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Bloor West Village BIA

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Bloor West Village BIA
Bloor West Village
Toronto, Ontario M6S 3R1

647-729-6963 | phone

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ONTARIO OUTLINES STEPS TO CAUTIOUSLY AND GRADUALLY EASE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES, REMINDER FOR GRANT SUPPORTS, AND MORE...

Announcements 

Government of Ontario announces gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions

The Ontario government today released details of steps to gradually ease public health measures, starting on January 31. The updated measures allow 50 per cent capacity limits in indoor public settings such as museums and galleries, cinemas, meeting and event spaces, restaurants and bars and other settings. Enhanced proof of vaccination and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.

Bellow please find the most comprehensive outline of the steps as they roll out at this point over the next couple of months. 
  
Effective January 31, 2022 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario will begin the process of gradually easing restrictions while maintaining protective measures, including:
 

  • Increasing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
  • Increasing or maintaining capacity limits at 50 per cent in indoor public settings, including but not limited to:
  • Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
  • Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies);
  • Shopping malls;
  • Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms;
  • Cinemas;
  • Meeting and event spaces;
  • Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions; and
  • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
  • Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
  • Allowing spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50 per cent seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less. 
Proof of vaccination requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.

February 21, 2022
Effective February 21, 2022, Ontario will lift public health measures, including:
  • Increasing social gathering limits to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
  • Removing capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to restaurants, indoor sports and recreational facilities, cinemas, as well as other settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
  • Permitting spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues, and theatres at 50 per cent capacity.
  • Limiting capacity in most remaining indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance.
  • Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies limited to the number that can maintain two metres of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required.
  • Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there is dancing.
Enhanced proof of vaccination, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.

March 14, 2022
Effective March 14, 2022, Ontario will take additional steps to ease public health measures, including:
  • Lifting capacity limits in all indoor public settings. Proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing settings in addition to other regular measures.
  • Lifting remaining capacity limits on religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
  • Increase social gathering limits to 50 people indoors with no limits for outdoor gatherings.

To manage COVID-19 over the long-term, local and regional responses by public health units may be deployed based on local context and conditions.
 
 
Here is the news release outlining the comprehensive plan heading into February and March.


Grant Supports (Reminders)

 2022 CaféTO PROGRAM
Registration open for the City’s 2022 / Matching Grant for improvements also Open!

 Local restaurant and bar operators interested in expanding their outdoor dining space into the curb lane and onto sidewalks can register and apply for permits online at www.toronto.ca/cafeto.

New for 2022, café operators are eligible for a matching grant of up to $7,500 to cover 50 per cent of the cost of eligible property or site improvements related to curb lane café installations, sidewalk cafés or patios on private property, through the CaféTO Property Improvement Program. More information about the grant, including the application is available at www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-incentives/cafeto-property-improvement-program/.  
 

INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS GRANT: 

Commercial Space Rehabilitation Grant Program - Deadline Feb 28th (Round 1) - Maximum $5,000 Grant for $10,000 of work plus the bonus, minimum $2500 grant for $5,000 of work.  Up to $20,000 In matching grants 
https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-incentives/commercial-space-rehabilitation-grant-program/
- Focus is for improvements to the Interior of buildings.  Eligible projects can include: structural upgrades, air filters, air conditioning, heating, plumbing (bathrooms - anything to make buildings more accessible), railings inside, lighting, painting 
- Interiors can be vacant or occupied, tenant or landlord, can be the property's upstairs from the main street of a building.
Note: there is an additional $4,000 bonus grant (available for $8000 total work) over and above for projects incorporating accessibility improvements.
- minimum of 3 eligible improvements/projects per unit
- must be for upcoming work
 

EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS GRANT:

Facade Grant Program - Coming March 2nd.
- Everyone can apply (businesses, landlords, BIAs, etc.)
- Focus on outside of buildings
- Commercial buildings only
- Any side of building not just the front (could be corners but must face public laneway or a street)
- Exterior work; windows, doors, fencing, light, signage
$12k grant for $25k work
BONUS: $2500 for $5,000K of total work for Accessibility (ramping, railings etc). 
 

FREE SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH GRANT INTERIOR/EXTERIOR APPLICATIONS
A good resource and starting place would be to call this free City Service: Environment and Energy Division. The BBP will provide business owners with information and assistance on grant applications with regards to HVAC, Plumbing, lights, accessibility, Electrical, Security Systems, energy focused improvements, gas to electrical heating, insulation, etc. They will help your business identify grants and support to make improvements especially with building improvements (interior & exterior), rehabilitation and reduced energy consumption. Especially anything that supports building improvements to support climate change initiatives. 
 
Better Building Partnerships (BBP)
Email:  bbp@toronto.ca
Phone:  416-392-1127
Contact:  Mr. Munim Ahmer
They are very helpful. Just give them a call! 
 
GRANTS TO SUPPORT IMPROVING MANAGEMENT OF YOUR BUSINESS OPERATION
Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative - Available until March 31, 2024-  6 Programs to look at 
https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-incentives/toronto-main-street-recovery-and-rebuild-initiative/
There are a number of grants, training and resources provided through the Toronto Main Street Recovery programs available until March 31, 2024.
 
Retail Accelerator Program: $10,000, participation required
The Retail Accelerator Program provides small retail businesses operating in the city of Toronto with access to training and a micro-grant of $10,000.  Participants are required to create and submit a retail business/marketing plan after the targeted retail training is complete in order to receive the grant.
Retail Accelerator Program Information Session - FREE INFO
Register for the upcoming virtual information sessions on February 15  to learn more about the micro grant and application process. For any questions or help completing the form, please contact Fariba Niroui at 416-392-1328 or Fariba.Niroui@toronto.ca.
 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
 Providing Wage and Rent Supports for businesses that have 50% capacity reduction applied as a result of pandemic measures.  Employees can also apply for Canada Worker Lockdown Benefits ($300/week from December 19, 2021 - February 12th 2022). Sickness and Caregiver Benefit Programs still being offered. There is also a "Relaxation for CEBA Loans" if applicable to your business. 
 

City of Toronto Programs and Resources

Business licensing and permit application portal
BusinessTO Support Centre: Provides one-on-one virtual support to help businesses
Digital Main Street: Provides support for businesses interested in adopting technologies 
COVID-19: Guidelines for Businesses & Community Organizations
Mandatory mask-wearing guidelines
Printable posters 
Reopen Safely with Rapid Testing Kits: The City of Toronto has partnered with the Toronto Region Board of Trade to provide free COVID-19 rapid screening kits
Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace: Requirements of employers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace
Rapid Screening Kits for Businesses 
ShopHERE powered by Google: Get help to set up and launch an online store quickly, easily and at no cost 
Free webinars

Financial Support and Resources

Federal and provincial government financial supports: 

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
Support for Indigenous Businesses
Business Credit Availability Program 
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) 
Ontario Small Business Support Grant

For one-on-one help with applications for any of these programs contact the BusinessTO Support Centre.


View All Newsletters & Press Releases »








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