The City of Hamilton moved quickly to implement new processes that led to success and record  investment activity over the last year

Here are some of the COVID related initiatives put forward by the city:

• Launch of Hamilton Covid Concierge for Business in partnership with the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce , the Covid Concierge is one-stop resource for business related Covid questions, guidance and incentives hamiltoncovidconcierge.ca
• Collaboration with Digital Main Street and the Ontario Business Improvement Association delivered more than 164 grants of $2500 to assist local businesses adapt and transform into the digital  economy
• Expanded service offerings through Hamilton Business Centre Access to Professional Program, connecting business owners one-to-one with lawyers, accountants and marketing/ brand experts to support their needs.
• A one stop shop called Hometown Hub – hometownhub.ca where there are hundreds of Hamilton business listed from retail, to personal services to restaurants and MORE! Hometown Hub, where local goes digital, has businesses across the entire City.
• A $10,000 grant to each of the 13 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to support special programming in 2021 that helps support local businesses.

• $25,000 budget increase to the 2021 Hamilton Winterfest to add additional programming in each of the 13 BIAs.

• As part of the City of Hamilton’s ongoing commitment to supporting economic recovery due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, in May 2020, Hamilton City Council unanimously approved the creation of the Outdoor Dining Districts program. The City has waived all applicable City fees for restaurants, cafes and bars establishing an outdoor patio. This program is continuing in 2021 and approvals was accelerated.

• All general business license fees, trade license fees, taxi and personal transportation providers (PTP) fees, and film permit fees be frozen at 2020 levels for 2021, with the loss in budgeted revenues in 2021 of an estimated $275,000. (the city currently regulates 44 categories of businesses through its Business Licensing Program, comprising a total of 8,320 businesses).
• Future launch of a pilot Commercial Vacancy Program (upon approval by Planning Committee in June). This Program will provide financial assistance in the form of a Grant to new permanent or ‘pop-up’ commercial tenants of a presently vacant at, or below grade, commercial space so as to make permanent interior improvements for the purposes of improving the attractiveness and usability of the space for the intended commercial use.

The maximum Grant amount under this Program is paid on a matching basis (50%-50%) for eligible work to a maximum of:

1. $5,000 where the Applicant has entered into a lease term of no less than three months and no longer then six months less a day for the space where improvements will be undertaken, and which is the subject of a Program application; or

1. $10,000 where the Applicant has entered into a lease term of six months or longer for the space where improvements will be undertaken, and which is the subject of a Program application

• Video series to increase consumer confidence in shopping local was developed by Tourism Hamilton in partnership with Economic Development and Public Health. Go to https://hamiltoncovidconcierge.ca/covid-19-news-updates/and scroll to the bottom of the page to view the videos
• Local love campaign by Tourism launched in October 2020.