Our Resources

The Prescott and Russell Entrepreneurship Centre is committed to supporting businesses in the economic recovery. Ontario is working on economic recovery, which includes reopening businesses. We encourage you to check out the latest information on reopening businesses.

Practical Advice

What should you do now?

1. Don't panic, this is a temporary situation;
2. Prioritize security and communication for yourself, your employees and your customers; and
3. Reassess your Cash Flow and determines your financial needs.

After determining your financial needs

1. Contact your financial institution and vendors to make temporary arrangements;
2. Find out what support programs are available; and
3. If you feel the need, don't hesitate to get help.

After reorganizing your finances

1. Monitor and evaluate daily how things are going and adjust your plan as needed; and
2. Make sure your business is well prepared to resume operations quickly once the situation is resolved.

Check out Canada's Economic Action Plan for Responding to COVID-19 to see what programs are available to help you!

In the meantime, what can you do?

1.  Check with your banking institution to see if you can defer your mortgage payments and interest free of charge for a period of six months. Some institutions may require that interest only payments be made.
2. Have your financial statements from previous years available.
3. Are you eligible for employer unemployment benefits? Apply for them!

Business support programs open and close at any time. Contact us to find out what is available to you.

Guide to Reopening

The purpose of this document is to guide businesses in reopening by following health and safety measures. Please continue to follow the guidelines of the Province of Ontario and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit.

Reopening Ontario: what’s in each stage

Learn about what can reopen in each stage and where, according to the government’s regional approach to stage 2.

Find personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers

Review a list of companies that sell personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies to keep your employees and customers safe from COVID-19. Before your business reopens, review sector-specific guidelines to identify personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies to keep your employees and customers safe. Supplies are in high demand and the needs of frontline health care workers and first responders will continue to be prioritized.

Sector specific information

Restaurants and food services

• Restaurant and food services health and safety during COVID-19
• Restaurant and Food Service: Guidance for Health and Safety

Construction

• Construction site health and safety during COVID-19

Retail

• Retail: Guidance for Health and Safety

Arts, culture, festivals and events

• Prescott and Russell Arts Council

Manufacturing

• Manufacturing health and safety during COVID-19

Office

• COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidance for Office Sector

Healthcare providers and personal services

• Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Physician and Primary Care Provider Employers
• COVID-19: Precautions When Working As A Personal Support Worker, Home and Care Provider
• COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart

Agriculture

• Agriculture health and safety during COVID-19
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada supports the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector through initiatives that promote innovation and competitiveness.

For any other sector or information, visit the COVID-19 and workplace health and safety page.here.

Communications Tools

Protection kit

Find sector-specific guidelines and posters to help protect workers, customers and the general public from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ontario. In addition, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services offers recommendations for different types of industries.

The Ontario government has launched a new web page outlining resources available to Ontario businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Small business recovery resources.

Information Posters

• About coronavirus disease COVID-19
• Help reduce the spread of COVID-19
• Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19
• Wash your hands
• Hand Disinfection Method for Hand Sanitizers
• How to Safely Put On and Remove a Face Covering or Mask
• Practice Physical Distancing
• Sample COVID-19 Screening Form for Employers
• Visitors Notice
• Workplace Recovery Toolkit

For all other information posters.

HELP AVAILABLE

• The Workplace PPE Supplier Directory provides businesses with information on personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers.
• The $50-million Ontario Together Fund is helping businesses retool their operations to produce PPE and develop technology-driven solutions and services for businesses to reopen safely.
• Ontario’s new COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act is laying the foundation to restart jobs and development, strengthen communities, and create opportunity for people in every region of the province.
• The Rebuilding Main Street.
• Small Business Recovery webpage for up-to-date information, programs and resources.
• Small business can go digital with the help of Digital Main Street.
• Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.
• Help boost local businesses and manufacturers.
• How you can help stop the spread of COVID-19.
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659 toll-free to respond to businesses in the province that have questions about how to reopen their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Hotline service for entrepreneurs and small business owners - including not-for-profit organizations and charities. Call 1-866-989-1080 to speak with an accountant or business advisor.
• (COVID-19): Awareness resources
• Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
• BDC - COVID-19: Business planning tools for entrepreneurs
• Ontario Chamber of Commerce
• Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce
• Clarence Rockland Chamber of Commerce
• Prescott-Russell Chamber of Commerce

Studies related to the impact of Covid-19 on the region's economy

Two studies were conducted by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell’s Economic Development and Tourism in collaboration with the Economic Development Departments of the municipalities of Clarence-Rockland, Alfred and Plantagenet, Champlain, Hawkesbury, East Hawkesbury, The Nation, Casselman and Russell. These studies targeted entrepreneurs in the Prescott and Russell area and had the goal of assessing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on local businesses, determining the support required by employers in the area, establishing the main sources of information consulted by businesses and offering immediate support to the most affected businesses.

• Impacts of COVID-19 on Prescott and Russell Businesses
• Evolution of COVID-19 Impacts on Prescott and Russell Businesses

Prescott and Russell Response and Economic Recovery Plan COVID-19

In response to COVID-19, Prescott and Russell's economic development organizations quickly activated their emergency mechanisms to provide the business community with immediate support. The Recovery Plan implements initiatives to address the immediate effects of COVID-19. This document is intended to be a resource for the community to use in coordinating regional economic recovery efforts.