Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Halton Region’s Small Business Centre has continued to support businesses looking to navigate changes to our community and economy. Whether it is learning about new safety measures and by-laws, accessing financial supports or gathering market research to help determine next steps for your business, our team is here to help.

Over the last few months, many businesses have been finding ways to recover and stay resilient as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve and change. Locally, we have seen businesses shifting production to masks and other PPE, implementing flexible work from home options and moving businesses online.
To support small businesses that are forging a new way forward, our Small Business Centre has partnered with other levels of government and the community to:

• Help businesses go online by connecting them with digital supports: With many people limiting trips in the community, online sales have become more important than ever before. To support small businesses looking to increase online sales, our Small Business Centre has joined together with Digital Main Street, Google and the Federal and Provincial governments to offer the ShopHERE program. The program helps small businesses establish a web presence and implement new eCommerce and digital marketing tools. You can learn more about how to get set up with an online store on the Digital Main Street website.
• Address your specific business needs through one-on-one virtual consultations: We know that many business owners and operators are looking to develop a business continuity or recovery plan. If you are looking for advice and guidance, I encourage you to connect with one of our expert business consultants. Schedule a one-hour virtual consultation with a Small Business Centre team member when it works best for you.  
• Provide up-to-date information as the COVID-19 situation evolves: Our COVID-19 Resources for Businesses page is a hub of resources and support for businesses looking for the latest COVID-19 information. The page is updated regularly with information about financial relief programs, webinars on new safety measures and more.

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic together, we welcome business owners and operators in Halton to reach out to our team with any questions they have. To learn more about our business support services or to connect with a business consultant, visit our Small Business Centre page on halton.ca or follow @HaltonBusiness on social media.
 

As a final reminder to our community, we can all find ways to support local businesses during this challenging time. We encourage residents to stay informed on the latest public health advice so we can keep our economy open and reduce the severity of a second wave. By shopping locally and supporting small businesses, we can help keep Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. For the latest COVID-19 information, please visit halton.ca/COVID19.