Spring Arrives in The Blue Mountains

With double-digit temperatures arriving, it looks like spring is here to stay! It's time to start gearing up for the busy summer ahead, so we're excited to share updates on key projects and initiatives that are important to the local business community. You'll find help for funding, training, and the latest news relevant to you and your business. 

Highlights: 

  • Community Improvement Plan Launches
  • Beaver Valley Sustainable Tourism Strategy 
  • Waste Collection & Blue Bin Update
  • Business Spotlight - Adorn II
  • Local Support & Program Opportunities
  • Upcoming Events & Training Opportunities

We hope you’ll find the resources and information provided valuable. As always, you can reach out to us at any time with your comments, concerns or questions regarding the Town. Connect with the team and email us using the link located at the bottom of the e-newsletter.

Sincerely,

Your Economic Development Team

Tim Hendry, Manager of Communications & Economic Development

Allan Gibbons, Communications & Economic Development Coordinator

Town News

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Town of The Blue Mountains is excited to announce the launch of the Community Improvement Plan program, with applications being accepted between April 3, 2023 – May 12, 2023.

A Community Improvement Plan is a planning and economic development tool that municipalities may use to facilitate broad community revitalization goals through grants or loans to private property owners and tenants.

The Town has two Community Improvement Plans that aim to serve as a long-term strategy to revitalize the community, improve the quality of life of the community's residents, better utilize under-developed properties and promote private investment in land and buildings.

The Housing Within Reach CIP is designed to encourage and facilitate the development of attainable housing. The Town Wide Revitalization CIP is designed to encourage private property improvement and revitalization.

The application intake period will remain open until May 12, 2023. Interested applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-application consultation with Town Staff to discuss and confirm application requirements. Following the consultation, applicants will be required to submit a completed application form, including supporting documentation for evaluation.

For more information on the Community Improvement Plan, visit www.thebluemountains.ca/cip


BEAVER VALLEY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM STRATEGY
Grey County, The Municipality of Grey Highlands, the Town of The Blue Mountains, and RTO7 are working together to develop the first Sustainable Tourism Strategy for Beaver Valley. The goal of the project is to co-develop a sustainable tourism strategy to envision the desired future state of the Beaver Valley Corridor, along with a three-year action plan to move toward this vision.

A key component of the research process is to gather insight, input, and feedback directly from a variety of stakeholders in Beaver Valley whose perspective and experience is extremely important to this process.

If you are a resident of Beaver Valley, operate a visitor-facing business, work at an organization related to tourism in Beaver Valley, or have another interest in tourism in Beaver Valley, we would like to invite you to complete an online questionnaire by using the link below:

Beaver Valley Tourism Strategy Survey

The questionnaire is made up of 13-20 questions and will take you around 10 minutes to complete. The survey will remain open until Friday, April 14th, at 5:00 p.m. EST. The information you share will remain private and confidential.


EASTER WEEKEND CLOSURE & BLUE BOX REMINDER
Town Hall will be closed on Friday, April 7, and Monday, April 10 for the Easter Weekend holiday.  

Reminder: non-residential locations – including retail stores, restaurants, places of worship, for-profit retirement homes, service clubs, centres, motels, hotels and more – must register their address with the Town before October 1, 2023, to ensure that they continue to receive curbside blue box collection service.

To ensure your non-residential location continues to receive blue box collection, you must complete the form linked below to provide the Town with your non-residential address.

Register Your Address Now

Business Spotlight -
Adorn II

Among the eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, cafes, and gallery spaces that line Bruce Street in Thornbury, you'll find Adorn II opened by Renee Desrochers in 2005.

This fine gift emporium offers luxury European body products, fragrances, gifts, and exclusive fine furnishings and accessories for people or the home.

Learn More

 

Local Support & Program Opportunities

APPLY NOW FOR RTO7'S 2023/24 FUNDING PROGRAMS
RTO7's line-up of programs for 2023/24 are geared to support tourism operators, businesses, and organizations in BruceGreySimcoe. Applications are being accepted for processing, with start dates and funding based on the different programs. Apply early to avoid disappointment.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until deadline dates or until available funds have been allocated. It is highly recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible, even if your project will not happen until 2024 - last year, leverage on the more popular programs dropped from $1:$2 to matching ($1:$1) in May.

Learn more: RTO7's 2023/34 Funding Programs


ASK AN EXPERT - WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 2023?

You are invited to join Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), on April 12 at 11 a.m. for an overview of the economy here and abroad.

Learn more here: Ask An Expert


SUMMER COMPANY IS LOOKING FOR ENTREPRENEURS AGED 15-29 

Summer Company is a youth entrepreneurship program from the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation. The program is administered by the Small Business Enterprise Centre, and is available to students between the ages of 15 and 29 who are returning to school in the fall. In May 2008, the Small Business Enterprise Centre launched Summer Company and we have been running the program ever since!

Check your eligibility or learn more: Summer Company


 Do you have brochures and want to promote yourself to others in the area? Does your business welcome visitors looking for information on what to do in the area? Visit the 2023 Grey Bruce Brochure Swap to pick up print material or share your own with other businesses and tourism operators!
Pre-register by May 5 to confirm your spot.

More Information

Roots and Branches - Women in Agri-Food

This free event is for women who produce food and agricultural products: farmers, food processors, wholesalers, farm suppliers, distributors, etc.

Gather at the beautiful Rocklands Market retreat space in Berkeley, enjoy good food and beverages and lively conversation.

Learn More!

 

Connect with Our Team

We're available to assist with any questions you may have regarding your business development and operations. We're also always seeking new ideas and feedback for our newsletter and economic development initiatives.

Have a question or an idea?
Connect with us by email or call (519) 599-3131 ext. 269.


Email Us