Wingham Business Improvement Area

At the Annual General Meeting on Feb. 18, 2021 Ally Sieber-Peyton was elected to the Wingham BIA Board. Ally is a realtor with Re-Max in Wingham. At the March monthly Board meeting Ally stepped up to be the Retail Representative on the Board. We’ve created a subcommittee of 3 other retailers to assist Ally with promotions going forward. At this point the 3 retailers are Alicia Dietner of 2 Step Shoes, Bill George of Naturally Bongins and Christine McGrath of Christine’s Clothes Closet. These will be the only 4 people representing the Wingham BIA for promotional events.

The Board also passed a motion to draft a letter of support for moving the Museum from the original location across from the Town Hall to the former train station at the northern area of Josephine St. This letter is in principle at this time as there has not yet been a formal plan presented to Council.

Lastly the Board has been notified that as of April 1, meetings of North Huron committees will be allowed in person, with Covid protocols in place. As such, the BIA Board meetings will take place in the small Knights of Columbus Lounge the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. These meetings are open to the public, however seating is limited to 12 including the 7 Board members. Notice of meetings are listed in the Coming Events section of this website and an email is sent to the membership ahead of time. If you would like to attend a meeting email chair@winghambia.ca prior to the day of the meeting so we know expected attendance and won’t go over the allotted number.

In a Zoom meeting March 9 with several Huron County BIAs, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson reported that applications for the Small Business Support Grant can be submitted up to the end of March (provincial fiscal year end).
Information regarding the grant can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2b9k83ka.

This Provincial grant may provide up to $20,000 for eligible businesses impacted by the provincewide shutdown.  Minister Thompson reported that to date, during the pandemic,  approximately 89,500 businesses have received support totalling $1.28 billion dollars.

If you have questions about the grant after viewing the website you can contact Minister Thompson’s office or discuss with your business accountant.

With the Covid restrictions in place, the BIA AGM was forced online on Feb. 25. Chair Dave Tiffin called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. After reviewing protocols due to being online the Chair reviewed the minutes of the 2020 AGM. These minutes were approved as presented. The Chair then read a review of 2020 noting that Wingham’s assistance to businesses through hand sanitizer stands, plexiglass shields, floor dots and signage were duplicated by other BIAs in the area. Considering the restrictions, Wingham still saw business growth with several new businesses opening their doors.

Jason Schiestel, who is stepping down as Treasurer, presented the financial statements for 2020. There were no questions from those in attendance and the statements were passed. Chair Tiffin then presented goals of the BIA for 2021 with continued support for businesses dealing with Covid. A major project for 2021 is the expected installation of an LED sign at the south of end town to promote events. Funds for this were passed at the 2020 AGM, but Covid restrictions postponed the installation. The complete 2020 review and 2021 goals can be viewed at the links below.

Treasurer Doug Kuyvenhoven then presented the budget for 2021. There were no questions from attendees and the budget passed unanimously. Trevor Seip, Council Representative on the BIA Board provided a Council update. This year the Board was looking to add one new member. Ryan Fergusson nominated Ally Sieber-Peyton who allowed her name to stand and was unanimously elected pending Council approval.

The BIA awards were announced by Lisa Hearnden. This year Ideal Supply received the award for Civic Improvement with their new building on Josephine St. Jason Schiestel received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of service on the Board as Treasurer. Lisa Hearnden was named Volunteer of the Year for her unwavering dedication to BIA work including the Festival of Lanterns and this years “parade of the gnomes” along Josephine St. during the Christmas season. Lisa also sits on the Hospital Foundation Board. Recipients of the new business plaques went to Pizza Hut, Sacred Tree, BoHo Tide, Moments Spa, Naturally Bongins, Petro Canada gas bar, McDonalds and Esso. The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m.

The Wingham Business Improvement Area (BIA) will hold its 2021 Annual General Meeting on Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. virtually via Zoom. Invitations are being mailed out to property and business owners. This meeting is open to the public but only property and business owners are allowed to vote on motions presented. There is one vote per owner regardless of number of properties or businesses in the Wingham BIA.

