Business Assistance
The Economic Development team is here to help. Please contact us with any questions by email at ecdev@king.ca, by phone at 905-833-4016, or using the form below!
Guide to Starting or Expanding Your Business in King
We value your time and money. The purpose of this guide is to equip you with King Township specific information about starting or expanding your business in King. You will learn about the unique characteristics of King, zoning and permitted use, and some of the programs and financial incentives that will help get your business off to a smart start.
Guide to starting or expanding your business
Some additional things to consider when starting a business include choosing your business name, and registering with the government to get a business number and tax account. Visit the Government of Canada's Starting a Business page for more information.
You might also want to learn about more information for entrepreneurs who want to start and run a business in Ontario. Learn how to register your business, apply for funding and tax credits, and get free, personalized help to start your business by visiting the Ontario Government's Business, Workplace, and Economy page.
The York Small Business Enterprise Centre offers support to small businesses in King with training, business plan development, mentoring (through participation in various programs) and advisory services.
You can participate in free one-on-one consultations with knowledgeable business consultants, or join group sessions with other entrepreneurs or small businesses. You can also take part in several programs such as starter or summer company, grant opportunities, and access to market research using Environics Analytics to get insights into your target customers.
The ventureLAB organization aims to inspire the next generation of global founders who choose Canada to scale tech titans creating innovative hardware and scale-ready enterprise software solutions that transform communities and establish a blueprint for a more sustainable, inclusive tech ecosystem.
They offer a number of initiatives focused on helping your business raise capital, retain talent, commercialize your technology and IP, and acquire customers. Some of the assistance includes access to prototype and lab testing, innovation space, workshops, dedicated advisory and partnerships.
The King Chamber of Commerce works to support King's businesses with networking opportunities and advocacy for businesses of all sizes in King. Their membership provides additional benefits such as promotional opportunities, free workshops and seminars, member to member discounts and a listing in their members business directory. By being a member you can also be considered for annual excellence in business awards! For more information, visit the King Chamber of Commerce website.
Community Improvement Plan Grant Program
King Township's Community Improvement Plan (CIP) targets specific areas within the Township and assists eligible businesses to receive grant funding for various initiatives such as new signage and accessibility features! King now offers two different streams of the program for the villages of King City, Nobleton, and Schomberg, and the rural stream that covers several sections of rural King. Visit king.ca/CIP to learn more about the program and see if your property qualifies for a grant!
Financial Assistance and Incentive Programs
Use the Government of Canada's Business Benefit Finder to search for the best grants for your business.
The Government of Ontario provides several programs to businesses in the province.
View Available Funding OpportunitiesCentral Counties Tourism (CCT) is one of Ontario's 13 Regional Tourism Operators, and serves the regions of York, Durham, and Headwaters.
Each year, CCT offers partnership funding that provides a 40% rebate on eligible projects to help support tourism to our region. The program provides grant money that covers 40 cents of every one dollar spent, meaning that your organization would only be spending 60 cents of every one dollar.
Learn about the partnership funding program
The Governments of Canada and Ontario have partnered to offer grants to help businesses in Ontario enhance their online presence.
There are currently four programs being offered including:
1. Digital Main Street shopHERE - a program that provides independent businesses and artists with a quick, easy and no-cost way to get started selling online right away.
2. Digital Main Street Ontario Grants - providing brick-and-mortar small businesses with $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants.
3. Digital Main Street R.A.I.S.E - a program focused on assisting Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs to start and scale their businesses. The program will provide coaching, mentorship, advisory services and grants to entrepreneurs looking to increase their capacity and scale their business.
4. Canada Digital Adoption Program - the Government of Canada has partnered with Digital Main Street and their ShopHERE powered by Google program to deliver the Grow Your Business Online grant to small businesses across the country. Eligible businesses will receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to adopting e-commerce and supported by a network of e-commerce advisors.
York Region offers a variety of financial incentives for businesses participating in water protection and efficiency programs. The programs are offered to owners and managers of businesses, institutional facilities, farms and multi-unit residences in York Region.
Talent Recruitment
The Workforce Planning Board of York Region is a non-for-profit, community-based organization working to develop solutions to local labour market needs and issues. The non-for-profit organization aims to connect talent with employers and provide substantial training opportunities, career planning, labour market information, and other resources.
York Link is the name for York Region's Economic Development Strategy team that provides substantial assistance to businesses here in King.
In partnership with the Region’s local cities and towns, the York Link | York Region Economic Strategy team provides complementary and confidential strategic “one-stop shop” support services for entrepreneurs, established local businesses, as well as, Canadian and international companies looking to setup operations in Toronto Area’s York Region. Being part of the GTA, York Link highlights the strength of the talent pool in York Region, and how you can connect with the best suited talent for your business.
Marketing and Promotion Resources
ExperienceKING is the Township's tourism brand, promoting the best events, locations, and culinary treasures that King has to offer.
If you have an event or business that attracts tourists to King (people visiting from 40km away or further) you may be eligible for free promotion on ExperienceKING's website and social media. Contact the Economic Development team at ecdev@king.ca to share your event or business with us to be considered.
Central Counties Tourism (CCT) is the regional tourism operator for the regions of York, Durham, and Headwaters. Central Counties provides services for the business to business side, and Visit York Durham Headwaters (Visit YDH) is the public brand that promotes tourism destinations.
You can add events to the calendar, and have Visit YDH share your events or location on social media!
Central Counties Tourism Website
Experience York Region is the regional marketing and promotion resource for all activities and locations throughout York Region. The brand is run by York Region Arts Council in partnership with Regional Municipality of York, Economic Strategy Branch.
You can add events to the calendar, and have Experience York Region share your events or location on social media!
Economic Development Strategic Documents
The 2021 Community Tourism Plan starts at the foundation and works its way up. The focus begins with assisting tourism-related businesses and stakeholders achieve success for themselves through education and leadership. It then layers in support for businesses to work together to build and deliver new products and experiences.
The development of the Plan began in early 2020 before the COVID-19 Pandemic began and had to be put on hold while King Economic Development pivoted to support our businesses through new and innovative ways.
Despite the incredible challenges of the Pandemic, a silver lining has emerged through many of these new tourism opportunities and partnerships that were developed, truly showing the resiliency of our tourism stakeholders. King’s Economic Development team looks to support and foster the tourism sector and these new opportunities through the implementation of the Goals and Action Items of the 2021 King Township Community Tourism Plan.
The Township's Economic Development Strategy was intended to identify strategic directions that build off existing strengths, as well as identify new and emerging opportunities on which to base the future prosperity of our community.
The strategy identifies key challenges, gaps and barriers, assess the local asset base, assesses infrastructure requirements and identifies education and training enhancements as they relate to the achievement of successful economic development.
COW Report ED-2018-06: Economic Development Strategy Update (2018-2022)
King Township has developed a strategy to ensure the vitality of the commercial core of Schomberg's Main Street.
Schomberg Main Street is the heart of a vibrant village that takes pride in its agricultural heritage. A walkable, picturesque destination for residents and tourist alike, Main Street has maintained its historic quality, while offering a mix of local services, unique shops, restaurants and beautifully preserved homes.