In this edition:
- i.d.e.a.™ Fund applications now open
- Ontario could soon allow consumers to buy wine directly from other provinces
- ‘Unfair competition’: Niagara Falls business decries impact of seasonal street vendors
- Developer looking to transfer portion of Welland fairgrounds lands to public school board
- DoorDash and PC Optimum announce new loyalty integration
- Wainfleet stakeholders invited to share thoughts on asset management
- Trump searching for trade deals in Canada as ‘Liberation Day 2.0’ deadline draws closer
- Focus on Finance & Economy
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Picture credit: Innovate Niagara
i.d.e.a.™ Fund applications now open
Applications for Cohort 4 of the i.d.e.a. Fund program are now open! With funding from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Innovate Niagara and five other Regional Innovation Centres have combined efforts to offer selected businesses the opportunity to re-work their products, services, processes, and technologies to focus on reducing impact on the environment.
If you are an incorporated business located in southern Ontario, with high growth potential, and have fewer than 500 employees, you might qualify for non-repayable seed funding up to $20,000, with matching funds, and/or up to 30 hours of fully funded, targeted support from business leaders.
Picture credit: jobi_pro / Adobe Stock
Ontario could soon allow consumers to buy wine directly from other provinces
Ontarians may soon have the opportunity to buy beverage alcohol from producers in other provinces directly, following the steps taken by other provinces as to improve interprovincial trade in Canada.
It has been two years since the federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada agreed to work towards putting in place a national model that would allow Canadian to buy beverage alcohol directly from producers outside of their home province.
Picture credit: DifferR / Adobe Stock
‘Unfair competition’: Niagara Falls business decries impact of seasonal street vendors
Niagara Falls businessman Mel Ertemiz doesn’t mind competition to his tourist-area souvenir shop.
But that competition should come in the form of stores, whose owners pay taxes and for services as he does, not as street vendors with few overhead costs.
Ertemiz is asking city council to amend a municipal bylaw allowing seasonal street vendors to operate adjacent to brick-and-mortar businesses offering the same products or services.
Mark Basciano, President of the Mountainview Building Group | Picture credit: Mountainview Building Group
Developer looking to transfer portion of Welland fairgrounds lands to public school board
A deal to facilitate the building of a new school on a portion of the former Welland fairgrounds could go through later this month.
Welland’s committee of adjustment will be asked to approve a land transfer of three hectares from a local developer to the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN).
Picture credit: Erman Gunes / Adobe Stock
DoorDash and PC Optimum announce new loyalty integration
Beginning today, DoorDash and PC Optimum announced that PC Optimum members can earn five points for every dollar spent on eligible DoorDash orders delivered from their favourite restaurants and Loblaw-banner stores (including Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, and more).
Picture credit: Township of Wainfleet
Wainfleet stakeholders invited to share thoughts on asset management
The Township of Wainfleet is inviting all stakeholders to complete a short (10-minute) questionnaire to share their thoughts on current services, areas for improvement, and priorities for the years ahead. Feedback will help guide the 2025 Asset Management Plan and ensure the Township is investing tax dollars wisely.
Picture credit: The White House / Daniel Torok
Trump searching for trade deals in Canada as ‘Liberation Day 2.0’ deadline draws closer
President Trump kicked off three days of meetings in Canada, saying “our primary focus will be trade,” but with minimal evidence of progress to offer on long-promised deals as his “Liberation Day 2.0” deadline draws closer.
“I’m a tariff person. I’ve always been a tariff person,” Trump offered at the start of a G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, during an appearance Monday with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Focus on Finance & Economy
Innovation together: how Niagara’s ecosystem works as one
When we hear the word ecosystem, we often think of nature. A network of living organisms, each playing a role in supporting the health and balance of the whole. The same concept applies to innovation. In Niagara, our innovation ecosystem thrives not because of competition, but because of collaboration.
As Manager, Business Development for Niagara College’s Research and Innovation division, I have a front-row seat to the way our region pulls together to support entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies. What sets Niagara apart is our shared commitment to helping businesses or community partners succeed, and the ways in which we work together to make that happen.
Their success is our success. That’s the spirit of our ecosystem.
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.
