Business Toolkit

Explore interactive community profile dashboards to learn why the Township of Brock in the Region of Durham is an exceptional place to live, work, play and do business.

• Township of Brock Community Profile
• The Durham Advantage

Strategic Plans

• Growing North Durham: Rural Economic Development Action Plan (2023-2027)
• Growing Agri-Food Durham: A Five-Year Plan to Grow the Agri-Food Industry in Durham Region (2023-2027)
• Durham Tourism Strategic Action Plan (2024 – 2028)
• Connecting our Communities: A Broadband Strategy for Durham Region
• Ready Set Future: A PLACE Blueprint for Durham (2023 - 2027)

Data Reports

• 2024 Durham Region Profile – Demographic & Socio-Economic Data (Infographic Summary)
• 2024 Durham Region Profile – Demographic & Socio-Economic Data (Technical Report)
• 2023 Durham Region Business Count Highlights
• 2023 Downtown Brock Visitor Data

Sector Profiles

• Durham Region Agricultural Profile

Those looking to register a business in the Province of Ontario are encouraged to reach out to the Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD) as there are many variables to consider when choosing how to structure a business and how to get it registered with the appropriate levels of government.

BACD’s business advisors can be contacted by emailing bacd@durham.ca or by calling 905-668-4949.

Resources

• Registering your Business – Business Advisory Centre Durham
• Registering your business with the government – Government of Canada
• Register your business online – Government of Ontario

Visit Invest Durham for information on available properties or contact the Region of Durham’s Rural Economic Development Specialist to discuss your site selection needs.

Development and Planning

If the establishment or expansion of your business in the Township of Brock involves any new development or construction, applicants are encouraged to review the Township’s Planning and Development webpage and contact the Development Services Department prior to submitting any development applications.

Building Permits

To ensure that buildings do not harm the health or safety of our community, you must have a building permit before starting a building or renovation project in the Township of Brock. 

• Learn about Brock's building permit process.
• Apply for building permits online and see the status of your application anywhere, at any time using Cloudpermit.

Business Licences and Permits

Some types of businesses require a licence or permit to operate in the Township of Brock. Learn more by visiting the Business Licences and Permits webpage.

BizPal helps business owners understand what municipal, provincial and federal licenses and permits they may need to consider when starting, operating or expanding their business.

Health Inspections and Approvals

Certain types of businesses require on-site inspections from Durham Region public health inspectors. Learn about public health inspection programs  that may affect your business.

If you plan to operate any of the types of businesses listed here, please contact the Durham Region Health Department (DRHD) to learn more about any public health requirements pertaining to your business.

Discover municipal, regional, and education development charge rates for your type and size of project.

Note: Municipal, regional, and education development charges apply

• Township of Brock
• Region of Durham
• Education Development Charges – Durham District School Board 
• Education Development Charges – Durham Catholic District School Board 

Home-Based Businesses

By-Laws

Those currently operating or looking to start a home-based business within the Township of Brock should review the General Provisions section of the Zoning By-Law, specifically page 129 referring to Home Occupations and page 142 referring to Home Industries to ensure they are operating in accordance with these regulations.

Home-Based Food Premises

Operators are required to notify the Durham Region Health Department (DRHD) when opening a Home-based Food Premises (HBFP) within the Region. All food premises, including HBFPs, are subject to the requirements of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA), the Ontario Food Premises Regulation and inspections by a DRHD public health inspector.

The Durham Region Health Department’s Home-Based Food Premises Info Sheet can help operators determine if their HBFP is suitable for operation.

Business Directory

Count your home-based business in and grow your exposure by completing the Durham Region Business Count and opting-in to having your business listed on the Durham Region Business Directory. 

Agri-Business

Agricultural businesses bring vibrancy to our rural landscape and support our local economy. For resources related to starting or expanding your agricultural business, please review the following links and connect with agriculture@durham.ca.

• Farm Business Registration – Register your farm business with Agricorp

Durham Region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has the resources to help take your business to the next level.

• South Lake Community Futures Development Corporation: South Lake Futures is a non-profit corporation delivering the federal government's Community Future's Program within the Township of Brock. South Lake Futures provides business loans to eligible small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and social enterprises. They also provide business counseling, education services and assistance with starting a new business.
• Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD): Durham Region entrepreneurs can take advantage of BACD’s free business support programming as they start or grow their business. From online or in-person workshops, one-on-one sessions or specialized programming, BACD has helped launch more than 1,700 local businesses and counting.
• Spark Centre Innovation Hub & Business Incubator: Durham Region’s business incubator providing advisory services, office space and day-to-day operational support to early stage and rapidly growing innovation and technology companies.

