In this edition:
- Vineland awarded Greenbelt Foundation grant for sustainable farming research
- Applications open for 2026 Starter Company Plus program
- South Niagara Hospital reaches major construction milestones
- New municipal parking lot planned in downtown Fonthill
- Bank of Canada rate freeze expected on July 15 amid Trump trade fallout and oil spike
- Office market sees one year of recovery following pandemic-induced disruption
- Republican to introduce bill prompting trade investigation into Canadian booze bans
- Focus on Health & Safety
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Picture credit: Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
Vineland awarded Greenbelt Foundation grant for sustainable farming research
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has received a Greenbelt Foundation grant for a nine-month project exploring how greenhouse waste can be reused to improve soil health, crop yields, water availability, and nutrient retention on water-stressed farms. The project, which began April 1, will also look at ways to divert greenhouse waste from Ontario landfills, with Grodan contributing as an industry collaborator and funder.
Picture credit: BullRun / Adobe Stock
Applications open for 2026 Starter Company Plus program
Applications are now open for the 2026 Starter Company Plus program, which supports entrepreneurs looking to strengthen and grow their businesses. The program offers practical training in business planning, marketing, financial management, and sales, along with one-on-one guidance from the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre, mentorship opportunities, and grants of up to $5,000 for qualifying businesses. Applications close Thursday, August 6, at noon.
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Picture credit: Niagara Health
South Niagara Hospital reaches major construction milestones
Construction of the South Niagara Hospital has reached several major milestones, with the building topped off with concrete, the mechanical penthouse level fully enclosed, and the final two tower cranes removed from the site. Niagara Health says precast panels, curtain wall, windows and roofing are nearing completion, while interior mechanical rough-ins and finishes are advancing on the lower levels. More than 1,200 workers are now on site each day as the project remains on track for completion in 2028.
Picture credit: themorningglory / Adobe Stock
New municipal parking lot planned in downtown Fonthill
A 39-space lot, with a price tag of more than $300,000 to be paid for by savings through an adjacent project coming in under budget, is a “fantastic opportunity” to add more parking to the area, says Chief Administrative Officer David Cribbs.
Picture credit: tanoy1412 / Adobe Stock
Bank of Canada rate freeze expected on July 15 amid Trump trade fallout and oil spike
With the price of oil jumping overnight as the war in Iran rages on, and the United States noting it won’t extend the free trade agreement, financial analysts are watching what the Bank of Canada’s next move will be.
Picture credit: jovannig / Adobe Stock
Office market sees one year of recovery following pandemic-induced disruption, says CBRE
A new report from CBRE says Canada’s office market has officially experienced one full year of recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the sector.
CBRE said Canada’s office vacancy rate stood at 17.1 per cent in the second quarter, down from 18.7 per cent a year earlier.
Picture credit: Rep. Claudia Tenney / Facebook
Republican to introduce bill prompting trade investigation into Canadian booze bans
A Republican congresswoman from New York said she is introducing legislation to compel the United States Trade Representative to conduct an investigation into Canadian provinces that are not purchasing American alcohol.
Focus on Health & Safety
The heat is on: Working safely in hot environments
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Heat is part of the job in many workplaces. You might feel it on a plant floor, inside a mechanical room, or anywhere equipment is running for long stretches. These indoor spaces can heat up quickly, and over the course of a shift, that heat can build.
When that happens, working conditions get more than just uncomfortable. Heat starts to affect how people feel, how they work, and how safely the job gets done. As temperatures rise and heat events become more frequent, managing heat exposure is becoming a bigger part of everyday health and safety.
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
