New program will help local businesses go digital in response to COVID-19

Recovery Activation Program expands to City and County of Peterborough

PETERBOROUGH, July 20, 2020 – COVID-19 has changed everything, requiring telecommuting, on-demand delivery and services, supply chain resiliency and virtual collaborations. Even as the province begins to reopen, the pandemic has heightened the urgency for businesses to digitize to survive.

To address this change, Toronto Region Board of Trade and World Trade Centre Toronto created the Recovery Activation Program, or RAP. RAP offers businesses the know-how, blueprint and partners to address the conditions that COVID-19 has created by implementing digital solutions to their front, middle and back-offices. It will not only equip them to come through COVID-19 intact, but to thrive.
 
With the support of a $7.7 million investment from the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario, RAP is now expanding to businesses of all sizes throughout the province, including the City and County of Peterborough. The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has been selected as an important partner to help ensure local businesses benefit from the customized services and mentorship that RAP offers.
 
“This program is a tremendous opportunity for businesses in the Peterborough area to develop a digital strategy,” says Stuart Harrison, President & CEO, Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. “We all need to be thinking about product and service delivery, marketing, and security through a digital lens. Free to participating businesses, you will come out of this program with a digital blueprint and a competitive advantage.”
 
By enabling this partnership between the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and the Toronto Region Board of Trade, the governments’ investment in RAP will also help make sure at least half of RAP’s participants are based outside of Toronto.
 
“The Recovery Activation Program is a direct response to what we’re hearing from our members and the business community at large: digital tools and services are crucial to success, but challenging to implement,” said Jan De Silva, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade. “The Peterborough Chamber’s involvement in this program will result in the digital transformation of businesses outside of Toronto who will now be in a position to shore up their current business offerings, create new businesses opportunities and explore new markets.”
 
With recruitment currently open, RAP cohorts are now being sought for September.  Interested businesses can apply here.

ABOUT THE PETERBOROUGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is a member-based organization. Our main focus is to channel the collective strength of the business community to improve the economy. This includes providing representation on numerous committees, conducting surveys, issuing discussion papers and developing policy positions on issues of significance to our members.  Learn more at peterboroughchamber.ca

​ABOUT THE TORONTO REGION BOARD OF TRADE 
The Toronto Region Board of Trade is one of the largest and most influential chambers of commerce in North America and is a catalyst for the region’s economic growth agenda. Backed by more than 13,500 members, we pursue policy change to drive the growth and competitiveness of the Toronto region, and facilitate market opportunities with programs, partnerships and connections to help our members succeed – domestically and internationally. We want Toronto to be recognized as one of the most competitive and sought-after business regions in the world, and believe this reputation starts with our businesses. Learn more at bot.com and follow us at @TorontoRBOT. 
 
MEDIA CONTACT
 
Sandra Dueck
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
705-748-9771 x 215
sandra@peterboroughchamber.ca
 
Rebecca Tsehay
Toronto Region Board of Trade
647-216-2686
RTsehay@bot.com
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