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Pay-by-Plate Parking System ** JULY 1^st **

Rates

25 cents/15 minutes.
$1/hour.

Complimentary Times

Complimentary parking may be used once per day (either street parking or lot parking, not both), per licence plate. Drivers will still be required to register at the parking meters. 15 minutes of parking will be complimentary for all street parking, or 1 hour of parking will be complimentary for all municipal parking lots.

Hours of Operation

Paid parking will be in effect using the following schedule:

Downtown streets & Municipal Lots: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday *Please note there is a 2 hour Daily Maximum for Street Parking & an 8 hour Daily Maximum for Municipal Lots*
Harbour Lot: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
Overnight parking remains free from April 1 to November 15.

Permit Parking through IPASS – Registration Coming Soon

Parking permits can now be obtained using the Interactive Parking Access Subscriber System (IPASS). The IPASS system allows users to register for permits on a monthly or annual basis: $30/month or $99/year. For full details on IPASS, please visit ParkingSupport.ca/Precise-Parklink-IPASS-Monthly-Parking-Support

The Southern Georgian Bay Chamber distributing self-screening kits for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses ** NEW **

The Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce will soon be distributing free self-screening kits to small and medium-sized businesses throughout Midland, Penetanguishene, Tay and Tiny Township. The goal of the program is to identify asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals from spreading COVID-19 in the workplace, at home, and around the community. Small and medium-sized businesses can register at southergeorgianbay.ca/workplace-screening and click on the ‘Order Self Screening Kits’ to order their two-week supply of Abbott Panbio Antigen screening kits using a very simple form.

Increase to Number of Weeks for Canada Recovery Benefits and Employment Insurance Regular Benefits ** NEW **

To ensure that Canadians continue to have access to supports during this time, the Government of Canada has introduced legislation and regulatory amendments to increase the number of weeks of benefits available under the Canada Recovery Benefits and Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits. Bill C-24, the proposed legislation, received Royal Assent on March 17, 2021. By increasing the number of weeks of benefits available under the Canada Recovery Benefits and EI, the Government of Canada is continuing to support Canadian workers through the next phase of the pandemic recovery. Additional changes are also included under the legislation. CLICK HERE

New cybercrime and fraud reporting system ** NEW **

Reporting of cybercrime and fraud is very low in Canada, making it difficult for law enforcement to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of cybercrime. To make it easier for Canadians and businesses to report cybercrime and fraud, we're in the process of creating a new reporting system. Once fully in place, in 2022, any victim of or witness to cybercrime or fraud will be able to use this system to report the crime online. CLICK HERE

BIA Member Benefits Package

Exclusive to Business Improvement Association members in Ontario, to download the PDF and learn more: CLICK HERE

Outdoor Patio Program

To support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Town of Midland is introducing an Outdoor Patio Program for existing, legal restaurants to take advantage of warmer weather by offering outdoor dining experiences: CLICK HERE

Sandwich Board Sign By-law

CLICK HERE

Avetti – Open for Business Marketplace

A local software company located in Barrie, Ontario with customers globally. As part of their COVID-19 response, Avetti launched a new CURBSIDE PICKUP solution for Retailers, Restaurants, Businesses, and Farmers Markets in the area. As many small businesses are facing hardship Avetti is funding the infrastructure to make this FREE for the first 1,000 businesses: CLICK HERE

Operations Implementation Program

The Operations Implementation Program (OIP) is designed to assist BruceGreySimcoe tourism operators in their stabilization and recovery efforts from the effects of COVID-19 with social media marketing to promote their operations as part of RTO7’s COVID-19 Business Recovery Plan 2020/2021. Businesses can receive up to $1,000 (including HST) for a social media advertising campaign: CLICK HERE

North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation – Regional Relief and Recovery Fund

Businesses in Beausoleil First Nation, Midland, Penetanguishene, Springwater, Tay and Tiny unable to access other federal support are invited to apply for the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund. North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation (NSCFDC) has earmarked nearly $1 million, with direct financial support from FedDev Ontario and the Government of Canada, to support retail shops, restaurants, corner stores, and businesses of strategic importance to our communities. NSCFDC is providing interest-free loans up to $40,000.00, including a possible 25% forgivable contribution, to help support fixed operating costs of local businesses, where revenues have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: CLICK HERE

Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe – ILoveMyLocal.ca

EDCNS has created a free online directory for local businesses at ilovemylocal.ca
Submit your business now and learn more: CLICK HERE

Business Support & Recovery 2021: CLICK HERE

Tips for Businesses & Safety Checklist

CLICK HERE

Distantly.ca

In less than 5 minutes, your business can create a business profile and securely connect your bank account. Once your account is created, you can share the page, via email and social media, to collect financial contributions from the community. Contributions can be as low as $1 and as high as the community is generous. All contributions are deposited directly to your bank account securely within 48 hours or less: CLICK HERE

