Supporting businesses during construction

The City of Vaughan understands that local businesses like yours may be temporarily impacted during construction projects like the City’s Woodbridge Avenue Improvements and Streetscaping and York Region’s Major Mackenzie Drive Improvements, especially on business-oriented main streets. These ongoing infrastructure improvements are key for the long-term health of the city’s economy and will enable a climate for business success once complete.

In the meantime, the Vaughan Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (VBEC) has developed an online resource for businesses impacted by construction – available now at vaughanbusiness.ca/ConstructionSupport.

Here are a few highlights of what the site includes:

• Open for Business toolkits – Access the City’s free Open for Business toolkits. The toolkits include downloadable window signs and graphics for web and social media to encourage residents and visitors to continue to support your business during construction.
• E-commerce solutions – Find e-commerce solutions and digital adoption strategies, including web presence, social media, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, Google My Business and other avenues to improve digital presence available through the Digital Service Squad.
• Business directories – It is important to garner as much visibility for your business as possible during construction. The City’s Economic Development team has a list of various directories that may be relevant to your business.
• Available funding – Funding of up to $5,000 is available for eligible small businesses through the City’s Starter Company Plus program. Provincial and federal grants are also available to support digital transformation, digital adoption and employee training, including the Grow Your Business Online Grant, Boost Your Business Technology Grant, and Digital Main Street program. The Government of Canada also has a consolidated, searchable list of available grants, contributions and other financial assistance through the Business Benefits Finder.

Business advisory services
The VBEC continues to be the one-stop-shop for new and existing business owners – like you – to access the latest resources and tools to help you grow or start your business in Vaughan! Expert business advisors from the VBEC are available for one-on-one consultations at Vaughan City Hall located at 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr., Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When you arrive for your consultation, you will need to check in with one of the City’s citizen service representatives on the main floor.

Along with business consultations, the VBEC also provides an expansive list of services for entrepreneurs, including:

• business planning support, including marketing strategies, financial forecast and cash flow, and general business development.
• information on the development process, regulations, zoning, licensing, permits, business registration and legal structure.
• end-to-end site selection support.
• connections to funding sources, financing and grants.
• connections to business professionals, organizations and resources from various levels of government.
• research and business intelligence support.
• business development and marketing support for tourism organizations.
• business workshops, seminars, events and networking opportunities.

To learn more about the VBEC’s services or to schedule an appointment with a business advisor, visit vaughanbusiness.ca, email ed@vaughan.ca or call 905-832-8526.

To stay informed on the City’s latest tourism, business resources and initiatives, sign up for the Economic Development department’s eNewsletters at vaughanbusiness.ca/enewsletters and follow the official channels on LinkedIn and Instagram.

For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.