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Applications for the New Ontario Small Business Support Grant are now open. The program will provide eligible businesses a one-time grant of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to help get them through these challenging times. This grant allows flexibility for small business owners so that they can spend it however makes the most sense for their businesses (e.g., paying rent, paying employee wages, maintaining inventory, etc.). Businesses can apply at: www.ontario.ca/COVIDSupport
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce has several members that can assist your business with its PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) needs, including: face / surgical masks, face shields, sanitizer, gowns, plexiglass barriers, signage, floor decals / markers, design / fabrication of specialty items, floor / furniture layout. Click HERE for Chamber member PPE suppliers.
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Recent News
- October 13 - Algoma Public Health COVID-19 Update for area businesses
- October 9 - New Federal Supports for Business Announced
- October 7 - Ontario Announces supports for Small Main Street Businesses with $60 Million in Funding through PPE Grant
- October 7 - Want to shop online and still support local business? You can do that!
- September 28 - Ontario Launches Recovery Program for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
- September 24 - Govt of Canada introduced legislation to extend recovery benefits
- September 23 - Risks Outweigh Rewards for Opening the Border: SSMCOC
- September 23 - Government of Canada Safe Restart Agreement Update
- September 22 - Ontario Investing to Support Francophone Businesses and Recovery
- September 18 - Algoma Public Health - Fall Updates for Algoma Area Businesses
- August 31 - COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program Available for Small Businesses and Registered Charities (CEAP-SB)
- August 17 - Canada Revenue Agency Opens Applications For Enhanced Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
- August 12 - Ontario Provides Update to Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19
- August 10 - Government Of Canada Sets National Temporary Minimum Unemployment Rate For EI Benefits Calculations
- August 2 - COVID Alert mobile App Now Available
- July 31 - Ontario Implementing Additional Measures at Bars and Restaurants to Help Limit the Spread of COVID-19
- July 30 - Ontario Releases Plan for Safe Reopening of Schools in September
- July 23 - Revised School Year Calendar for 2020-2021 Approved by School Boards
- April 6 - Chambers of Commerce and Government Team Up to Launch Canadian Business Resilience Network
- March 26 - Chamber and Saultonline / ONNtv launch #InThisTogetherSSM
- March 25 - Ontario’s Action Plan 2020: RESPONDING TO COVID-19
SaveSmallBusiness.ca - Small businesses generate more than a third of Canada’s GDP. Many small business have paused to protect our communities’ health. Government needs to help them pause their expenses so they are still in business when it’s time to restart the economy. Sign the petition.Can your business Help?- Ontario Together: The Ontario Government welcomes help from businesses and organizations who can supply emergency products and innovative solutions to support its response to COVID-19. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
- BuyandSell.gc.ca: The Government of Canada is asking suppliers about their ability to provide products and services. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Your Chamber Working For You- October 9 - SSM Chamber pushes province to overhaul property tax system
- September 17 - SSM Chamber calls on Feds to get rid of Alcohol Escalator Tax
- September 9 - Support for Women Critical to Canada's Economic Recovery
- August 26 - SSM Chamber of Commerce supports campaign to prevent closure of restaurants
- August 20 - SSMCOC will appear before Ontario's Standing Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs
- August 19 - ICC and IOM Publish COVID-19 Guidance On The Protection For Migrant Workers
- July 24 - Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce joins Canada United to support local small businesses
- July 16 - Chamber looks to take municipal tax system concerns provincial
- July 13 - New program will help local businesses go digital in response to COVID-19 - Recovery Activation Program expands to Sault Ste. Marie
- June 25 - Chamber of Commerce and STRIVE YPG name high school graduating class of 2020 honourary Chamber members
- June 17 - SSMCOC CEO talks to the Sault Star about local tourism
- June 15 - Government of Canada implements surplus food rescue program to help alleviate food concerns of vulnerable Canadians
- June 11 - Sault Chamber Presents to Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, RE: Ontario's tourism sector
- June 5 - Broadband Announcement welcomed by Sault Chamber of Commerce
- May 12 - Ontario Chamber calls for Economic Recovery Program to help rural and northern SMEs recover from COVID-19
- May 6 - Meet the Northern Ministers - Discussing the state of business in the North amid COVID-19 - presented by the Northern Ontario Chamber Network
- April 25 - Terry and Rory happy with emergency commercial rent assistance announcement
- April 23 - Sault Ste. Marie Chamber CEO, Rory Ring on the Andy Martens Show
