a meeting. The alcohol sector is not within the scope of this meeting program.

Community Updates

Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie (WPBGE) Survey

The Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie (WPBGE) is currently conducting a survey on navigating work-life balance in Grand Erie. The purpose is to collect data on the challenge residents face in achieving a healthy work-life balance - and what kind of support is needed from community organizations or employers. Enter by August 31 for a chance to win one of 15 Grand Erie Health and Wellness prizes.

Take survey

Grand Erie Jobs 2.0 has launched

The regional job board has launched new tools, to help residents find work, research careers, and learn about local businesses. New regional job board tools include:

Occupation Finder: Provides information on all 500 occupations, identifying local wages, employers, and demand from businesses.
Industry Search: Provides information on different industries and identifies local companies from each industry.
Sector Locator: Uses a map to show local companies that hire for specific jobs, and highlights where those businesses and jobs are concentrated.
Talent Finder: A tool that employers, recruitment firms and communities can use to target talent attraction campaigns for hard-to-fill jobs.

Access these tools

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