Bracebridge's Town Crier 2008 Report

Bracebridge's Town Crier recently outlined his activities and events for the last year. A website for the Town Crier will be available soon at www.bracebridge.ca.

Let's Talk Exports - Export Development Canada

This information was recently forwarded by staff at FEDNOR. If you are an exporter or thinking about exporting it may be of interest to you.

Let’s Talk Exports
presented by EDC and Northern Ontario Business

Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Time: 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Place: Holiday Inn
1696 Regent Street
Sudbury,ON

Cost: $25

Join EDC’s Peter Hall, Vice President and Chief Economist, as well as an impressive cross-section of business professionals at this year’s Let’s Talk Exports event and find out:

• where the risks and opportunities are for businesses in 2009-2010
  
• what the export outlook is for your industry
  
• which provinces will fare better in the current environment
  
• how you can succeed in the global marketplace

To register follow this link

Ontario Real Estate Association - Position on HST

The following message was received from the local real estate community about the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (i.e. combination of the GST and PST) in Ontario

Call for Action

Harmonization of Sales Tax

On March 26th, 2009, the McGuinty government announced its intention to harmonize the goods and services tax with the provincial sales tax.

As a result of this change, provincial sales tax will now be levied on legal fees, appraisals, real estate commissions, home inspection fees and other services related to a real estate transaction.

OREA believes that this tax grab will severely hurt the resale housing market and reduce affordability for Ontarians trying to buy a home.

We encourage all OREA members and their clients to write their MPP to express their outrage at these new taxes and to tell them how badly they will hurt the real estate market in your area.

For more information visit OREA's website (look under media section)

Resources and Funding for Energy Efficiency

Here is a great resource to locate Resources and Funding for Energy Efficiency

It is dated February 2009 and published by the Ontario Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure.

SMART Program Session April 2nd, Bracebridge

There were about 35 people at the session today at the Riverside Inn including businesses from Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville and Port Carling. There were a number of local agencies represented as well including Muskoka Small Business Centre and Muskoka Futures. Of course the Town of Bracebridge Economic Development Department was the host organization.

Many aspects of the SMART program was discussed. Here is a brief overview from the notes.

1. "Fundable" Projects include those that are Productivity Improvements; Information Technology, Green/Energy Efficiency
2. Two types of Projects - Implementation & Feasibility Studies
3. You can also do an assessment of your business/process/facility to determine what projects you should should undertake. An on-line assessment tool is available and you can also get an on-site assessment. The online assessment will give you report card for how "lean" your processes are or your energy efficiency.
4. Assessment funding is up to $6000 *(50% funding)
5. Project funding is up to $50,000 *(50% funding)
6. You don't need to do an assessment to get project funding - you could apply straight to/for project funding.
7. Turn around time - up to 45 days. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis until May 31, 2009.

Here are some application tips -

Make sure you have a reference organization - check out the website - if you don't have a referee, your application will be rejected

1. Ensure that your project will start within 60 days of approval
2. Ensure that your project will be completed within 4 to 6 months
3. Not more than 50% of the project can be completed at the time of application
4. The project cannot be started more than 60 days prior to application date

Here is the link the Smart Program website

Here is a link to the Yves Landry Foundation - another program for manufacturers - this one helps with training.