Please note the Downtown London office is closed for the duration of the lockdown. All staff will be working remotely and will continue to be available via phone or email.
New, Financial Support Available to Downtown Businesses
Downtown London has launched the Endurance Grant in an effort to support members through this difficult time. This is a one-time grant to help members with costs incurred to improve business safety/security, beautification, cleanliness, health and safety requirements, COVID-19 related marketing costs, businesses signage costs, activations, restaurant take-out containers and restaurant delivery costs.
Having received a 2020 COVID grant will not affect eligibility for the new grant. This grant is open to all levy-paying members.
The first intake is due by March 31, 2021. Priority processing for storefront businesses. Retroactive to December 15, 2020.
All questions and applications should be directed to Vicki via email at vicki@downtownlondon.ca
Downtown London Marketplace
E-commerce has become more and more popular in recent years, and with the unfortunate lockdown, it is more important than ever. Downtown London has built an online marketplace where downtown businesses can list their products (or gift cards!) free of charge. There is absolutely no cost to businesses to participate.
Downtown London will be placing a significant focus on marketing this new platform and will even provide your business with some marketing assets to promote your online store as well.
Goal of the Online Marketplace: Provide Londoners with a one-stop-online-shop for supporting local businesses. We receive so many messages on social media from Londoners saying that they want to support local business but aren’t sure how to buy online from them or wish they could see all of the stores in one place. Here’s the solution!
Advantages to Participating:
- It’s free of charge! No subscription or annual fees.
- DTL will be marketing this platform like crazy so that you don’t have to make a big advertising spend on your own.
- Brand Awareness – the more places your brand is, the better! Get your name out there…even if someone doesn’t make a purchase the first time they see your store they will remember you later when they are looking to make a local purchase.
- Skip the hassle of dealing with e-commerce platform providers and ironing out kinks with big corporations like Shopify. Downtown London will deal with this on your behalf and will always provide tech support.
I’m a restaurant or service provider – how do I participate?
- Listing giftcards is always encouraged!
How do I get Involved?
- To join the marketplace, please email Colleen at colleen@downtownlondon.ca
Construction Dollars & Downtown Dollars
If you have Construction Dollars, please email vicki@downtownlondon.ca by January 13, 2020 with the amount to be redeemed.
When lockdown restrictions are lifted, staff will accept both Downtown Dollars and Construction Dollars for redemption.
Online Event: Surviving Winter in the Grey Zone
Date: January 19 at 10am
Hosted by London Economic Development Corporation and the Small Business Centre
There will be an in-depth review of the new Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and an opportunity to make sure you are up to date on adjustments to the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), and $20,000 additional Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA+).
The discussion will be guided by professional accountants and bankers including, Bill Giannoulis – Turner Moore, Jaclyn Cairns – Grant Thornton, Lisa Kraft – Scotiabank and Michael MacIntyre – Libro Credit Union.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ACqtx2wjQCSpVuLxMidZ3Q
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Re-Opening Every Venue Safely Training
Date: January 12, 2021
In response to community needs and current public health requirements, this workshop has been developed for live music venue managers at businesses operating in the City of London.
Led by Janet Sellery, the focus will be on how to keep artists (singers and musicians), venue staff (especially people working in production and working with the public) and guests safe at your venue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on reasonable practices, research and industry guidance, the goal is to support and educate live music venues managers so they may reopen in a healthy, safe, artistically and financially feasible manner, in accordance with current public health requirements
This two-hour workshop will be delivered online and will include time for Q & A.
Takeaways will include:
- REVS COVID-19 safety plan template
- Outline for staff training
- Resources list
About Janet Sellery
Janet Sellery is one of Canada’s leading experts in health and safety and the arts, entertainment and live events. She is an active volunteer Chair of Event Safety Alliance Canada and a board member for Event Safety Alliance (U.S.). Her work as a Health & Safety Consultant, with Sellery Health + Safety, focuses on customizing programs, training, and resources to reflect the constantly evolving and unique demands of our work. During this pandemic she has been working hard to support the events community as we all figure out how to return to the work we love the best.
Momentum 360 – A Local Program Created to Help Empower & Educate Downtown London Businesses
Ryan Beliveau, of Beliveau Marketing has partnered with ClickFuture to create a program called Momentem360 with the goal of empowering and educating Downtown London businesses. The program offers free custom resources for businesses packed with tools to help naviagte the complex digital marketing landscape.
Program Details:
- Zoom Intro Meeting
- Google my Business Account & Profile Setup/Optimization
- Google PPC Account Setup
- Facebook PPC Account Setup
- Ads Activation & Launch
- 30 Minute Training Session
- “How To” Documents & Resources to Leverage Google by Business Platform and PPC Ads Ongoing