- April 17 - Sault Ste. Marie Chamber: COVID-19 drives increase in interest in supporting local and small businesses
- April 6 - Canadian Chamber and Statistics Canada create one of the largest business conditions survey in Canadian history; Chamber sends out call to action for all businesses amid COVID-19
- April 6 - Chambers of Commerce and Government Team Up to Launch Canadian Business Resilience Network
- March 26 - OCC Letter - Supporting Renters During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- March 26 - Chamber and Saultonline / ONNtv launch #InThisTogetherSSM
- March 24 - OCC Letter - Releasing cash flows for business during the COVID-19 pandemic
- March 23 - SSMCOC CEO Rory Ring Discusses Business Resources with Lou-Ann and Tim at ONNTV
- March 23 - Sault Ste. Marie Chamber Calls on City to Defer Non-Residential Property Tax
- March 21 - Canada’s Leading Business Organizations Call on Government to Protect Jobs and Postpone Non-Essential New Measures
- March 19 - OCC Letter - Supports for small business during the COVID-19 pandemic
- March 19 - OCC Letter - Working with municipalities to support business during the COVID-19 pandemic
- March 18 - OCC Letter - Temporary amendments to the ESA and OHSA during the COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 ResourcesThe Canadian Business Resilience Network - In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has established the Canadian Business Resilience Network to help Canadian businesses navigate the COVID-19 reality and prepare for recovery.- The CBRN Re-opening Toolkit, supported by TD
- Tips and Advice on essential Workers, HR strategies, payroll, travel & events, communications, cybersecurity, legal, links to provincial and Territorial Resources, and more.
- Links to Financial Support including federal and provincial support programs, access to capital, tax relief programs, cost-savings programs and resources for Indigenous businesses
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 by businesses
- Data and Research
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COVID-19 Impact on Ontario Businesses - Submit your feedback HERE
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Tips, Tricks & Resources to Aid You in Working from Home
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Updates
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Travel advice
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Prevention and risk
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Symptoms and treatment
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includes the most up-to-date statistics on status of cases in Ontario
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Local and Regional Essential Businesses
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Information about COVID-19
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Workplace Signage for social distancing, masks, etc.
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Travellers returning to Canada
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Provincial guidance documents on COVID-19
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National guidance documents on COVID-19 - schools (K-12) and childcare programs
Webinars and Webinar ReplaysReplaysSault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce - An Introduction to SaniTrakrSault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce - December 2nd Update for Businesses by Algoma Public HealthNorthern Ontario Chamber Network - A Town Hall with the Premier of Ontario and Ministers (September 14)Northern Ontario Chamber Network - Leadership During a Crisis with Hon. Perrin Beatty and Rocco RossiNorthern Ontario Chamber Network - Meet the Northern Ministers - Discussing the state of business in the North amid COVID-19Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce - Recovering from COVID-19, presented by Tim Harmer and Mia Carella of Wishart Law Firm LLP.Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce - Transitioning to Online Sales: An E-Commerce Guide for Local Businesses, presented by Jeronamo SolutionsOntario Chamber of Commerce - The State of Women's Entrepreneurship In CanadaOntario Chamber of Commerce - How COVID-19 has Impacted Ontario's Health Care SystemOntario Chamber of Commerce - Recovery in the Food Processing IndustryOntario Chamber of Commerce - Ontario's Tourism & Hospitality Sector: The Impact of COVID and What Comes NextOntario Chamber of Commerce - Canada Together: A Virtual Town Hall with Canada's Minister of Economic Development & Official LanguagesOntario Chamber of Commerce - A Virtual Town Hall with the Premier of Ontario (May 14)Ontario Chamber of Commerce - Canada's Supply Chain During the COVID-19 Crisis: The CN PerspectiveOntario Chamber of Commerce - Information Security and Data Privacy in the Age of COVID-19Ontario Chamber of Commerce - How Big Data is Being Used to Combat COVID-19.Ontario Chamber of Commerce - Mitigating Your Cybersecurity Risk during COVID-19.Ontario Chamber of Commerce - Understanding and Accessing the Business Credit Availability Program & Capital Loans During COVID-19.Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan - Supporting Mental Health During the Pandemic, presented by Arete HR.Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan - Leading During a Crisis and Switching to Remote Work.Additional Resources