• DNA Angels: Durham’s Neighbourhood Association (DNA) of Angel Investors is a group of investors whose focus is to enable high-potential entrepreneurs, with innovative, scalable ideas to receive the investment they need to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams in Durham Region.

• 1855 Whitby: Located in the former provincial Land Registry Office in Whitby, 1855 Whitby is Durham Region’s first and only technology accelerator whose mission is to position high potential tech companies for the global stage.

• Brilliant Catalyst at Ontario Tech University: Open to all Ontario Tech students, faculty, recent alumni and staff, Brilliant Catalyst offers a range of programs that help founders turn their innovative ideas into successful ventures.
• FastStart at Durham College: Open to all Durham College students, fast start is designed to help entrepreneurial students develop and launch their own business, while studying at DC.
• Starter Company Plus Program: The Starter Company Plus Program is designed to help early-stage business owners grow their business by providing them with knowledge, training, mentorship, and an opportunity to receive up to $5,000 in seed grant funding to help kick off or expand their business venture.

Post Secondary Talent

Durham Region is fortunate enough to be home to three world-class post-secondary institutions educating students in a wide variety of in-demand fields. Explore how your business can Tap into Talent.

• Ontario Tech University
• Durham College
• Trent University Durham GTA 

Diversity in the Workplace

Review the resources below for tips on how to effectively recruit, hire, onboard and integrate newcomers into your business. 

• Durham Region Employer Playbook
• Durham Immigration Portal - Hiring Immigrants

Community Employment Services

Connect with the local Employment Ontario office for help getting your job postings filled!

• North Durham Job Developer
• Durham College Community Employment Services - Beaverton Office

Public Transit Options for Employees

Durham Region Transit

On Demand transit can help employees commute to and from their place of work in the Township of Brock and throughout north Durham.

On Demand is a flexible service that provides customers public transit options in areas of Durham Region where demand does not support scheduled bus service. In the Township of Brock, customers will be picked up and dropped off at the end of the driveway of their point of origin and destination.

If travelling to a larger community such as Port Perry or Uxbridge, customers will be picked up and dropped off at designated bus stops within the town.

On Demand can also be used to transfer onto Durham Region Transit Route 905 in Port Perry or Uxbridge to continue into the urban area of Durham Region, or to connect to GO Train services at Whitby Station.

Learn more about the On Demand program by reviewing the following resources:

• Durham Region Transit – On Demand
• Durham Region Transit (DRT) – Planning Your Travel

Enhance your retail space’s appeal and functionality by reviewing Brock’s Retail Design Guidelines.

 Shopping locally has never been more important - or easier! Take part in region-wide shop local initiatives.  

• Shop Where You Live – Shop in Durham
• Downtowns of Durham
• Shop Local Food in Durham Region

Broadband

Led by Durham OneNet Inc., work is being done to build a Regional Broadband Network (RBN) consisting of 700 kilometres of fibre-optic backbone that will connect Durham Region’s rural communities to high-speed internet.

Similar to a highway network, this backbone will bring high-speed fibre-optic connectivity into our rural communities, providing “off-ramps” that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can leverage and build high-quality last mile networks delivering fast, reliable and affordable internet services.

See whether service is currently available at your business address through any of North Durham’s operating Internet Service Providers (ISP’s):

• Bell Canada
• Rogers
• Communicate Freely
• Vianet
• Xplore Business
• FiberSpeed

Learn more about the progress being made on the Regional Broadband Network!

Brock business owners are encouraged to review the following resources and funding opportunities as they relate to their business.

General

• Invest Durham – Incentives
• Invest Ontario – Incentive Programs and Services
• Ontario Business Grants
• Government of Canada – Business Benefit Finder

Digital Adoption

• Digital Main Street
• Canada Digital Adoption Program

Downtown Businesses

• Brock Community Improvement Plan Incentives

Tourism

• Central Counties Tourism Partnership Funds
• Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) – Funding & Grant Opportunities

Agriculture

• Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association – Cost-Share Programs
• Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership

Connect with local or regional business support organizations to be seen, heard and supported in the Township of Brock.

• Brock Board of Trade
• Invest Durham 
• South Lake Community Futures Development Corporation
• Durham Tourism
• Central Counties Tourism