FREE presentation on accessibility in the business community

Muskoka Small Business Centre is hosting a presentation from Independent Living of Simcoe County

Discover tips on reaching “The Untapped Market!”

Don’t miss out on growing opportunities to make your business age-friendly & more accessible.

Join us to learn simple tips to welcome ALL customers.

Location: Bracebridge Council Chambers, 1000 Taylor Court,

Date: Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

Time: 6:00 -7:00 p.m.

Please RSVP by Monday, February 23 by calling the Muskoka Small Business Centre at 705-646-9021

Muskoka Small Business Centre - Summer Company Deadline - May 23, 2014

Through a program called Summer Company, you can get two things:

• start-up money to kick-off a new summer business
• advice and mentorship from local business leaders to help get the business up and running

 

You could be eligible for a grant of $3,000.00 if you:

• go to high school, college or university
• live in Ontario
• are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• are between 15-29 years old
• proposing a new business idea
• are not working more than 12 hours week at another job during the program
• are returning to school after the program ends
• did not previously receive a Summer Company grant

 

Apply early as space is limited

 

Rules and guidelines available at www.ontario.ca/summercompany

 

 

 

Visit our website for more information and

 

see previous Summer Company Participants.

Seminar: Shaping Your Business Through Marketing - Muskoka Small Business Centre

This seminar is great for new or existing business owners looking to shape or freshen up their image. A creative perspective demonstrates how to market your business, stretch your marketing budget and get more impact for your efforts.

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2014

Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Friends Multipurpose Room, Huntsville Public Library

Only $10.00 per person

Stephen Morton is President and Creative Director of Tempest Studios, an advertising firm that has been servicing the needs of corporate and retail clients in Canada and abroad for over 22 years.

With client experience from the corporate and retail, financial, building trades, municipal, educational, fundraising, transit, high tech and home improvement industries, Morton brings unique insight into how to tailor your business message and package it in the most effective manner.

Please pre-register by phone 705-646-9021 or email at info@muskokasmallbusiness.ca

Click here to download registration form.

For more information, please view flyer or visit muskokasmallbusiness.ca.

Discover New Export Opportunities in the Asia Pacific Region

Ontario is bringing together small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with industry and Asia market experts to learn more about exporting to this region — where Ontario exported over $6 billion in goods and services last year alone!

The Asia Pacific Global Export Forum will be valuable to your business. It will help Ontario exporters and entrepreneurs learn about successful market entry and expansion strategies — how to build effective partnerships  with  companies in the region, and how to develop and expand  your business in the Asia Pacific region; including, China, India, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and Australia.

The forum will be held on September 23 2013, at the Westin Prince Hotel, 900 York Mills Rd., Toronto, Ontario. Reserve a spot now by visiting the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment’s registration site.

Reggae Muskoka - July 6 & 7th in Bracebridge

Below is a Media Release about the 4th Annual Reggae Muskoka.  This event is sponsored in part by the Town of Bracebridge and this year is moving dates & venue.  This event brings new visitors to the community to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes from the Caribbean.

Media Release

4^th Annual Reggae Muskoka  

Celebrating the Music of Bob Marley

For Immediate Release

What:              Reggae Muskoka   – Celebrating the Music of Bob Marley

When:              July 6 - 7, 2013

Times:              Saturday 6,  3pm – 9pm          Sunday July 7, 1pm – 5pm

Where:             Annie Williams Park, 50 Santa’s Village Road, Bracebridge, Ontario

The 4th Annual Reggae Muskoka is the only Reggae Festival North of the GTA.   It is built on the interest that people have in world cultures, international cuisine, and the popularity of Bob Marley and reggae music.   

The festival is a great opportunity to escape from the GTA to enjoy Roots, Rock, Reggae music in the heart of Muskoka. It gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Muskoka while enjoying the dynamic rhythm of Jamaican reggae music, foods and crafts.

