Resources for Businesses in The Village
It can be difficult to find resources for small and medium-sized businesses.
This page is dedicated to help member of the International Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) find resources to help your business thrive.
Stay up-to-date, subscribe to the BIA Newsletter. Find grants available for members from the City of Hamilton.
Canada Digital Adoption Program
As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program, the Government of Canada has partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to deliver the Grow Your Business Online grant supported by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
Through this program, small business owners can receive a micro-grant worth up to $2,400 to help get their business online, give their e-commerce presence a boost, or digitalize business operations. Grant recipients must commit to maintaining their digital adoption strategy for at least six months.
In addition, e-commerce advisors will be available to work with grant recipients to help identify their digital needs, provide links to digital resources, help with completing applications, and answer questions on the Grow Your Business Online program.
Student Talent Connect
Do you have a project or workload that requires additional staff resources to complete? Is your company looking for innovative and affordable ways to grow your talent pipeline and bridge knowledge gaps? If so, then a post-secondary student may be able to help!
Student Talent Connect is a new initiative from the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce that assists Hamilton employers with accessing post-secondary student talent from McMaster University, Mohawk College, and Redeemer University.
Whether you’ve hired students in the past, or are looking to learn more about local opportunities and how students can support your business growth, we’re here to support you.
Student Talent Connect is a free program that does not require a membership to the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce to access.
Open a Restaurant in Hamilton Guide
This guide provided by the Hamilton Business Centre is here to give you an overview of the 4 steps required to open a restaurant in Hamilton, important departments to connect with, contact details, costs and timelines, and additional resources.
Starter Company Plus
Starter Company Plus program from the Hamilton Business Centre is a training and mentorship program for businesses less than two (2) years in age. The program offers opportunities for training in business planning, marketing, social media, bookkeeping, and financial management. Plus, there are funding opportunities of up to $5,000 for eligible businesses approved into the program.
Access to Professionals (A to P) Series
Are you looking for Business Legal, Accounting or Marketing advice? The Access to Professionals (A to P) series from the Hamilton Business Centre provides an opportunity for you to virtually meet with a professional for a 30-minute, one-on-one meeting and gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your business.
Food Forge – a Food Product Business Training Program for Hamilton Entrepreneurs
Calling all food entrepreneurs! Are you someone who wants to launch your own food or beverage business but doesn’t know where to start? Do you have a food product that is ready to be developed and brought to market?
Food Forge is a seven-week boot camp that will get your favourite recipe retail ready. This course will give you the opportunity to learn from industry experts on how to scale, package and market your food products. This program is for:
- Food or beverage product innovators
- Restaurant owners wanting to turn recipes into consumer-packaged goods
- Entrepreneurs who have a product already in small-scale distribution (i.e. selling in a farmer’s market) but want to scale up
- Each week is dedicated to a different topic, and you will leave the program filled with knowledge to help your business grow.
This program is designed to accommodate only 20 food entrepreneurs, so make sure that you get your application in as soon as possible. Applicants must be of 18 years or older, a resident of Hamilton, and have a food product that demonstrates growth potential, scalability, and market readiness.
Hamilton Business Centre
The Hamilton Business Centre (formerly Small Business Enterprise Centre) provides information, tools, and resources that entrepreneurs need to start and grow their businesses.
Information, guidance, and advice on starting, and growing a business. Get connected with a subject matter expert that can help you get the answers you need and provide you with the support and resources to achieve your business goals.
Digital Resource Hub
Looking for FREE tools and resources to better help market and operate your small business? Want to learn a new skill so your small business can grow and thrive online? As a small business, expensive software and online subscriptions are often not within the budget.
The Hamilton Business Centre has put together a collection of the 200+ best FREE and freemium tools and resources so you don’t have to spend hours online searching. Each tool and resource listed is either free to use or has a free plan to help you get started.
Visit the HBC Digital Resource Hub today and start exploring everything that’s available.
Rainbow Registered Accreditation Program
The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) are partnering together to offer Hamilton businesses the Rainbow Registered Accreditation.
Rainbow Registered is a nationally recognized safe space accreditation program developed by the CGLCC, Tourism HR Canada, and funded by the Federal government. It recognizes Canadian businesses and organizations that are LGBT+ inclusive, and in turn helps customers, clients, partners and prospective employees to identify LGBT+ friendly businesses and organizations.
Canadian businesses and organizations of all sizes and from any industry can apply.
Hamilton Anti-Hate Toolkit
The Hamilton Anti-Hate Toolkit is one step in our collective response to hate. This toolkit has something for you, whether you are a community member who wants to stand up against hate, you’re part of an institution that wants to build a safer Hamilton for all, or you have experienced hate and are looking for support and resources.
HPS: Keeping Your Business Safe
Hamilton Police Service is committed to providing essential services throughout the City.
As always, we continue proactive patrols and respond to calls for service to ensure the safety and security of our community. If you observe suspicious activity or individuals, near or close to a business, please call the police immediately.
Reporting crime and providing relevant information allows our investigators to identify suspects and solve crimes.
Please refer to the following safety tips on keeping your business safe:
- Ensure locks, alarms and CCTV are operational
- Leave lights on inside and out
- Remove high-value items from window view
- Back up all business documentation
- Display empty cash drawer in window view
- Track inventory and update insurance coverage
- Post emergency contact information inside the store
- When checking your business, do so during the day
- Tell your business neighbours your plan
- Report suspicious activity to police at 905-546-4925
Download the Hamilton Police Service Crime Prevention Tips and Crime Prevention Business Poster.
Business Benefit Finder - Government of Canada
Find programs and services offered by the Government of Canada to help your business grow. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a business, or a not-for-profit organization use this step-by-step resource to help find programs tailored for your business.
Naloxone in the Workplace
Starting June 1st, 2023, employers must provide naloxone in the workplace if certain circumstances described in the Occupational Health and Safety Act apply. Learn more about how employers can determine if they need to provide naloxone in the workplace.
Mental Health & Wellness Support
Find information about programs that may be right for you based on your mental health, wellness, and addiction needs, and the type of support that you prefer.
