Today, Mayor John Tory announced that the City of Toronto has launched the BusinessTO Support Centre to provide virtual one-on-one support to Toronto businesses during this unprecedented time.
The City’s new BusinessTO Support Centre will be available for all sectors, including not-for-profit, creative/cultural, manufacturing, technology, retail, hospitality, tourism, main street businesses and consulting services.
The centre will help businesses apply for government support programs such as:
In addition to this virtual one-on-one support, the BusinessTO Support Centre will offer a weekly webinar series to provide information about these available government programs and the requirements to apply.
The centre will also inform businesses about how they can support the City’s COVID-19 response and provide general business support and information about other City programs.
The BusinessTO Support Centre is available at toronto.ca/covid19BusinessTO. Sign up to schedule a conversation with a business advisor by video or phone, and a business advisor will be in contact within 24 hours.
The launch of the BusinessTO Support Centre is part of the Mayor’s Economic Support and Recovery Task Force’s short-term economic support and recovery plan for Toronto’s businesses.
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services and social supports. Check toronto.ca/covid-19 for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
Quotes:
“The launch of the BusinessTO Support Centre, along with our expansion of the Digital Main Street Program and establishment of a one-stop information portal in partnership with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, are just a few examples of how the City is working hard to help businesses get through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
– Mayor John Tory
“The multi-sectoral diversity of Toronto’s economy is one of our great strengths. For the City’s economic recovery efforts to succeed, it is essential that the BusinessTO Support Centre assists organizations in all sectors of our economy, including not-for-profit and creative organizations, as well as the full range of private sector businesses.”
– Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, Scarborough Centre (Ward 21), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee
“Thankfully numerous government support programs are now available, but it can be confusing for businesses to stay up-to-date with daily announcements and changing program rules. This is exactly the kind of support Toronto’s businesses have been asking for since the pandemic began affecting our daily life, and it’s yet another important step from the City to help businesses through this crisis.”
– Councillor Brad Bradford, Beaches-East York (Ward 19)
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CityofToronto, on Instagram at instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at facebook.com/cityofto.