HALTON HILLS, ON - As Halton Hills continues to move through the Province’s Roadmap to Reopen, an Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan (ERRP) is being launched. With an August start date and implementation throughout the fall and beyond, the plan will support the local business community in mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 virus, building on the 25+ actions implemented by the Town since the start of the pandemic. The ERRP advances the work of the Town’s Economic Development and Tourism Strategy, and takes into account, various reports, industry data and best practices. “The success of Halton Hills’ businesses is critical to the well-being of our community,” said Mayor Rick Bonnette. “The ERRP provides us with a framework for short-term actions to support immediate economic recovery efforts, as well as investment growth actions which will help sustain local economic growth over the longer term. Working together with our BIAs, Chamber of Commerce, Economic Support and Recovery Task Force, Tourism Advisory Committee and other stakeholders, the Town will continue to take proactive, decisive and coordinated action to support our business community.” The ERRP is based upon 3 pillars: Information, Awareness and Engagement; Business Resilience and Growth; and Advocacy on Key Issues. At its core, the plan is designed to help businesses stay open, as well as become more resilient over time, through a mix of new, modified and pre-existing actions, including:
Shop Local Campaign – to increase spending at local businesses via a comprehensive campaign that leverages digital media, advertising, contests, etc.;
Digital Toolkit for Small Businesses – to provide guidance to businesses on expanding e-commerce capabilities and growing in the post-COVID economy;
Culinary Tourism Alliance partnership – to showcase local restaurants on a popular provincial digital platform; and
Arts and Culture programs – to support the recovery and growth of the local arts and culture sector.
Economic Recovery Roundtables – to engage key business stakeholders in focused discussions on economic recovery and any additional supports;
Community Improvement Plan Update – to strengthen a key economic development tool that encourages private sector investment;
These actions, along with others, will be complemented by longer-term actions designed to support business resiliency over time. Full implementation of the ERRP will go well into 2022. Additional details will be announced as various ERRP components are launched.
“Collaboration, advocacy and sustained efforts have been the hallmarks of advancing the Town’s economic support initiatives since the onset of the pandemic,” said Damian Szybalski, Director of Economic Development, Innovation and Culture. “The ERRP is the continuation of this work. It is a plan that is tailored for local circumstances and intended to address gaps where the Town is best able to assist local businesses.”
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