The vibrancy of the festival, coupled with its location in beautiful cottage country, makes it an ideal weekend getaway for visitors from the GTA and beyond to enjoy reggae music, Caribbean food and other cultural activities.

Reggae Muskoka features performances by artists performing reggae music with an emphasis on the music of Bob Marley.  It has food vendors supplying Caribbean and international food with most being foods from Jamaica, Bob Marley’s native land. The event also features craft vendors displaying and selling Caribbean and African art work.

Bracebridge, the location of the festival, is  known as the Heart of Muskoka and is a pictureque destination that offers a wide range of tourism activities for the entire family.  This means that a visit to Reggae Muskoka also provide an opportunity to explore and dicover one of the most beautiful town in  Ontario.

Visitors to the festival  will also have the opportunity to win a free 7 nights stay at Sunset Resorts in Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

The festival  will be held on Saturday July  6 – 7,  2013 at the Annie Williams Park, 50 Santa’s Village Road, Bracebridge.   Gates open at 1 pm on both days.     Admission is $10 advance or $15 at the gate.   Tickets can be obtained from: www.ticketgateway.com.  For info:  www.reggaemuskoka.com, Email: info@reggaemuskoka.com  or  Reggae Muskoka on Facebook

Cottage Life TV Casting Call...

Cottage Life Television will be shooting in Bracebridge this summer. Please help pass the word along that they are looking for "unique & quirky" traditions, parties, collections, etc.

New local business looking for input

New residents to Bracebridge are looking at starting an indoor playground business and they are conducting a survey of families with kids.

Below is a link to the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BHPW7ZQ 

The survey may also apply to grand parents or others who have children visiting Muskoka.

Follow the link to complete - deadline is May 20th.

Energy RETROFIT Program Information

RETROFIT Program information seminar includinga free hearty breakfast

Hosted by Lakeland Power Distribution Ltd. and Burman Energy Consultants Group Inc.

Learn about the financial incentives and opportunities available through the Ontario Power Authority’s saveONenergy programs.

You can access financial incentives for energy-efficiency upgrades to your business by taking advantage of the saveONenergy programs.  The session will provide information on how you can do this simply and efficiently.  

The application process will be explained and the ease with which businesses can save up to 50% off project costs.  The energy saving measures that are eligible under these programs will be explained including how they can result in direct savings to a business.

Suppliers who have expertise with specific measures will be presenting their experience of the RETROFIT program.  

Date:                                      Wednesday, May 8^th, 2013

Location:                              Inn at the Falls, 1 Dominion Street, Bracebridge

Time:                                     8:30 – 11:30 am

RSVP Required:                   877.662.5489, ext. 211

Bracebridge Launched New Tourism Experiences at Cottage Life

Bracebridge’s new experiential tourism offerings were launched recently at the Spring Cottage Life Show.  The interest and response received from the general public was exciting  - Bracebridge is truly offering something that people genuinely want, and will travel to Bracebridge to get!

The experiences are can be a few hours, some are entire days and some are multi-day experiences that are focussed on 3 main pillars - arts, culinary and lifestyle.

Check out Muskoka's newest tourism experiences at www.canadascottagecountry.ca

Hammond Transportation Expands

Effective Friday March 15, 2013 Hammond Transportation has taken over the coach and limo business of Sinton Transportation.

For nearly sixty years the Sintons and the Hammonds have been friends and associates as the family-run transportation businesses have grown side by side. The Sintons have provided sixty years of trustworthy service in Simcoe County and beyond. Hammond Transportation has been providing safe, friendly service in and around Muskoka Parry Sound since 1944 and has been operating in Simcoe County for forty years.

Hammond Transportation's roots in Simcoe County’s transportation run deep - ninety years ago Greg Hammond's Grandfather received his chauffeur’s licence to drive a bus for T.R. Huxtable Bus Lines in Barrie.

Congratulations Greg and Family!

RBC Continues Partnership with Small Business Centre

Mayor Smith and David Connell of the Muskoka Small Business Centre received a cheque for $1500 recently from Irwin Dick and Barb Hunter of RBC Royal Bank.  RBC Royal Bank has been a partner of the Small Business Centre for over 10 years.

