Business Updates & Resources

New Grants help local businesses thrive

Central Saanich believes in fostering a robust and vibrant community, including a strong local economy that encourages and supports businesses of all varieties and sizes.

EV Charger Grant
Central Saanich's new Business Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Grant helps businesses install EV chargers for public use. Participants are encouraged to combine this grant with other rebates that may be available. Participating businesses may also choose to charge drivers for the time they spend hooked up to the charger.

To learn more about EV chargers, whether your site is suitable and how to seek pre-approval for grant eligibility, visit CSaanich.ca/EVchargergrant

Commercial Frontage Program
Are you a business owner that wants to beautify your storefront and help elevate our streetscapes? The Commercial Frontage Program provides grant funding to improve building frontages. Learn more and apply at CSaanich.ca/Frontage-Program

Business Bike Rack program
We are making it easy for you to ensure bike parking is an option for your customers and visitors.

The District has a limited stock of public bike racks available to eligible businesses and organizations at no cost. Not only that, but municipal staff will take care of installation if on public property! A business/organization also has the option to request a rack for installation in a suitable location on private property, as long as the rack is available publicly; in this case, installation and maintenance of the rack would be the responsibility of the property owner.

Contact us at climate@csaanich.ca or 250.652.4444 ext. 2224 to let us know you are interested.

Food Hub
Council received the Food Hub Feasibility study and gave direction for staff to continue to work on the project in 2023 to explore possible locations and models, which includes engaging other municipalities. The study is available at letstalkcentralsaanich.ca/food-hub-study.

Electric Vehicles
Save up to $8,000 on a new zero-emission vehicle with the Federal Government’s ZEV program. In addition, the Federal Budget 2019 proposed a 100-per-cent tax write-off for zero-emission vehicles business purchases, offering a deductible up to a limit of $55,000 plus sales tax for eligible vehicles.
Receive up to $3,000 in rebates on a new electric vehicle through British Columbia’s Point of Sale Incentive Program or increase impact by accessing fleet incentives.

E-bike rebates for businesses
Business owners in B.C. can get up to $1,700 when they buy a cargo e-bike. Cargo e-bikes can cut delivery costs and reduce truck traffic in our communities.
The rebate covers one-third the cost of a cargo e-bike. Apply for a cargo e-bike rebate now or learn more (Specialty-Use Vehicle Program)

More ways to do business in Central Saanich

eApply and eInspections
More online services are being made available making it easier to apply online for Plumbing Permits and Tree Removal applications. By summer, Building Permits and Planning applications. Building inspection requests coming soon, too! Check out CSaanich.ca/permits for our currently available online applications.

Development Tracker
Wondering what a proposed development will look like in your community? Curious about a Council meeting date for a specific development? Watch our website for upcoming changes to the Development Tracker at CSaanich.ca/rezoning

Other agency supports

Apply for a Buy BC Logo Licence
Do you produce or process local food or beverage products in B.C.? Are you looking for opportunities to increase your sales within the local market?

The Buy BC logo is a certification mark, a strong marketing tool and an effective way to communicate to consumers that your product is local.

It provides a trusted symbol for consumers to look for and identify B.C. products. There is no cost for B.C. producers and processors to add the Buy BC logo to packaging and marketing materials. Apply now: https://buybc.gov.bc.ca/

Council received the Food Hub Feasibility study and gave direction for staff to continue to work on the project in 2023 to explore possible locations and models, which includes engaging other municipalities. The study is available at letstalkcentralsaanich.ca/food-hub-study and in the Resource Library on our website.

The Ministry of Transportation Infrastructure has issued the tender for the Highway No. 17 Keating Cross Flyover with a closing date of February 28, 2023. The works include the construction of the highway flyover, detention ponds upstream of the Martindale Valley, hydro pole relocation, Central Saanich Keating Cross Road water, storm and road improvements and CRD water transmission main replacement. Construction is planned to start in May and June. The Ministry will present the Traffic Management Plan from the successful contractor in the spring prior to construction. For project updates, please see: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/other-transportation-projects/highway-17-keating-cross-overpass

B.C. farmers and ranchers can reduce their risks from extreme weather through a new pilot program that will help improve farms’ climate-change preparedness and resilience to wildfires, flooding and extreme heat.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen the extreme impacts of climate-related weather events on our farming communities, and we are taking action to support farmers and ranchers with climate-change adaptation tools and projects,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “Agriculture and being able to feed British Columbians is intricately tied to climate change, and by taking increased steps to focus on how we can best prepare for and mitigate future climate impacts, we will be able to better protect the livelihoods of our food producers while strengthening our food security and food economy.”

The Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture program will support as much as $1.5 million in projects this year to help farmers conduct risk assessments and make infrastructure upgrades on their farms.

“Agricultural producers in British Columbia know how important it is to act now, so we are better prepared for extreme weather and climate change,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “B.C. is recognized globally for the high-quality food we produce. By working together to reduce these risks, we’re building a more resilient agricultural sector to maintain and enhance that success. This program is an important part of our Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, which outlines actions across sectors to help people, communities, and businesses prepare for climate impacts in the future.”

