Welcome to the Innisfil Economic Development newsletter!
This month, we're excited to share the latest updates on economic growth and upcoming events in our community. From innovative startups to thriving local businesses, there’s always something to celebrate in Innisfil. The Town of Innisfil’s Economic Development team is here to support you—reach out anytime at business@innisfil.ca for general inquiries or business assistance.
Legal Foundations for Startups & Small Businesses Workshop
Running a business comes with big decisions—and legal questions are often part of the journey. Join us for Legal Foundations for Startups & Small Businesses, a practical workshop for founders and business owners looking to better understand key legal considerations as they launch, operate, and grow.
Topics will include:
- Corporate maintenance
- Intellectual property
- Employment considerations
- Contracts
- Practical legal takeaways for small businesses
Expert speaker, Tanya Darisi, Lawyer & CEO of Openly, will lead this workshop on Wednesday, September 16 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the DMZ Innisfil office.
Registration is required. Tickets are free and open to all residents of Simcoe County, Barrie, and Orillia.
Resources in Response to U.S. Tariff Concerns
The Town of Innisfil recognizes that recent tariff announcements may be creating uncertainty and challenges for some businesses. We remain committed to supporting our business community by sharing timely information and connecting businesses with available resources.
The County of Simcoe Economic Development Office has developed a dedicated tariff resources webpage, where businesses can access a range of supports, information and webinars hosted by various levels of government and industry partners. The webpage also offers a tariff impact assessment survey created in collaboration with the Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus.
The Town continues to work with regional partners and various levels of government to help businesses navigate changing trade conditions. For instance, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is actively advocating on tariff-related issues affecting municipalities and local economies. Mayor Dollin, Council, and Economic Development staff will continue to share feedback from Innisfil businesses through all available channels whenever possible to help ensure local concerns are represented.
On August 25, 2026, the Government of Canada announced a $7.5 billion support package for workers and businesses affected by tariff-related disruptions. Supports include financing, workforce assistance, and targeted programs for exporters and small and medium-sized enterprises. Please also see the Funding Opportunities section of this newsletter below for information on additional funding resources.
Tourism Simcoe County Partner Meeting
Innisfil is excited to host Tourism Simcoe County’s annual partner meeting this year. This meeting is an opportunity to gather regional tourism stakeholders together for a morning of networking, informational presentations, and updates from the Tourism Simcoe County team. We encourage all local tourism businesses and operators to join us and the Tourism Simcoe County team on the morning of Thursday, October 1, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Lake Club Restaurant at Friday Harbour Resort.
Presentations include:
- 2026 Highlights & 2027 Work Plan presented by Tourism Simcoe County
- Tourism Industry Updates from Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RT07), Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Gaming, and the Town of Innisfil Economic Development team
- Simcoe County Film Industry presentation from Tom Strnad, South Georgian Bay Media Association
- Destination Ontario presentation from Justin Lafontaine, Partnership Lead
Register for this partnership meeting
2026 Newcomer Recognition Awards
Nominations for the 2026 Newcomer Recognition Awards are being accepted until September 18, 2026. The Newcomer Recognition Awards celebrate the contributions of immigrants living in Simcoe County and the organizations and businesses supporting enhanced opportunities for a growing and changing demography. To access the online nomination form and to learn more about the different award categories, please visit the Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership website.
Week of Welcome
The 2026 Week of Welcome will take place September 14-18, 2026. Week of Welcome (WOW) activities focus on economic, social, cultural and political integration of newcomers in Simcoe County. For more details, please see the Local Immigration Partnership’s (LIP) WOW webpage. As part of this year’s WOW, a variety of events and activities have been planned, including an employer training session on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (I.D.E.A) for Effective Onboarding and Retention on September 15, as well as a hiring event on September 16.
Funding Opportunities
Below are some funding opportunities that may be of interest. To learn more about available funding opportunities, please also visit the County of Simcoe EDO Funding Page.
Rural Ontario Development Program – Intake 3
The third intake for the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program is now open and accepting applications. The ROD - Business Development stream provides cost-share funding to support projects that help create strong rural businesses, address barriers to economic development, build capacity to attract, retain and expand businesses, support investment attraction and retention, and help retain jobs. Eligible businesses may receive 35% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum of $10,000. Applications are assessed based on program guidelines, and funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants and projects.
The current application period closes at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 1, 2026, and projects must be completed by September 30, 2027. To learn more, review the ROD Program Business Development Guidelines or contact the Innisfil Economic Development team at 705-436-3710 or business@innisfil.ca.
Regional Development Program: Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream
Application period 8 for the Regional Development Program: Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream opened at the end of June and will close on November 5, 2026. The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream will provide financial support to advanced manufacturing companies with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises across Ontario. More information about this funding stream and the types of support it can provide can be accessed through their webpage.
Industrial AI Readiness Program
NGen administers funding as the leader of Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing. In partnership with NRC-IRAP, the program will provide eligible Canadian manufacturers with a reimbursement of up to $15,000 to adopt AI to improve the productivity, health and safety, and environmental performance of their production systems.
To learn more about the Industrial AI Readiness Program, including eligibility criteria, please see the NGen website.