Top idea to modernize government will receive up to $10,000 to implement project

RICHMOND HILL – The City of Richmond Hill is committed to finding innovative ways to modernize government services.  Today, the City launched a Municipal Business Innovation Contest to provide local small businesses an opportunity to partner with the City to create more efficient and effective services at a lower cost.

Richmond Hill is home to many innovative companies recognized for their creative thinking and new technologies that are helping change the way the world does business. The successful partnership will build on the City’s momentum as an early adopter of innovative technologies, products and services while also supporting the local economy.

The City will select a preferred project and provide up to $10,000 to the successful company to support project implementation. If two companies are chosen, up to $5,000 will be provided. Entries can target any area of municipal government operations and must provide added value, be doable or practical and be different or better than the current process/technology/product or service.  

The contest is open to Richmond Hill companies with 50 or fewer employees. For more details, eligible businesses are invited to express interest at RichmondHill.ca/InnovationContest. Completed proposals are due to the City by October 8, 2020.

The Municipal Business Innovation Contest is part of the Recover Richmond Hill Action Plan, intended to stimulate economic recovery and help businesses thrive in the post-pandemic environment. The contest is one of the many economic development programs the City has launched in 2020 to support local businesses and entrepreneurs, including:

• A partnership with Freshworks for Startups, the first municipality in Canada to do so, which provides up to $4000 in credits on the Freshworks suite of products and programming
• A dedicated business hotline available Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 905-771-5558
• ShopHere in partnership with Digitalmainstreet.ca to help businesses optimize their online platform
• A Temporary Use By-law allowing restaurants and cafés to create or expand outdoor patio space

Quotes

“Innovation is how our great city will continue to thrive while adapting to the changes brought upon us by COVID-19. Richmond Hill is already embracing innovation through projects like our pothole detection pilot using artificial intelligence and moving to online voting for the School Board By-election. Through our Innovation Contest, we want to partner with other local businesses to pilot their new ideas, making government more efficient and effective for residents while supporting the local economy at the same time. It’s a win-win opportunity!”   - Mayor Dave Barrow

“I’m excited to see what great ideas our local small businesses have to improve how the City does business. Our Innovation Contest is not tied to any one industry or business area so every local company has an opportunity to participate and partner with the City for the benefit of all.”     - Ward 6 Councillor Godwin Chan, Chair, Recover Richmond Hill Task Force and Chair, Richmond Hill Economic Development Committee

Quick Facts

Criteria for the Innovation Contest:

• The company must be based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
• The company must conduct its research and development activities in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
• The company must be operating for two or more years
• The organization can be a for-profit or a not-for-profit business/organization
• The company must have fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees
• The proposed solution must be able to be implemented and completed within one of year of being awarded the prize
• Prior to the start of the project, the proposed solution must be in market or be developed and about to be launched to the market
• Respondents can enter more than one project into the contest (each project must be a separate submission)
• The City reserves the right to not award the prize should the submissions not meet the criteria

 Related Stories 

• Innovative Richmond Hill Companies Are Changing the World
• Richmond Hill Helps Local Businesses to Spur Economic Revitalization
• Richmond Hill Drives Economic Recovery Through Innovation
• Richmond Hill Continues to Modernize Services for Residents - Launches digital building permit application
• Richmond Hill Embraces Innovation to Modernize Government Operations - Receives award for artificial intelligence pothole pilot

Additional Links

RichmondHill.ca/HelpforBusinesses

Media Contact

Libbi Hood, Communications Advisor
libbi.hood@richmondhill.ca