Business Information &
Support During COVID-19
The City is doing everything possible, in cooperation with the provincial and federal governments, to minimize impact and see economic recovery take place as soon as possible. This page helps enable the City to better respond to the evolving challenges with partners in government, business and non-profits.
Please also refer to
Support for Residents and Property Owners for helpful information.
Business Response Action Plan
The Invest Barrie COVID-19 Business Response Action Plan includes Five Key Measures and supporting Action Items that will help protect the local economy and assist businesses with the supports needed to navigate these trying times. Invest Barrie will continue to monitor COVID-19 and will make changes when necessary, ensuring businesses are receiving the most current information and up-to-date programming.
Business Recovery Action Plan
The City has prepared a
Business Recovery Action Plan to assist the local economy in coming back stronger and smarter after COVID-19. It will guide local investment in the economic recovery after COVID-19 and identify local initiatives that will help the recovery process. The Plan was built through consultation with local businesses, stakeholders, and the general public. Thanks to all those that contributed.
Support for Businesses
The City of Barrie is working with our industry partners including
Barrie Chamber of Commerce,
Sandbox,
Tourism Barrie,
Barrie Construction Association, the
Small Business Centre, the
BIA, and the
Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre, with updating this page regularly to be able to identify actions to support businesses in responding to the economic impact of COVID-19:
City Support
| The Small Business Centre presents ShopHERE | |
The City of Barrie is joining Digital Main Street's ShopHERE powered by Google program, which helps independent businesses and artists build a digital presence and minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local businesses and artists can apply for the program at digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere to get their online store built at no-cost. |
| The City of Barrie's Manufacturing Forum | |
The City of Barrie is launching a manufacturing forum for businesses to engage with one another to ask questions and provide solutions for their businesses during the ever-evolving time of COVID-19. If interested, please contact Nora Gavarre at
Nora.Gavarre@barrie.ca or call at 705-739-4220 ext. 4431 |
| Downtown Parking | |
In effect until further notice, all on-street parking on Dunlop St. (Poyntz St. - Toronto St.) will have a limit of standing for 10 minutes or less. This will help make it easier for businesses & customers to take advantage of
curbside pickup. |
| Free Transit | |
It is critical for people to have the ability to ride the bus to get basic things like groceries or to jobs that we rely on. Offering free transit creates the opportunity to have riders board from the rear door, which reduces risk to transit operators and further supports physical distancing. Please visit
barrie.ca/TransitNotices for full information. |
| Patios Everywhere Program | |
The City is introducing the
Patios Everywhere Program for the summer of 2020. This program is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is intended to support local restaurants by providing flexibility to restaurant owners while at the same time ensuring safety standards and measures remain in place. |
| Property Tax Billing | |
- There will be no new late fees or City-imposed non-sufficient funds (NSF) charges for tax bills until June 30, 2020. Please visit
Property Tax Payment Options for full information.
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| Water Wastewater Billing | |
There will be no new late fees or City-imposed non-sufficient funds (NSF) charges for property tax and water wastewater bills, and no water shutoffs will be carried out, until June 30, 2020. Residential water/wastewater account holders can apply to eliminate the fixed charge for water and wastewater on their next bimonthly bill if they are suffering from financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
In addition, the payment due date grace periods have been extended for all residents and businesses for two billing periods. Please visit
Water Wastewater Billing for full information. |
Federal & Provincial Programs & Resources
Business Resources
| City of Barrie Partner's Resources & Updates | |
-
RVH COVID-19 Updates
-
Simcoe County Services - Updates
- Downtown Barrie BIA Launches
Lifeline E-Gift Card Program in Support of Downtown Businesses
- The
Small Business Centre is here to support and advise business during COVID-19. We are here to answer questions, help make sense of new information coming from different levels of government and provide advice on how to manage through these challenging times. We are committed to continue providing our regular services, including consultations, workshops, webinars and business continuity plans, with in-person services being delivered via telephone or video conference. For all businesses of any stage, please reach out to smallbusiness@barrie.ca or 705-720-2445.
- The Sandbox Centre launches Experts in Residence Program
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| Financial & Business Support | |
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| Preparedness Toolkits | |
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| Operating During the Pandemic | |
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| Recovery Planning | |
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Webinars
All available webinars and live streamed events to help you and your business cope with COVID-19.
| Arts Community | |
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| Digital Marketing | |
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| Financial | |
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| Legal & Employment | |
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| Local Partners & Other | |
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| Mental Health | |
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| Recovery | |
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Hotlines
- Province Launches Business Support Line: The province has launched a toll-free line 1-888-444-3659 to provide support to Ontario businesses who have questions about the province's recent emergency order to close at-risk workplaces following recommendations by Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health.
- The Government of Canada's Coronavirus Hotline can answer questions and provide information:1-833-784-4397
- The Emergency Watch and Response Centre (EWRC) can be called 24/7 by Canadian citizens abroad in need of emergency assistance: 1-613-996-8885
- The Business Development Bank of Canada can answer questions for business owners: 1-877-232-2269
- This Employment Insurance (EI) hotline can be called if you have already completed the application for EI sickness benefits, whether you are sick or quarantined, to have the one-week waiting period waived: 1-833-381-2725
- For questions on international trade, call Export Development Canada: 1-888-220-0047
- Ontario Public Health Authority: 1-866-797-0000
- Canadian Mental health Association: 1-833-456-4566
- Minister Ng and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce announce hotline to provide small businesses in need with financial planning advice amid COVID-19: 1-866-989-1080 (toll-free) seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET)