A short note from your Executive Director As I sat down with my schedule for the next few months, it struck me how quickly this year is moving. Somehow, we are already in September, our biggest celebration of the year is just weeks away, and municipal election season is officially in full swing. With our 24th Annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards just weeks away, I also want to remind you that this night is about more than our nominees, finalists and winners. As business owners and leaders, we don’t often take the time to simply celebrate what we’ve built and celebrate each other. This is our night to do exactly that. With only six tables remaining, I hope you’ll join us for an incredible evening celebrating Lincoln’s business community together. As we head into a very busy fall, we have an exciting lineup ahead: This municipal election is a significant one for Lincoln. We have a race in every ward, and we know that our community will elect a new Mayor this year. I moved to Lincoln with my family almost five years ago after living in a much larger city, and one thing I cannot stress enough is how fortunate we are to have the kind of access we do to the people asking to represent us. We can meet our candidates. We can ask them questions. We can connect with them through social media, see them throughout our community and, quite literally, have conversations with the people who want to lead our Town. That kind of access is not something every community has, and it is a privilege I hope we take advantage of. The Chamber is proud to provide two non-partisan opportunities this October for our community to do exactly that. Both Candidate Nights will be free and open to everyone, with registration required to help us plan appropriately for space and refreshments. We are still finalizing the remaining logistics, but both events will take place here in Lincoln, and we look forward to welcoming you. Come out. Learn about your candidates, ask questions and see how they interact with one another and hear directly from them about the issues that matter to our community. And then, most importantly, make an informed decision and vote. Thank you, as always, for allowing me the honour of serving as your Executive Director. I look forward to seeing many of you throughout what is shaping up to be an incredibly busy and important fall for Lincoln. Emilia Amaro
Executive Director, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce | OBAA Tickets Are 80% Sold and Registration closes THIS THURSDAY! 🌟 The countdown is on! Our 2026 Outstanding Business Achievement Award tickets are already 80% sold, and we don’t want you to miss your chance to be part of this special evening. Join us September 17 at Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery as we celebrate the incredible businesses, organizations, and individuals making an impact in our community. With the awards being presented live throughout the evening, there’s plenty to look forward to! Tickets & Sponsor Info | Join us at our ever-popular Business After 5! 🤝 📅 Thursday, October 8th | 5:00pm-7:00pm
đź“Ť Cherry Lane, 4230 Victoria Ave, Vineland An evening networking event where our local business leaders and their employees can build new connections, foster community relationships and have some FUN! Want to make an even greater impact? Bring along a door prize to highlight your organization's product or service! Register Today Members register free | Meet the Mayoral Candidates running for election in the Town of Lincoln. Speak one-on-one with the candidates, and hear them answer questions as submitted by the public. đź“… Tuesday, October 13th | 6:30pm-8:30pm
đź“Ť To be announced There is no cost to attend this event, but to manage seating & occupancy constraints we ask that you register if you plan to attend. Register Today | Meet the Ward Candidates running for election in the Town of Lincoln. Speak one-on-one with the candidates, and hear them answer questions as submitted by the public. đź“… Thursday, October 15th | 6:30pm-9:00pm
📍 To be announced There is no cost to attend this event, but to manage seating & occupancy constraints we ask that you register if you plan to attend. Register Today | Niagara Business Alliance Launches 2026 Municipal Candidate Surveys Niagara’s next municipal councils will make decisions that directly affect the region’s economic competitiveness, affordability and quality of life for years to come. The Niagara Business Alliance (NBA) believes voters deserve to know where candidates stand on these important issues before they cast their ballots. That is why the Niagara Business Alliance is launching its 2026 Municipal Candidate Surveys, inviting all registered mayoral and councillor candidates across Niagara’s 12 municipalities to share their priorities and positions on the issues shaping the region’s future. Candidate responses will be made publicly available in advance of voting day. All registered candidates will receive a unique survey link, and completed surveys must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 18, 2026. Read the Full Media Release | Update from the Lincoln Tariff Response Team The Lincoln Tariff Response Team (LTRT) continues to monitor changing trade conditions and new government supports for businesses and workers. With new U.S. tariffs that took effect August 22, Lincoln businesses are assessing impacts on exports, supply chains, costs, investment, and staffing. In response, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario have announced expanded supports. While the Town of Lincoln, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Bench Beamsville BIA, do not have the financial or policy tools of senior levels of government, the LTRT is helping businesses understand available supports, identify gaps, and ensure local concerns are heard by provincial and federal decision-makers. What the Government Response Means for Businesses Support is available across several areas, depending on the challenges your business is facing: - Immediate cash-flow pressures: Ontario’s expanded Protect Ontario Financing Program (POFP) provides loans to eligible businesses for expenses such as payroll, leases, and utilities. The federal government is also expanding liquidity support through a $500-million BDC Pivot to Grow stream and broader access to tariff-related financing.
- Business adaptation: The federal government is adding $1.5 billion to the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, delivered in Southern Ontario through FedDev Ontario, to help businesses respond to tariff-related pressures.
- Diversification and investment: A new $2-billion Canada Strong Diversification Fund will support eligible projects that help tariff-affected businesses diversify markets, invest and reduce reliance on the U.S.
- Workforce support: A federal $3.5-billion package includes Employment Insurance measures, training and a new Worker Retention and Retraining Program to help employers retain workers during periods of disruption.
