Wingham Business Improvement Area

Community Improvement Plan:
Applications for the CIP initiative are open until Feb. 28/19.  This opportunity covers  the core business areas of Blyth and Wingham.  More information about the CIP can be found at http://www.northhuron.ca/atk/uploads/Ec_Dev/North_Huron_Community_Improvement_Plan_Nov_2018_Final.pdf and the application can be found at http://www.northhuron.ca/atk/uploads/Administration/2019_NH_CIP_Application_Form_Final.pdf You can contact Dwayne Evans, CAO/Clerk, Township of North Huron at 519-357-3550 or by email at devans@northhuron.ca.

In It To Win It:
The In It To Win It contest for Wingham entry deadline has been extended to March 5/19.  You still have time to make an application and can access information at http://www.northhuron.ca/business_new.php?area=B_CINIT .  Even if you aren’t the grand prize winner, you can still benefit from the training available, and it may convince you to take the plunge on your own into business ownership.

Libro Prosperity Initiative:
The Libro Prosperity Fund supports projects between $5,000 and $100,000.  Applicatins are open from Feb. 4 to Mar. 14, 2019 and must be submitted online. For full details and access to an application, go to https://www.libro.ca/community/prosperity-fund/prosperity-fund-program.

The Wingham BIA Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 21 at 7:00 PM at the Knights Lounge in the Wescast Community Centre.

Please plan to attend this important meeting where we will be:

• reviewing 2018 financial statements
• discussion goals for 2019
• approving the 2019 budget
• electing directors
• welcoming new businesses an new business owners
• presenting BIA awards

Click the links below to download the AGM meeting agenda and financial statements.

Unleash your Inner Entrepreneur and Win!
Realize your Dream through Wingham’s In It To Win It contest.
If you’ve always dreamed of owning a business on main street Wingham, now is your chance to make it a reality. The “In it to Win It” Contest is opening submissions December 12th, to give one lucky winner a $10,0000 Prize Package. To begin, all you need is a great idea for a new or expanding business to be located in downtown Wingham. Fill out an entry form and submit it by January 25, 2019 to enter yourself into the contest. Participants will gain knowledge through a series of at least five business education workshops – financial management, human resource management, marketing, retail, and business plan development. And to add increased
opportunity for success, each participant is invited to add a plus one for mentoring and workshop sessions.
Qualify for Round Two: Selected finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges in late March. These participants will receive training for a ten-minute pitch session. At the grand finale on April 25, 2019, finalists will pitch their business to a panel of judges who may ask questions of the participants before awarding a winner. This will be a public event where someone will win!
IN IT TO WIN IT is made possible through the generous contributions of the Libro Prosperity Fund, Wingham BIA, North Huron Economic Development Committee, Huron County Economic Development and Community Futures Huron.
For more information on how to enter the contest visit www.northhuron.ca or pick up an application at the Township of North Huron office at the Town Hall, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham.

The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) initiative for Wingham, Belgrave and Blyth main streets remains open for applications in 2022!

There is $40,000 in matching grants available to commercial building owners and retailers along the business cores for building, signage and other storefront improvements. Successful applicants can receive 50% assistance on a project to a maximum of $10,000.

Through North Huron’s Community Improvement Plan, two grant programs are offered annually – the Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program and the Direct Grant for Structural Work Program.

Full information on the CIP can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2sxb26sz

The Wingham BIA partnered with the Lions Club to repaint the Lions Club Picnic Shelter that is located along the Wingham Community Trail near the corner of Patrick Street West and William Street.
The Lions Club provided the paint and the Wingham BIA organized the volunteers.
The work was completed by the volunteers in just 6 hours which goes to show that many hands make for light work!
The BIA has other painting events planned for Wingham. If you or someone you know are willing to help out, please send an email to the Wingham BIA.

The following is a press release from Jan Mckague-Weishar, Recruitment Officer, Wingham & Area Health Professionals Recruitment team.

Press Release

May 24, 2018
The Wingham & Area Health Professionals Recruitment Committee, the North Huron Family Health Team and the Wingham & District Hospital are delighted to announce Dr. Justin Puntillo and Dr. Sean Henderson will be practicing Family Medicine at the Lucknow Medical Clinic and Wingham & District Hospital. Drs. Puntillo and Henderson will be seeing patients currently receiving care at Lucknow Medical Clinic, as well as seeing inpatients and covering the Emergency Department at the Wingham & District Hospital in July 2018.
Drs. Puntillo and Henderson are graduates of Queens University Medical School. Dr. Puntillo is finishing his residency training at the University of Toronto and has most recently been training in Stayner and Collingwood. Dr. Henderson will be moving to Wingham from Nova Scotia where he is completing his residency at Dalhousie University, Cape Breton site. Patients of the Lucknow Medical Clinic and Wingham & District Hospital will benefit greatly with the addition of these enthusiastic new physicians to our medical staff.
We are thrilled to welcome both of these families to our communities; Dr. Justin Puntillo and his partner Nicole Bryant are looking forward to making their home in Wingham. Dr. Sean Henderson, his wife Mandy, along with their four young children Emily 7, Sidney 5, Jack 3 and William 1 are also excited for their move back to Ontario and setting roots in Wingham. Drs. Puntillo and Henderson are both avid Blue Jays fans.
The municipalities supporting recruitment; North Huron, Morris-Turnberry, Huron-Kinloss, Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh and South Bruce along with the Wingham & District Hospital Foundation, Board members and staff of the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance and North Huron Family Health Team, are credited with unwavering support to bring these physicians to our communities.

Jan McKague-Weishar
Recruitment Officer
Wingham & Area Health Professionals Recruitment
jan.mckague@lwha.ca

Main Street Cleanup Completed!

Thank you to our energetic early morning riser volunteers, Chris Parks, Rebecca Rathwell, Terry Walker, and Doug Kuyvenhoven, who cleaned up the main street on Friday morning!
Five (5) bags of garbage were collected. The dirt was swept away where the sidewalks meet the buildings, and all the doorway alcoves, along both sides of the main street from Patrick Street to Victoria Street. Chris Parks used a leaf blower to blow the dirt into the gutters.
The cleanup operation took 1-1/2 hours, followed by well deserved coffee and donuts at Tim Hortons.
Let’s work together as citizens and business owners to keep our main street in tip top clean condition. If you see cups or cans on the sidewalk or in the gutter, please pick them up and put them in the garbage. Together we will make a difference.

The Wingham BIA’s Annual General Meeting was held Feb. 22 at the Knights of Columbus Lounge. A good attendance was brought up to date on 2017 activities and planned objectives for 2018. The financial statements and 2018 budget were passed. Highlight of the evening was the annual BIA Awards. Three new businesses within the past year were noted: Gemstone Essence, Polished and Treasure Hut. Business of the Year is Christine’s Clothes Closet, Volunteer of the Year (as it relates to the BIA) is Chris Parks. Civic Improvement awards were presented to McDonagh Insurance, Earth Angel and Jewlz Designs. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Lorne and Margaret Humpfrey, former owners of Bell’s Pizza & More. They owned the business for 40 years and over that time had approximately 160 students as employees. Congratulations!!!