Town Implements Over 20 New/Modified Initiatives to Support Businesses

HALTON HILLS, ON - The Town continues to implement over 20 new and modified initiatives to position Halton Hills for an expedited economic recovery, as well as to remain competitive and ‘open for business’. These initiatives (highlighted at the June 18 Virtual Town Hall meeting) are part of the Economic Recovery Action Plan and follow  last week’s announcement that allowed Halton Region to move to Stage Two of the Province’s reopening framework.

“The success of Halton Hills’ businesses is key to the municipality’s ability to deliver services that are critical to the well-being of our community,” explains Mayor Rick Bonnette. “The Town implemented several new COVID-specific economic supports and advanced and modified other important initiatives already underway; all of this has ensured that Halton Hills has remained open for business throughout the pandemic.”  

Collaboration, advocacy and sustained efforts have been the hallmarks of advancing the Economic Recovery Action Plan. The Action Plan includes short-term actions to support immediate recovery efforts, complemented by Investment Growth Actions which will help sustain economic growth over the longer term. These include:

• Launching the "Al Fresco in the Hills” temporary patio program to help supplement local restaurant revenues.
• Launching the new Visit Halton Hills website to amplify tourism’s local economic benefits.
• Developing a Business Improvement Area (BIA) Levy Reduction Program for downtown Acton and Georgetown to reduce financial costs for BIA members.
• Supporting the expansion of online and e-commerce presence for local businesses by leveraging the Digital Main Street program.
• Rolling out a new Invest Halton Hills marketing video that showcases Halton Hills to new investors and attract local jobs.
• Participating in the GTA Economic Development Alliance, a group of over 20 municipal economic development offices coordinating economic supports across the Greater Toronto Area.
• Processing of existing and new development applications.
• Expanded marketing and business engagement to gather data on local COVID-19 impacts, and provide timely and relevant information to assist businesses in responding to COVID-19.
• Advocating on behalf of local businesses to the federal and provincial government on key issues via the Mayor’s Office.
• Establishing the Economic Support and Recovery Task Force to coordinate the local COVID-19 response.
• Hosting two Halton Hills COVID-19 Arts & Culture Forums for the arts and culture sector to share their experiences, identify their needs and provide details on the recovery and support programs offered by the Town.
• Creating a new commissioning project, “The Artist Next Door”, for artists and arts and cultural groups to create new work in any artistic discipline that engages the residents of Halton Hills.
• Launching a new professional development program for artists, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural not-for-profit staff and board members, to help equip them with vital business skills needed to grow creative businesses.

The new initiatives supplement a number of pre-existing actions that have been amended to respond to COVID-19, including:

• Launch of a formal Business Retention & Expansion Program to support the recovery and growth of existing businesses.
• Ongoing work to support beautification of downtown Acton and Georgetown to enhance downtown vitality and visitor experience.
• Preparation of the Phase 2B Secondary Plan for the Premier Gateway Employment Area to provide additional developable lands to attract and accommodate new investments and jobs.
• Continued development of the Town’s Business Concierge service to help streamline the processing of major investment opportunities.
• Expanded marketing of the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and Manufacturing Expansion Fund (MEF) to raise awareness of available incentives to support the private sector.
• Implementation of the Town’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Strategy to elevate Halton Hills’ global competitiveness.
• Continued progress in developing a comprehensive five-year Economic Development and Tourism Strategy, including the incorporation of a framework for the development of an Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan, to position Halton Hills for future economic prosperity.

“We understand that businesses have experienced significant challenges as they have remained closed, waiting to reopen”, said Damian Szybalski, Director of Economic Development, Innovation and Culture. “Recognizing this, we have taken early, strategic and decisive action to help reduce COVID-19 impacts. More remains to be done, and we will continue to work with our business community to provide assistance wherever possible.”

Combined, the actions taken represent a considerable investment by the Town and help position Halton Hills for accelerated economic recovery. Additional information on the Town’s COVID-19 supports is available on the Invest Halton Hills and Halton Hills websites.

About the Town of Halton Hills

The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.  The Town is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

Visit the Town of Halton Hills website for more information. 

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