Doing business in Georgina
Georgina is geographically one of the largest municipalities in York Region and is situated just 45 minutes north of Toronto on the southeast shore of Lake Simcoe. The municipality is comprised of a number of lakefront communities, small rural hamlets and three larger communities Keswick, Sutton/Jackson’s Point and Pefferlaw. Learn more about the Town of Georgina’s demographics and profile.
Do you have questions about opening a business, expanding, training or support programs available through the Town of Georgina? Connect with us. We are here to help businesses start up, scale and pivot. When you connect, we will listen, lend advice and direct you to the necessary department or community partners you'll need to succeed.
How to start or expand a business in Georgina?
Support for established businesses in Georgina
There are many useful resources, business links and associations available to assist Georgina businesses. Many of them offer workshops, one-on-one support and even funding. If your business is located in one of Georgina’s three business improvement areas, you can apply for a grant under the Community Improvement Plan.
Economic recovery support programs
Council approved extending COVID-19 business support programs until the end of 2021. The programs include grants, a development application fee rebate and a patio program. In 2020, these programs, along with the Georgina Economic Recovery Benefit, helped 92 businesses and not-for-profits cover costs associated with COVID-19 and/or expand their operations.
The Pivot Planning Squad was established to meet with businesses one-on-one to provide business/marketing expertise and community connections to small businesses in Georgina as they continue to pivot operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Businesses looking to increase sales online or being found through search engines are provided with an online audit with suggestions on how they can improve their online presence. This can include creating social media accounts, Search Engine Optimization suggestions, online networking or setting up a Google My Business account. If financial support is needed, squad members will direct businesses to the Town’s COVID-19 grants or no-cost programs through Digital Main Street or ventureLAB, which are funded by the provincial and federal government.
When the pandemic hit, the Town of Georgina acted quickly to find ways to support businesses and organizations. To do this, the Economic Development and Tourism office connected with more than 216 of them, providing guidance to support programs announced by the federal and provincial governments. From these conversations, our office was able to strategize and develop municipal-level support that would have the most impact on the community.
As a result, 89 businesses have received $308,816 in financial relief to cover rent and costs associated with COVID-19 through the Georgina Emergency Response Benefit, the COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan and the COVID-19 Not-for-Profit Charitable Organizations Program. Additionally, three businesses collectively received $1,238 in development fee rebates, nine restaurants were able to expand their outdoor dining through the Temporary Patio Program, and 21 businesses received one-on-one business and marketing expertise through the Pivot Planning Squad launched in October. Our office continues to listen and execute impactful support programs, such as the extension of COVID-19 Recovery Programs and collaborations to help businesses pivot with current trends.
The business reopening guidance and advice provided on York Region's website is from various government levels and third-party industry organizations to assist the business community within York Region. It is the responsibility of each business that is reopening to ensure they are following the guidelines of the Ontario Government to protect the health and safety of their employees and customers.
Visit yorklink.ca/covid19 for the latest government funding programs, business resources, webinars and more.