Stratford Perth Tariff Response Task Force (TRTF)
Purpose of the Stratford Perth Tariff Response Task Force
Incorporating immediate and long-term actions to support local industry, small business and the workforce across all sectors
Coordinated by investStratford, the Stratford Perth Tariff Response Task Force will focus regionally and include Perth County and Town of St. Marys
Membership Composition: Members of the Task Force will be comprised of organizations with a primary mandate on economic development and are business-facing.
SEEDCo. is a non-profit of the City of Stratford. The task force, considered a priority project, will eventually report to the SEEDCo. Board of Directors. The City of Stratford will be represented on the task force.
Task Force Structure
The task force will be divided into three sub-committees based on sector. Within each sector priorities will be set for short-term, responsive activities and long-term recovery projects around the following pillars:
To support business
To support employees
To support community
LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
CITY OF STRATFORD
Stratford Community Resources PDF
PERTH COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
TOWN OF ST. MARYS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STRATFORD PERTH CENTRE FOR BUSINESS
DOWNTOWN STRATFORD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA (BIA)
STRATFORD AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Community Supports
- Save with SPL: Free access to library collections (books, movies, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, music), for all ages.
- Streaming video service through Kanopy.
- Seed library to grow your garden.
- Park and community amenity passes.
- Technology, tools, games, puzzles available to be borrowed.
- 99% of the collection is fine free.
- Newspapers from across the region (in print and digital).
UNITED WAY PERTH HURON
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND OTHER RESOURCES:
BUSINESS BENEFITS FINDER: Federal programs and incentives are available to businesses.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF CANADA (BDC): Browse through their resources to support businesses in the face of trade uncertainty.
CANADA BUSINESS APP: Access thousands of government programs and services—federal, provincial, and municipal—through the mobile app designed for Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs.
CANADA TARIFF FINDER: Find tariff rates and trade agreements relevant to your business.
CANADIAN TRADE COMMISSIONER SERVICE: Guidance for businesses navigating trade policies.
WORK-SHARING PROGRAM: The Work-Sharing Program helps employers and employees avoid layoffs and helps provide income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week while their employer recovers.
EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CANADA (EDC): Financing and risk management for exporters.
ONTARIO MADE: Ontario Made brings together manufacturers and makers, retailers, and consumers to celebrate and promote the many world-class products that are made right here.
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT: Matthew Rae, MPP Perth-Wellington
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: John Nater, MP Perth-Wellington
UNITED WAY PERTH-HURON 211: Perth-Huron’s most comprehensive and reliable source of information on government and community-based health and social services, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Stratford Perth Tariff Response Task Force Committee includes: Joani Gerber, CEO, investStratford; Kate Dekok, Board chair, investStratford; Mike Pullen, Managing Director, investStratford; Elke Bidner, Marketing and Communications Lead; Janis Auster, Operations and Administration Lead; Mayor Martin Ritsma, City of Stratford; Dan Mathieson, Citizen; Jamie Pritchard, Stratford City Centre BIA Board Chair; Zac Gribble, HRT Group Chair & Executive Director, Stratford Tourism Alliance; United Way-Perth Huron; Stratford Public Library; Stratford City Centre BIA.
Committees, Chair Organizations & Working Groups
Special Advisors
From time-to-time and in an Advisory role, community leaders will be engaged to lead and advise on specific projects.