Helping Vaughan Businesses Navigate Changing Trade Conditions

Access resources, advice and opportunities to build resilience and explore new markets

Ongoing U.S. tariffs and trade uncertainty continue to affect businesses across Canada, including those in Vaughan.

The City of Vaughan is supporting local businesses with resources, advisory services, programs and events designed to help them respond to changing trade conditions, diversify into new markets and identify new opportunities.

To help businesses navigate evolving trade measures, the City's Economic Development department maintains a tariff resource hub at vaughanbusiness.ca/tariffs featuring tools, information and available supports. 

Businesses can also take advantage of several upcoming opportunities to build resilience and explore new markets:

• Trade Resilience: Protect, Pivot, Position Workshop –Wednesday, Oct. 14: The Vaughan Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (VBEC) is hosting a free virtual seminar offering practical strategies to help businesses respond to changing trade conditions and strengthen their resilience.

• Small Business Week –Monday, Oct. 19 to Friday, Oct. 23: VBEC is delivering free programming to help entrepreneurs and small business owners respond to tariff pressures, trade uncertainty and other emerging challenges while building resilience, improving productivity and identifying new opportunities for growth.

• Defence Sector Awareness and Supply Chain Workshop – Thursday, Nov. 5: Explore opportunities to diversify into Canada’s growing defence supply chain at this free half-day workshop. Learn about procurement pathways and supplier requirements, hear from major defence contractors and established suppliers and connect with potential buyers and partners.

• Starter Company Plus: Market Diversification Stream – coming soon: Additional programming is being planned to support eligible small businesses looking to explore new interprovincial and international markets and growth opportunities and access up to $5,000 in provincial grant funding. Stay tuned for details.

Businesses are encouraged to check Vaughan Economic Development's events page regularly for upcoming workshops, seminars and networking opportunities.

VBEC

VBEC provides information, referrals, advisory services, mentoring, workshops, networking opportunities and business resources to support entrepreneurs and small businesses at all stages of development. 

Ontario Small Business Advisory Centre programs and services are delivered by VBEC and funded in partnership with the Government of Ontario.

To learn more about starting or growing your business, visit vaughanbusiness.ca.

Connect with Vaughan Economic Development

Navigating changing trade conditions? Exploring new markets or planning for future growth? Vaughan Economic Development is available to help.

Connect with the team to discuss your business needs and explore available resources and opportunities at vaughanbusiness.ca/connect or ed@vaughan.ca.

Stay connected

Vaughan Economic Development continues to monitor tariff developments and update its resources as new supports become available.

Visit the tariff resource hub, explore upcoming business events, sign up for the Economic Development department’s eNewsletters at vaughanbusiness.ca/enewsletters and follow Vaughan Economic Development on LinkedIn.

For City updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.