The Muskoka Small Business Centre provides services across Muskoka to assist entrepreneurs with start-up and expansion of businesses.  The Centre is located in downtown Bracebridge.

L-R:  Mayor Smith, Dave Connell (MSBC), Barb Hunter (RBC Royal Bank, Bracebridge),
Irwin Dick (RBC Royal Bank, Regional Manager)

WINTERFEST 2014

Winter Festival Steering Committee

Seeking Volunteers

A group of residents would like to explore the level of interest that exists in reintroducing a Bracebridge Winter Festival / Carnival for early in 2014.  If you are interested in participating on a Steering Committee to further pursue this initiative, or are interested in volunteering in some capacity, send an email to Bracebridgewinterfest@gmail.com by March 22, 2013 stating your interest.  A meeting to determine next steps will follow shortly after that date.

Cheryl Kelley

Director of Economic Development

Town of Bracebridge

1000 Taylor Court

Bracebridge, ON

P1L 1R6

Phone:  705-645-5264 Ext. 253

Email: ckelley@bracebridge.ca

Web:  www.bracebridge.ca

Twitter:  BracebridgeEcD

Facebook:  Town-of-Bracebridge-Muskoka

YWCA Enterprising Women Event

Annual Workshop & Speed Mentoring

Mark your calendar: Thursday, Feb 7, 2013!


Bridges to Better Business with Keynote Speaker Tim Alison, Happy Entrepreneur

Muskoka Small Business Centre’s annual event, “Bridges to Better Business” will be held on Thursday, Feb 7, 2013, at the Opera House in Gravenhurst. This great networking and learning event will focus on Maximizing the Profit Potential of Your Business with keynote speaker Tim Alison, a panel of successful local business owners, and a series of "speed mentoring” sessions with local business professionals.

For more information contact Muskoka Small Business Centre at 705-646-9021, email info@muskokasmallbusiness.ca , website (including registration).

NAFTA Seminar Invitation

You are invited to participate in an “Exporting to the United States - A North American Free Trade (NAFTA) Documentation Seminar” on Thursday March 7, 2013 from “7:45 a.m. ~ 8:30 a.m. (Registration / Breakfast) and the seminar 8:30 ~12:00 p.m.” at the Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $25 and includes a hot buffet breakfast.

As background, the Community Export Development International Trade Branch with The Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation (MEDI) has been delivering a series of U.S. Customs / NAFTA Documentation seminars across Ontario for the past several years. As well, recently working with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Sudbury Economic Development offices in northern Ontario holding these two such sessions in the past year.

The seminar is brought to you through the partnership of the Ministry of Economic Development & Innovation, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, the Sault Ste. Marie Community Development Centre and the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation (MEDI) has been delivering a series of U.S. Customs / NAFTA Documentation seminars across Ontario for the past several years. These seminars have been well received because the content is very focused on the paperwork required to get shipments across the border. The audience tends to be company officials or staff whose responsibilities includes doing the paperwork to ensure their shipments comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules and regulations. Most of the companies attending are experienced exporters.

For more information and pre-registration go to the following link http://saultstemarie.eventbrite.ca/.

Randy Tallon
Director, International Relations\Global Logistics
99 Foster Drive - Level Three
Sault Ste. Marie, ON., P6A 5X6
Email: r.tallon@ssmedc.ca
Tel. No.: 705-759-5928
Mobile: 705-987-0990
Toll No.: 866-558-5144
Fax No: 705-759-2185
URL: www.SaultCanada.com

BRIDGES TO BETTER BUSINESS

Muskoka Small Business Centre's Annual Bridges to Better Business

Date:  Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Location:  Gravenhurst Opera House

Maximizing the Profit Potential of Your Business


with Keynote Speaker Tim Alison, Happy Entrepreneur

Panel of business peers sharing experiences and best practices

NEW this year: Speed mentoring

This is an opportunity to find ways to grow your business and keep up to date on everything you need to know in an ever-changing business world.   More information     Register (printable)     Email to Register

Congratulations to Bracebridge's Award Winners

The Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Business Achievement Awards on November 14th, 2012 at the Rotary Centre for Youth.

