The Town's Economic Development Division works closely with various partners and can connect business owners/operators with local organizations that provide advice and business support services.
Learn more about the various support services and local community partners below:
Business Associations
The Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce is the leading business organization in The Town of the Blue Mountains that works on behalf of its members to advance business interests with the goal of creating a thriving business community.
The Blue Mountain Village Association (BMVA) is a not-for-profit association that manages and maintains all common areas and facilities in the Blue Mountain Village as well as animation and events and destination marketing.
The Clarksburg Village Association is a not-for-profit organization which provides the community and visitors access to local arts professions, nurturing the continued development and expansion of the community.
The Thornbury Business Improvement Area Board (BIA) operates as a Committee of Council with the goal to have The Blue Mountains recognized as a destination of choice.
South Georgian Bay Tourism is an official In-Destination Education Organization that collaborates with local partners to develop and promote tourism experiences, and provides visitors with excellent resources and customer service, and marketing.
Business Support Services
The South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre provides support to start-up and existing small business enterprises during their development, retention, and operation. Located in Collingwood, the office provides South Georgian Bay entrepreneurs with easy access to business consulting services and information covering management, marketing, technology, and finance.
Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) provides strategic and collaborative leadership to build, sustain and grow tourism in BruceGreySimcoe. The organization is one of 13 RTOs – independent, not-for-profit corporations – to which the Ontario government provides some $38 million in annual funding to lead tourism planning, marketing and development in their respective regions.
Community Futures South Georgian Bay (CF SGB) is a not-for-profit Community Futures Development Corporation sponsored by Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Their mandate is to develop and diversify the local economy, acting as a one-stop business resource for new and expanding businesses.
The Georgian College Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre offers comprehensive training and development for those that are new to starting a business and want a strong foundation. The Centre also offers support in research, skills upgrading, access to graduates through job fairs, etc. for both new and established businesses.
The Grey County Business Enterprise Centre is a partnership between Grey County and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Some of the services offered include:
- Free business consultations;
- Guidance on government rules and regulations;
- Seminars and workshops;
- Networking and learning events;
- Resource material; and
- Youth incentives and programs.
The Grey County Economic Development team supports the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses and opportunities within Grey County. The team offers various support services and can help businesses connect with regional partners to assist with the growth of business development across all Grey County municipalities.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) assists with business retention and expansion programs and works with business organizations such as Chambers and BIAs on downtown revitalization. OMAFRA also provides various funding programs to assist business operations.
FedDev Ontario delivers programs and services to support innovation and economic growth in southern Ontario – Canada’s most populous region.
Tracks is a community-based, not-for-profit agency providing supportive career services for job seekers and employers. The agency connects individuals seeking employment with employers who are recruiting/hiring. Tracks also assists employers and individuals in accessing various government support programs and services.
Tracks delivers employment services, at no charge, to individuals of all ages, newcomers to Canada, persons with disabilities, adults, students, and youth. Tracks is a one-stop centre for Employment Ontario Services, Canada Ontario Job Grants, Apprenticeships, Health and Safety Resources and Workshops, Educations and Training.
While many people know how the YMCA supports job seekers, few know that the YMCA can also help employers. Grants for hiring, matching employees with your organization, training, and other supports are available. If you plan on hiring, take a moment to visit the YMCA to talk about your business needs.