Support and resources for Vaughan businesses

Jan. 20, 2022 1:00 p.m.
​The City’s Economic Development team is here to help!


As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact local businesses and entrepreneurs, the City of Vaughan remains committed to providing support and resources to help them navigate these unprecedented times. Since the City declared a state of emergency in March 2020, Vaughan’s Economic Development department has been at the forefront, delivering more than 1,550 business advisory consultations, addressing more than 6,150 business inquiries and providing more than 345 workshops to 6,675 attendees. And the City continues to help. 

Here are some ways businesses can engage with the City for support and guidance throughout COVID-19 and beyond. 

Advisory consultations 

The Economic Development team continues to offer advisory consultations to entrepreneurs and businesses of all stages and sizes via tele- or video-conference, email and phone. For information, additional resources or to book a consultation, visit vaughanbusiness.ca. 

Open for Business 

Created with the By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services team, the voluntary Open for Business online directory includes services and Vaughan-based businesses that are open or providing modified operations by phone, online, takeout or delivery in compliance with provincial and municipal regulations. Vaughan businesses interested in being included in the list must apply through this online form. 

Innovation space at Pierre Berton Resource Library 

The City, in partnership with Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) and ventureLAB, has a new innovation space in Vaughan. ventureLAB’s satellite location at the Pierre Berton Resource Library provides resources and advisory support to local technology startups. 

With the support and space provided by VPL at Pierre Berton Resource Library, ventureLAB will leverage this new space to further support Vaughan-based entrepreneurs with technology-driven programs and services. Entrepreneurs can book desk space through ventureLAB’s Innovation Hub Membership, subject to ventureLAB’s COVID-19 safety protocols. With the City’s three Resource Libraries currently open with capacity and safety restrictions, entrepreneurs can access the site to co-work, connect with other innovators, gain advisory support, and attend workshops and other events. 

Vaughan Business Resilience Plan 

On June 23, 2020, the City launched the Vaughan Business Resilience Plan (PDF) as an immediate and long-term plan to help Vaughan’s business community adapt to the post-pandemic world. 

Through this plan, the City’s Economic Development department will continue to:

  • help businesses and the economy build resilience.
  • build resilience into key economic opportunities and strategic sectors like healthcare, supply chain and manufacturing, and tourism.
  • share Vaughan’s reimagined public spaces within physical distancing guidelines and invite the community to experience Vaughan’s culture and arts.

Training and education 

Businesses and entrepreneurs can use the City as a resource to find ongoing training and education to move their business online, pivot their strategy or start anew. The Economic Development department also promotes virtual webinars, seminars and classes from different organizations. There is something for everyone. To learn more about upcoming events, visit vaughanbusiness.ca/events. 

To keep up with the City’s newest business resources and initiatives, sign up for the Economic Development department’s eNewsletter at vaughanbusiness.ca/enewsletters. 

Another area of focus for the Economic Development team is helping businesses access Provincial and Federal Government supports, including small business loans and programs that assist in maintaining their workforce. 

Provincial Government 

In addition to the City’s initiatives, the Ontario government has launched several programs and supports for businesses, including:

  • Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant: Eligible businesses subject to closures as a result of the Province’s move to the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen will receive a grant of $10,000.
  • Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program: Eligible businesses required to close or reduce capacity will receive rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these measures. Eligible businesses required to reduce capacity to 50 per cent, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50 per cent of their costs, while businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100 per cent of their costs.
  • Improving cash flows for Ontario businesses: Additional support will help improve cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. This measure will provide up to $7.5 billion in relief to help approximately 80,000 Ontario businesses. Businesses will have the option to delay their payments for the following provincially administered taxes:
    • Beer, Wine and Spirits Taxes
    • Employer Health Tax
    • Fuel Tax
    • Gas Tax
    • Insurance Premium Tax
    • International Fuel Tax Agreement
    • Mining Tax
    • Race Tracks Tax
    • Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts and Benefit Plans
    • Tobacco Tax 

Questions about Provincial programs should be directed to the Province’s call centre, open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.: 

Toll-free: 1-855-216-3090

TTY: 416-325-3408

Toll-free TTY: 1-800-268-7095 

Setting up an employer-led vaccine clinic 

Business groups and large corporate employers may open workplace and community clinics to vaccinate:

  • employees aged 18 and older, their families and retirees.
  • members of local and neighbouring communities. 

If you are an employer interested in hosting a clinic, you must meet the following criteria:

  • provide your own Human and Health Resources (onsite or contracted nurses, doctors or other regulated health professionals who can administer vaccines).
  • have a facility or arrange for an alternative facility in the community, such as a community hall or warehouse, to run a vaccine clinic safely.
  • offer vaccination to eligible workers and community members.

As the employer, you must be willing to take on the responsibility of setting up, operating and funding the vaccination clinic.

If you meet the criteria, please call the Ontario Together Contact Centre at 1-888-777-0554 to learn more about hosting a clinic at your business or community facility.

Federal Government

Additionally, the Government of Canada has various programs to provide support to businesses, including:

  • Wage and hiring support: Provides eligible businesses with a subsidy to cover part of employee wages. This subsidy will enable businesses to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses and ease businesses back into normal operations.
  • Rent and property expenses support: Provides eligible businesses with a subsidy to cover part of commercial rent or property expenses.
  • Jobs and Growth Fund: Supports regional job creation and positions local economies for long-term growth. This includes up to $70 million dedicated to businesses created after January 2020.
  • Extending the Work-Sharing program: Supports a three-party agreement involving employers, employees and Service Canada.
  • Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP): Provides businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs.
  • Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF): Provides bridge financing to Canada’s largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing, in order to keep their operations going. The additional liquidity provided through LEEFF allows Canada’s largest businesses, their workers and their suppliers to remain active during this difficult time and position them for a rapid economic recovery.

As the global COVID-19 pandemic evolves, the City continues to work with all levels of government to keep the community safe.

The Economic Development department closely tracks new information regarding government programs providing financial support to businesses. To receive these updates, subscribe to the department’s newsletter.

Those who feel unwell and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19 should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information and resources on the virus, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.

Stay up to date with the latest response efforts by frequently checking the City’s COVID-19 webpage at vaughan.ca/COVID19. For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

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