The event was sponsored by Smartax Business Services South  - thank you.

The following people and businesses received the most votes from Bracebridge Chamber members.

• Snap Fitness won the New Business of the Year Award sponsored by OfficeWorks.
• Nicole Lindner of Picnics—Gourmet to Go received the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from award sponsor RBC Royal Bank.
• Hammond Transportation Ltd. received the Business of the Year Award from award sponsor TD Canada Trust.
• Rocky Island Tire Co. Inc. received the Outstanding Retail Customer Service Award from award sponsor Muskoka Staffing Company.
• OfficeWorks received the Home Based Business of the Year Award from award sponsor Scotiabank.
• James Street Place received the Service Provider of the Year Award from Award Sponsor Ruth Bell-Towns of BDO Canada LLP.
• Allison Dawes of Ecclestone Cycle & Swim won the Female Business Person of the Year Award sponsored by CIBC.
• David Friesen of Riverwalk Muskoka Fine Dining received the Male Business Person of the Year Award sponsored by Carolyn’s Comfort Homes.
• Rotary Club of Bracebridge received the Outstanding Contribution to Bracebridge Award from award sponsor Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce.

Green 4 Business Workshop for Women Business Owners

Follow this link to register.

Ground Breaking for Muskoka's Newest Business Park

On Saturday, October 27th, The Honourable Tony Clement, MP and Minister for FedNor, Mayor Graydon Smith and Tom O'Callaghan, Vice President of Fowler Construction participated in the official ground breaking for Canyon Court Business Park - Muskoka's Newest Business Park.

Left to Right:
 Retired Mayors Don Coates & Scott Northmore, Tony Joosse, Battlefield/Toromont,
Mayor Graydon Smith, MP Tony Clement, Tom O'Callaghan, Fowler Construction 

Funding Announced for Business Park Infrastructure

On Saturday, October 27th, The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister for FedNor, announced FedNor funding of $163,336 to assist in completing infrastructure upgrades to District Road #118 to enable the development of a business and light industrial park development at the Canyon Court Business Park.  Specifically, the funding will be used to improve the existing roadway and create turning lanes to provide safe access to this 70-acre industrial park development site.

The Honourable Tony Clement (with Mayor Smith and Tom O'Callaghan, Fowler Construction)

Tom O'Callaghan, Fowler Construction, Emcee for the Event

Mayor Graydon Smith at Funding Announcement

The majority of the work funded by FedNor will be completed by year end (i.e. December 31^st).  We would expect work to begin in a few weeks.

This property was formerly known as South Bracebridge Business Park and was recently named Canyon Court Business Park because of its proximity to the Muskoka River Canyon.  The park includes 22 lots that range in size from .84 acres to 9 acres and it will be fully wired with Fibre Optics.

The unique Business Park Zoning allows for a large range of uses including:   Contractor’s Yard, Emergency Service Depot, Equipment Sales & Rental, Farm Implement Dealer, Fuel Storage Tank, Home Improvement Centre , Indoor Storage Facilities, Light Manufacturing, Manufacturing and Processing Plant, Motor Vehicle Body Shop, Motor Vehicle Dealership, Motor Vehicle Parts Establishment, Motor Vehicle Rental Agency, Motor Vehicle Repair Garage, Office, Outside Display and Sale - Permitted only as an accessory use, Outside Storage (permitted with buffering), Passenger Transportation Depot, Printing and Publishing Establishment, Rental Agency, Retail Store Permitted only as an accessory use (not exceeding 25%), Service and Repair Shop, Truck or Transportation Depot, Veterinary Clinic

For information contact, Cheryl Kelley, Town of Bracebridge