Government of Ontario / Canada

COVID-19 Support for Businesses: CLICK HERE

Enabling Accessibility Fund provides funding for projects that make Canadian communities and workplaces more accessible for persons with disabilities. EAF aims to create more opportunities for persons with disabilities to take part in community activities, programs and services, or to access employment. Grants up to $100,000 available: CLICK HERE

Instagram

Instagram added new ways for people to support your business through gift cards and ordering food, so you can communicate with your customers in fun, engaging ways on Instagram. Now you can add your digital gift card or food ordering options to your Instagram profile so people can take action when they come to learn about your business. You can also share your gift cards with your local community Facebook. Highlight these offerings in your Instagram Stories using new interactive stickers, and encourage people to share to their followers, to help get the message out: CLICK HERE

Google

To help restaurants during this time, Google has launched new tools to make it easier for restaurants to share how they are operating. Canadian restaurants can now update their free Google My Business business listing to communicate adjusted hours or updated delivery options, such as curbside pickup, no-contact delivery or takeout. These attributes appear on a restaurant’s business profile on Google Search and Maps and are visible when customers are looking for dining options that meet their needs. Businesses can even create a COVID-19 post on their business profile to share any new safety precautions they’ve implemented to keep customers safe: CLICK HERE

BIA Handbook for New Members

Published on Thursday, 24 January 2013 17:58

Attached to here is a PDF version of the BIA Handbook for New Members which includes the current 2012 BIA Board of Management. Also attached here is a small printable booklet (An Introduction to a Business Improvement Area), slightly dated, but all information is still valid.

Attachments:

BIA_Handbook.pdf [3387 Kb]
Intro to BIA booklet.pdf [6567 Kb]

Tag On Social Media

To help boost your content, here’s some organizations to tag on social media for likes/shares:

Downtown Midland BIA, Town of Midland, Midland Tourism, ShopMidland.com, RogersTV Midland, CTV Barrie News, MidlandToday.ca, Simcoe.com, Snapd Midland/Penetang, Heart of Georgian Bay, Tourism Simcoe County, 104.1 The Dock, Pure Country 106, 93.1 Fresh Radio, Rock 95, 107.5 Kool Fm, The Peak Fm 95.1, Big 101, Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce, and Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe.

In addition, the BIA has been using the hashtag #DowntownMidlandON for a few years now and the hashtag has now been used 1,000+ times on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The BIA encourages all business owners to use this hashtag on their social media posts, which will then collectively group all downtown related content for people to see when they search, click on, and/or follow the hashtag.

Downtown Dollars Policy

Purchase Downtown Dollars Digitally Here >>

Downtown Dollars are available for purchase at the Downtown Midland BIA Office (212 King Street). Dollars can be purchased in the following amounts: $10, $25 & $50.

The Midland BIA Downtown Shopping Dollars must be used for the purchase of merchandise or service(s) only from members within the boundaries of the Downtown Midland BIA.

Merchants must turn in Downtown Shopping Dollars from customers to the Midland BIA office located at 212 King Street Unit #9. Please place your downtown dollars in an envelope and write down the name of your store on the front. If the Midland BIA office is closed please slip your envelope under the door (our building is open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm).

Once we have received your Downtown Shopping Dollars, we will sign a form and write down the date we received it.
We will then have a cheque written up and a BIA staff member will hand deliver your payment.
When dropping off the Downtown Dollars we will require a signature from an employee or business owner documenting that you have received your payment.

Any inquiries may be sent to manager@downtownmidland.ca

Note: Any business uncomfortable with our policy does not have to collect downtown dollars.

Image of Downtown Dollars: CLICK HERE

Safe Streets Act

Published on Thursday, 03 January 2013 14:09

Definition -- s. 2(1)

2. (1) In this section,

"aggressive manner" means a manner that is likely to cause a reasonable person to be concerned for his or her safety or security.

Solicitation in aggressive manner prohibited -- s. 2(2)

(2) No person shall solicit in an aggressive manner.

Examples -- s. 2(3)

(3) Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), a person who engages in one or more of the following activities shall be deemed to be soliciting in an aggressive manner for the purpose of this section:

1. Threatening the person solicited with physical harm, by word, gesture or other means, during the solicitation or after the person solicited responds or fails to respond to the solicitation.

2. Obstructing the path of the person solicited during the solicitation or after the person solicited responds or fails to respond to the solicitation.

3. Using abusive language during the solicitation or after the person solicited responds or fails to respond to the solicitation.

4. Proceeding behind, alongside or ahead of the person solicited during the solicitation or after the person solicited responds or fails to respond to the solicitation.

5. Soliciting while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.

6. Continuing to solicit a person in a persistent manner after the person has responded negatively to the solicitation.

Code of Concerning Behaviors & Consequences

Municipal Acts, By-laws, Plans & Studies