Examples of projects eligible for funding include:

• FireSmart Critical Infrastructure assessments;
• farm building retrofits for wildfire preparedness;
• improved on-farm fuel storage and well protection for flood preparedness;
• reconfiguration of high-value feed storage for flood preparedness;
• farm building retrofits to improve cooling during extreme heat;
• enhanced watering and shade to mitigate crop and livestock heat stress; and
• infrastructure improvements to support tree and berry canopy cooling as well as shade and heat protection for harvested fruit, berry or vegetable crops.

“It goes without saying that we have experienced some extreme weather in the past, and we will continue to see it in the future,” said Kevin Boon, general manager, BC Cattlemen's Association. “The best opportunity we have is to be prepared. An investment in preparedness and sound planning on the landscape is crucial to be able to continue to produce high-quality, affordable food for British Columbia's consumers and steward the land responsibly while we do so.”

The program is open to farm and ranch businesses throughout B.C., with applications initially being accepted from July 25 to Aug. 15, 2022. It is anticipated that the program will continue in 2023 and 2024, with the potential for adjustments based on experiences in the pilot year. Funding for the 2022 pilot intake will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible agriculture businesses.

The program is part of B.C.'s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, the Province's plan to help people, communities and businesses work together to be better prepared for the impacts of climate change. The strategy includes a range of actions to build a stronger, more resilient future for everyone and is supported by more than $500 million in provincial investments.

Quick Facts:

• Eligible applicants can access as much as $35,000 each in cost-shared funding for the first intake of the Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture program.
• The Wildfire Preparedness Stream will be offered in partnership with B.C. Wildfire Services and FireSmart B.C.

Learn More:

To find out more about the Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture funding opportunities, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/extreme-weather-preparedness

Original release

Interested in improving the look and feel of your business’s exterior?

The Central Saanich Neighbourhood Commercial Frontage Program will provide grant funding to property and business owners to improve retail and commercial building frontage. A primary purpose of the program is to assist in the efforts of the District to align to neighbourhood design plan efforts and improve the frontage of commercial properties for the betterment of business viability and service to the public.

The program will provide up to $5,000 in grant funding to property and business owners to improve retail and commercial building frontage in commercial cores. The owner must match the contribution; applications will be assessed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The Neighbourhood Commercial Frontage Program is a special, short-term grant program that offers up to $5,000 to local businesses seeking to improve the appearance of a commercial or industrial property frontage in the District of Central Saanich.

Read the Neighbourhood Commercial Frontage Program Guidelines

The District’s Planning Department is responsible for receiving, reviewing, and awarding Commercial Frontage Program grant applications. Contact Planning at:

1903 Mount Newton Cross Road, Saanichton, BC V8M 2A9
Tel: 250.544.4209
Email: planning@csaanich.ca

Program Applications will be evaluated on their ability to meet the Program purpose and design guidelines. Applications will be processed on a first come first serve basis beginning March 15, 2022. Application deadline is June 30, 2022. Development, Building, Sign or any other associated District permits are required where applicable.

Submit the following form with appropriate permit applications (i.e. development permit, sign permit, building permit, etc. and digital photos of the building exterior from the street).

All projects must be completed by December 31, 2022 to be eligible.

Starting a business can seem like a very overwhelming challenge. As the pandemic has gone through its phases, many of us have as well. Reflecting on career, and what may have challenged us in our work and personal lives. The thought of starting up a business could address a new way of making a living and might now be a serious thought you might be having.

Should you do it? What do you need to get it going? There are resources to assist in that thinking process. Small Business BC is a good place to start. https://smallbusinessbc.ca/starting-a-business/ They have tools and advice to assist you in that decision to get started. The more you can preplan and construct a strategy, the more prepared you will be to track your success and be able to mitigate challenges that may arise.

The place of business your startup will operate in has some considerations to keep in mind. Depending on your type of business and what you will be doing you will want to make sure you are complying with municipal bylaws and provincial and federal guidelines and laws. All of these may vary depending on the type of business, location and how your business will be operating.

For municipal information, start here https://www.centralsaanich.ca/home-property-development/land-use-current-planning

For provincial information, start here https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/managing-a-business/starting-a-business

For federal information, start here https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/start.html

The more you know up front in your planning, the more you can focus on building your business instead of stressing about something you did not comply with or prepare for.

During Central Saanich's Economic Recovery Roundtable and Survey with local businesses, staff and Council heard that while many businesses are managing, many are also very concerned about the impact the pandemic is having. The District also heard about the impacts of the decline in tourism and worries about how a second wave could impact restaurants and those with storefronts.

Without a Central Saanich business association, the District is pleased to be able to launch a Shop Central Saanich campaign to build awareness of the businesses in the municipality. Over the coming weeks, a new Central Saanich Business Directory will grow, the presence of the Shop Central Saanich message will be felt in the community, and businesses' stories will be shared with the community to demonstrate the unique ways local businesses are integrated with our community's vibrancy.