The Slice - Edition #5

 Year of Growth and Collaboration

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As 2025 draws to a close, we proudly reflect on this year’s key achievements:

• Launched the city’s Economic Development and Tourism microsite and newsletter
• Established the Economic Development Advisory Committee
• Rolled out the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) with a successful first intake period
• Expanded our social media presence

Our focus is on listening, understanding your needs, and connecting you with resources that matter. As we look ahead to 2026, we’ll continue partnering with you to build opportunities that strengthen our community and economy.

From the Economic Development and Tourism Team, we extend our warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and prosperous New Year!

Showcasing Clarence-Rockland

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We’re excited to share two new videos highlighting the local business community and the lifestyle that makes the City of Clarence-Rockland unique.

• Business in Clarence-Rockland: Discover the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our economy.
• Lifestyle in Clarence-Rockland: Experience the charm, culture, and community that makes Clarence-Rockland a great place to live, work, and explore.

Special thanks to Miv Photography for beautifully capturing the essence of our town through these videos!

What’s Coming in 2026

We’re entering 2026 with initiatives focused on business support and community growth.

Here’s a snapshot at what is ahead:

Business Retention & Expansion Survey: Launching early in the year to better understand and respond to the needs of local businesses.

Business Spotlights & Success Stories: Continuing to celebrate the entrepreneurs and innovators who make Clarence-Rockland thrive.

Community Improvement Plan (CIP) – 2026 Intake Period

Looking to enhance your property or invest in improvements? The CIP offers funding opportunities to help businesses grow.

The spring intake period runs from March 23 to April 24, 2026—start planning now!

Visit the Community Improvement Plan page for more details

City of Clarence-Rockland Updates

Make sure you’re registered to receive bidding opportunities! 

Local businesses are encouraged to sign up to stay informed about chances to work with the City of Clarence-Rockland.

👉 https://www.clarence-rockland.com/en/building-business/bidding-opportunities

Discover and share what brings our community together!

Festivals, sports activities, fundraisers – the City of Clarence-Rockland calendar keeps you informed and connected.

Hosting an event? Add it now to spread the word and attract more participants!

👉 https://www.clarence-rockland.com/fr/loisirs-et-divertissements/evenements

Grow with Confidence – Explore Funding

Looking to expand or innovate? These funding programs can help you unlock new opportunities and strengthen your business.

Regional Development Program — Supports businesses and organizations in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario with grants for job creation, innovation, and investment attraction.

Business GoTo: provides assistance to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and small businesses in Ontario in locating and applying for grants and other funding programs that align with their goals.

Tourism Relief Fund – Prescott-Russell — Provides up to $100,000 in non-repayable funding for tourism businesses to develop innovative visitor experiences.

Ontario Centres of Innovation (OCI) Programs — Grants for startups and tech-driven businesses to support product development, commercialization, and scaling.

Rural Ontario Development Program — Provides funding to small businesses, municipalities, and non-profits in rural areas to support economic growth, job creation, and infrastructure improvements.

Fuel Your Business Growth

Growth starts with knowledge and connections. Explore these resources and events to boost your skills and stay ahead.

Skills That Travel: resources that tourism business owners & operators may be able to use to make their workplace a great place to work.

Join RTO 9’s Destination Discovery Series on March 10 to connect with the people who can help grow your tourism business!

RTO 9’s Plan it like You Mean It Workshop: how ChatGPT can help you think through your next campaign

RTO 9’s Getting Started wih Google Business Profile: This webinar will teach participants how to effectively set up, manage, and optimize their Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) to boost local visibility and attract more customers.

Explore more resources here

What Topics Matter Most to You? Let us know!

We want to hear from you! What topics, resources, or stories would you like to see in the 2026 editions of The Slice?

Take a minute to share your ideas through our quick poll — your feedback helps us make this newsletter more valuable for you.

Share your thoughts!

Stay Connected and Grow with Us