Together, these measures provide a range of tools to help businesses manage immediate pressures, adapt operations, diversify markets, and support their workforce. Eligibility will depend on factors including sector, company size, revenue, the nature of the tariff impact and the proposed use of funding. Some of these federal measures have also only just been announced, with further program and application details still to come. We Want to Hear from Lincoln's Businesses As governments continue to develop and implement their response, the LTRT wants to ensure that Lincoln's experience is represented in those conversations. If tariffs are affecting your business through lost sales, increased input costs, supply-chain disruptions, export challenges, cash-flow pressures, delayed investment, reduced hiring, workforce impacts or other pressures, we encourage you to connect with us. This information serves two important purposes. First, it helps the LTRT identify existing government programs and resources that may be relevant to local businesses. Second, it allows us to identify where existing programs may not address what Lincoln businesses are actually experiencing and bring those gaps forward to provincial and federal partners. You do not need to know which program you qualify for before contacting us. As new funding, financing, workforce and business-support measures are announced, the LTRT will continue to review them, highlight those that may be relevant to Lincoln businesses and share application information as it becomes available. Contact Stephanie Hicks at shicks@lincoln.ca | ❗ Town of Lincoln formally requests provincial assessment for Disaster Recovery Assistance. On August 27, 2026, the Town of Lincoln is formally requesting that the Province of Ontario consider activating the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program following the recent flooding events that affected the community. Residents affected by flooding are encouraged to continue working with their insurance providers to understand what coverage may be available under their policies. The Town will share further information with the community as soon as it is available. | 💬 The Canadian Chamber of Commerce wants to hear from you. Please complete their short survey and share concrete examples of how the new 50% tariffs will affect your businesses. Whether it’s lost orders, rising costs, delayed investments, supply chain disruptions or employment impacts, these real-world examples will help us demonstrate the consequences for Canadian businesses and strengthen the case we bring to government. Share Your Story | 💰 Ontario Expanding Protections for Tariff-Impacted Workers. The Province is broadening eligibility for Protect Ontario Financing Program to support workers and businesses targeted by new U.S. tariffs. Read Full News Release. | 📝 Applications are now open for the Rural Ontario Development Program. Eligible applicants include rural municipalities, Indigenous communities, small businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. Applications are now open until October 1st, 2026, at 5:00 pm. Learn More & Apply | 👷 Workplace Safety & Prevention Services is offering FREE Safety Training for Ontario Workplaces. From now until September 30, 2026, WSPS is offering select eCourses completely free to help you build a safer, more compliant work environment – without added costs. Register Now | CCWN relies heavily on this annual Lincoln-wide food drive to restock our shelves so we can continue to provide food and other essentials to members of our community who need our help. Porch pick-up in Beamsville, Campden, Jordan and Vineland! Please place donations visibly outside your front door by 9AM. Year after year we need over 200 amazing VOLUNTEERS to successfully gather, product sort and deliver 28,000-32,000lbs of non-perishable food items to the CCWN warehouse. This is the only community wide food drive we do each year so we count on donations from anyone who is able to give. Sign Up to Volunteer | Support McNally House Hospice at their 19th Annual Charity Golf Classic on September 16th at Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club. Registration is now open. Sponsorship packages available. Learn More & Register | Niagara Industrial Association Applauds Regional Support for Canadian Metal Buildings Investment The Niagara Industrial Association (NIA) is pleased to recognize the recent decision by Niagara Regional Council to support NIA member Canadian Metal Buildings (CMB) through the Region's Industrial Redevelopment Charge Deferral (RDC) Grant Program. Read Media Release | As the school year kicks off, ensure your vehicle is up for the daily commute and busy fall schedule. Grimsby Hyundai makes it easy to step into autumn worry-free—whether you need routine maintenance or are looking to upgrade your ride. Book your service appointment online today or visit their showroom to browse the latest lineup! Book Service | September is a busy hiring month. Need to replace summer students or fill fall vacancies? The Employment Help Centre can help you recruit motivated candidates and may offer eligible employers wage subsidies to support training and onboarding. Contact us to discuss your hiring needs. 905-309-9675 | info@employmenthelp.org | Welcome New Members! We're so excited to welcome new members to our community. Check out these entrepreneurs and organizations who've joined us at the Lincoln Chamber this past month. | Ian Ramsey – IG Private Wealth Management Ian is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Chartered Life Underwirter alongside being a Registered Retirement Analyst® and a Registered Retirement Consultant®, enabling him to offer top-tier financial planning advice to clients and helps families develop a detailed, written Financial Plan. Ian helps small business owners and multi-generational families grow and maintain their wealth through various financial, tax and insurance planning strategies. Visit Website | | Whether you're shopping for a new laptop, outfitting your home office, or upgrading your entire setup, larger purchases unlock greater savings. Reach the next spending tier and enjoy an even bigger discount. Discover Additional Exclusive Benefits Explore all the member‑only savings and services available through your Chamber membership. Visit your personalized benefits portal to see how your membership supports you every step of the way. Visit Portal: Shop Now Offer valid 8/31/26 – 9/13/26 Unlock special offers by sending CHAMBERLENOVO to 833-344-0228 today! For assistance with purchases, call: 1-888-315-7408 (M-F: 9am-9pm ET, Sat: 9am-6pm ET) Be sure to check the website often – special offers change frequently. | ✨ Annual Platinum Sponsor ✨ | ✨ Annual Gold Sponsors ✨ | KIND WORDS FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP "Joining the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce has been a great decision for Wilder Adventure Rentals. Within a short time, a referral directly from the Chamber directory led to a booking that more than paid for our annual membership. Beyond the immediate return on investment, the Chamber’s resources have been helpful in establishing and growing our ebike rental business in the region. We highly recommend the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce for any local business." — Myles Harding, Owner,
Wilder Adventure Rentals | We'd love to hear from you! Your experiences inspire others and help us show the impact of membership with the Lincoln Chamber. Take a moment to submit a short testimonial about how the Lincoln Chamber has supported you and your business. Submit a Testimonial | | | | |
