COVID-19 Business Resources

The Economic Recovery Task Force is focused on stimulating local economic recovery coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force will focus on three strategic areas where the municipality can act as a catalyst to stimulate the local economy:

• critical infrastructure investments
• planning and development stimulus
• business recovery and support

The Economic Recovery Task force primary members include:

• Mayor Letham
• Deputy Mayor Councillor O’Reilly
• Councillor Seymour-Fagan
• Councillor Veale
• Director of Development Services Chris Marshall
• Director of Engineering and Corporate Assets Juan Rojas
• Bjorn Alfredsson, retired Owner and Operator of Holsag Canada
• Jill Quast, Owner of Happy Days Houseboats, Chair of Kawartha Lakes CFDC
• Mark Wilson, Founder and President of MVW Construction & Engineering Inc.

• Dr. Tom Phillips, Economist, Chief COVID-10 Recovery Officer at Fleming College

Working Groups have been established to address specific economic response and recovery needs. Representation on these groups is from local Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Area, sector and industry associations.

Economic Recovery Taskforce Terms of Reference

If your business has been affected by COVID-19 and experiencing a loss in revenue, KLSBEC has shifted the focus of the Starter Company Plus program to support businesses negatively affected by COVID-19.

The program's goal is to help businesses adopt new tools, increase their online presence and implement new business strategies. Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to eligible applicants to help offset costs associated with this transition.

• Find the full details and application process here.

In the first of its kind, Kawartha Lakes Economic Development in partnership with the Chambers of Commerce and Lindsay BIA have launched Shop Kawartha Lakes, a shop local campaign.

With customizable templates for businesses, Shop Kawartha Lakes puts marketing tools in the hands of local businesses for free, with the added leverage of participating in a region wide campaign.

• Shop Kawartha Lakes website
• Online form for businesses to sign up

Thank you to the almost 500 businesses that shared their experience with us in the COVID-19 Business Survey. The survey has now closed. The surveys were conducted in two phases:

• Phase 1, scientific phase including random sample phone survey to 179 businesses
• Phase 2, online survey open to all businesses

Survey Results

• Phase 1 Results
• Full Results; includes responses from phase 1 and 2

Team Kawartha Lakes

Kawartha Lakes Economic Development is part of Team Kawartha Lakes and are working collectively and collaboratively to ensure that local businesses receive up to date and accurate information.

The City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development, including the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC), remains available to support our business community. Although municipal facilities are closed, Economic Development and KLSBEC services are available by phone and electronically.

Phone: 705-324-9411

Rebecca Mustard, Manager: extension 1395

Kelly Maloney, Agriculture: extension 1208

Donna Goodwin, Arts and Culture: extension 1498

Laurie McCarthy, Tourism: extension 1233

Emily Turner, Heritage: extension 1366

Carlie Arbour, Downtown and Community: extension 1396

Diane Steven, Kawartha Lakes Small Business Entrepreneurial Centre (KLSBEC): extension 1283

Sandy Greenberg, KLSBEC Small Business Programs: 705-928-4431

Danielle Harris, Workforce Planning: extension 1234

Ontario State of Emergency in effect as of January 13 at 12:01am. Stay at home except for essential travel and follow restrictions and public health measures.

Ontario State of Emergency: What you need to know:

Find the full details on the new announcement, enhanced public health and workplace safety measures here.

• All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7am and close no later than 8pm. These time restrictions do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants open for takeout or delivery will be exempted.
• An item may only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business.
• Outdoor and social gatherings are restricted to five (5) persons.
• Open businesses or organizations shall ensure employees perform work remotely, except where the nature of their work requires them to be on-site at the workplace.
• Non-essential construction is restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.
• Masks remain mandatory indoors at open businesses or organizations. Masks are also now being recommended outdoors where physical distancing of more than two metres is not possible. 
• Hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences: pre-arranged booking for short-term rentals prohibited with exceptions for housing requirements.
• Drive-in and drive-through entertainment venues closed.
• A stay-at-home order will require everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work.

'Province-wide Shutdown': What you need to know (beginning December 26, 2020)

Click here to find the full details on the businesses permitted to open, and sector specific restrictions.

• Businesses or places must not permit patrons to line up inside the businesses or place, or to line up or congregate outside of the business or place unless they are maintaining a physical distance of at least two meters from other groups of persons and wearing a mask or face covering that covers their mouth, nose and chin unless they are entitled to an exception set out in the regulation.
• Workplaces must screen any workers or essential visitors entering the work environment.
• PPE that provides protection of the eyes, nose, and mouth is required if a worker is required to come within 2 meters of another person who is not wearing a face covering and not separated by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier.
• All businesses or facilities must limit capacity so that every member of the public is able to maintain two meters of physical distancing from every other person, and limit the number of people occupying any room that is open to the public to 50% capacity of the particular room. Some businesses or facilities have additional capacity restrictions that apply beyond the general capacity requirements.
• All businesses or facilities that engage in retail sales to the public must post a sign in a location visible to the public that states the maximum capacity they are permitted to operate under.
• Businesses shall ensure that equipment, washrooms, locker rooms, change rooms, showers that are accessible to the public are cleaned and disinfected as frequently as is necessary to maintain a sanitary condition
• Businesses must ensure that masks or face coverings are worn by any person in the indoor area of the business or organization, with limited exceptions.
• All businesses open are required to prepare and make available a COVID-19 safety plan.

Province-wide Shutdown Resources

• COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (developed by Province of Ontario)
• COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (developed by the HKPR Health Unit)
• Ontario announces Province-wide shutdown news release (Dec 21/20)
• Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency (Jan 12/21)
• Full details on the businesses permitted to open, and sector specific restrictions (Jan 12/21)
• COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (Developed by the HKPR Health Unit)
• Provincial small business support programs

Stop the Spread Business Information Line (for questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment) 1-888-444-3659

• Understand how the Province is re-opening Ontario, with the details on Stage 3 of Reopening Ontario
• Here is the framework for re-opening Ontario

Stage 3 Reopening Information Sessions

• Operating your Business Safely (July 28, 2020)
• Restaurants + Events + Entertainment (July 29, 2020)

• Team Kawartha Lakes Local PPE Suppliers
• COVID Help PPE Marketplace: PPE exchange for customers and suppliers
• Ontario Together: sell medical supplies, find PPE

Are you a PPE supplier and interested in getting on these lists? Contact Economic Development, or ask someone from Team Kawartha Lakes for help.

Shop Kawartha Lakes

Find your fall...in Kawartha Lakes

Digital Main Street, Digital Service Squad

City of Kawartha Lakes Take Out/Delivery/Services COVID-19 Recovery Facebook Page

Paddle Forward Bobcaygeon

Bobcaygeon and area COVID-19 Relief Fund

#HeartForFenelon

Fenelon Falls Brewing Co. All Together Beer