The Agenda, 2020 financial statements and the 2021 draft budget are available to be viewed or downloaded here below. Email chair@winghambia.ca for a link to the meeting. Attendees will be asked to type their first initial, last name and business name into their Zoom connection.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) 2.0 
Effective immediately Community Futures Huron is accepting applications for a new round of RRRF interest-free business loans of up to $40,000!

The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) 2.0 is the second round of the funding program offered through FedDev Ontario and Community Futures Ontario to provide financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and who are unable to access the Government of Canada’s existing relief measures.

Apply now!

Digital Main Street is a provincial initiative that will help small businesses increase their online presence. Online shopping was on the rise before Covid-19, but is becoming more the norm for people concerned about contacting the virus. If your business doesn’t have a good online presence, it will suffer.

Digital Main Street offers online training and personal assistance from Huron County’s Digital Service Squad (DSS). The Squad member who will be assisting Wingham BIA members is Lianne Pollard. Lianne was also on board in 2019 during the first Digital Main Street program.

Businesses can receive assistance from DSS, but can only apply for the $2,500 grant that is available once they’ve completed the online training. Businesses in the areas outlined in red in the image below are eligible for the assistance, but but may be restricted on grant application unless they are in the main business core along Josephine Street. However, even taking the training and receiving some personal assistance is a win!!!

Refer to this link for more information. https://tinyurl.com/y54wmf5l

Even with the restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the business community of Wingham is thriving.  As is the case in every town in Canada, there have been extreme difficulties and casualties, but due to a tremendous amount of ingenuity, a re-working of businesses models and support from the community there has also been tremendous growth over the past several months.  Larger employers like Wescast, Royal Homes and Britespan are in full production mode and even looking to hire.

The south end of Wingham has seen quite a change in recent weeks with the opening of the McDonald’s restaurant, Petro Canada gas station and the Neighbours convenience store, as well as the  Esso gas station and Express Lane convenience.  There will soon be a carwash opening as well.    Along Josephine Street, Bilbo Bongins opened in the spring and just recently the Sacred Tree and Moments Spa have opened.  BoHo Tide, a ladies clothing store is scheduled to open mid-Sept.  Along with the new openings we’ve seen Lone Wolf antiques and Annette’s Treasures Galore – A Touch of Dutch and More move into a larger locations, as has Riegling Accounting who purchased the former BDO building.  The Dance Factory has moved from Veteran’s Road into a newly renovated space on Josephine Street.    Thaiville restaurant took advantage of the Community Improvement Program grant and updated the front of their restaurant. 

As for what’s yet to come, there’s work continuing at the Pizza Hut location, the former Anchor Pub is undergoing renovations and the Middletons store has been sold.  Construction of the new Ideal Supply location is also showing great progress. 

The summer promotion – Wingham, Back in Business – has been a big success with the final draw to take place mid-Sept for a grand prize of $2,500 in local gift certificates.  The promotion was organized by the Retail subcommittee of the Wingham BIA and had 52 businesses taking part.

Covid-19 has made it apparent that where there’s a will there’s a way and it’s great to see so much initiative in Wingham.

LET’S KEEP IT GOING!!

Aileen Brebner is the winner of the July 30 draw in Wingham’s Back in Business Promo. Congratulations, Aileen!! Aileen wins $250 worth of BIA Dollars that can be used at local businesses.

There will be another draw on Aug. 30 for $250 of BIA Dollars with the final draw taking place on Sept. 12 for over $2,500 worth of gift certificates. See previous post on this page for more details about the Back in Business summer promo.

Wingham’s Back In Business promo begins July 13. Participating businesses will have passports available, listing all the businesses in the promo. A purchase at any of these locations will earn the shopper a sticker. Once the passport is filled, simply drop it off at a business listed below to be entered in the draws. Prizes of $250 worth of BIA Dollars will be given on July 30 and August 20 with the grand prize of $2,550 in gift certificates being drawn on September 12. The Promo subcommittee of the Wingham BIA is ecstatic to say there are 52 Wingham businesses taking part in this event to show that Wingham is BACK IN BUSINESS!!