GOVERNMENT INFORMATION & SUPPORTS

Local COVID-19 supports and information for businesses:

*See the Riverside BIA COVID-19 Directory
*Read all Riverside BIA’s COVID-19 E-news here
*Riverside BIA is continually advocating on our members’ behalf. View our letters sent to federal, provincial and municipal leaders.

WHO TO CALL/ QUICK SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES DURING COVID-19

  • Have workplace health & safety questions? Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) Free Hotline to Contact a WSPS Health & Safety Consultant with your questions Monday to Friday: 7am – 7pm, 1-877-494-WSPS (9777), Contact a Health & Safety Consultant
  • Wondering about the status of your business during COVID-19 or what re-opening Phase your business would be part of? call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line if you have questions about the status of your business: 1-888-444-3659.
  • Need to speak to an accounting professional? The Canadian Business Resilience Network (CBRN) has a free service to connect to an advisor from the accounting profession for questions about COVID-19 financial support options, help making decisions on recovery plants and more. 7 days a week: 8am-8pm, call 1-866-989-1080
  • Need advice on which COVID-19 programs to apply to? Try the City of Toronto’s BusinessTO Support Centre
  • Looking to start up an e-commerce site to diversify your revenue in light of COVID-19? Get a free site with ShopHERE

FREE RESOURCES FOR RIVERSIDE BIA MEMBERS

  • CITY OF TORONTO GRANTS: Looking for $$ to improve your business this year? Browse Grants from the City of Toronto. Get Details and Apply
  • SHOPHERE: ShopHERE has been launched to help Toronto businesses and artists build and promote their own Shopify online store for free. digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere
  • RITUAL ONE: Mobile food ordering company Ritual recently announced Ritual ONE, an online tool for local restaurants and food services such as grocers, butchers and bakeries take online orders through their existing websites for either contactless pickup or delivery. In partnership with ShopHERE, Ritual is waiving the monthly subscription fee for all Toronto restaurants that sign up prior to June 1.
  • BREAKING BREADa non-profit online initiative that provides support for small, independent food and beverage businesses across Canada by connecting the public with take-out and delivery options in their local area. Learn more here and register here (100% free).
  • 1:1 ASSISTANCE TO APPLY FOR GOVT SUPPORT: BusinessTO Support Centre has one-to-one virtual assistance, free webinars to Ask An Accountant during COVID and more. TBOT Portal has one-on-one virtual assistance, webinars on getting ready to re-open.
  • FACE SHIELDS & EAR SAVERS: local Riverside resident and maker Travis St. Denis has offered to provide face shields & ear savers for local businesses and organizations. If you would like these free PPE items please complete this order form: https://forms.gle/MmweQKiDFkEGFTAw5
  • PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES: East end photographer Lana Malykh has offered free photography services to any Riverside business. Whether it’s neighbourhood street photography, lifestyle images, food photography or product photography, she is available to work with businesses remotely to provide photography support for all their immediate needs.
  • WEBSITE AUDIT: In response to COVID-19, K-media is offering Riverside BIA members a Free Website Audit along with tailor-made tips to improve your Google Search ranking. K-media is happy to answer any questions you have regarding website design and how to revamp for e-commerce. Simply email a link with your domain to karen@k-media.ca.
  • DIGITAL SERVICES: Book your FREE Digital Main Street 1:1 services. Book them now and check out the other online resources we have put together for you.
  • ONLINE FOOD ORDERING PLUGIN: RestroPress is a Online Food Ordering system for WordPress for PickUp and Delivery orders.

Some of the measures local businesses are implementing in this current environment:

WAYS TO HELP IN THE RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19

Here are some resources to connect to helping in the community:

 

Riverside COVID-19 We're All In This Together