# WhyDufferin

> WhyDufferin (whydufferin.ca) — Discover the opportunity. Build your business. Make it home. An independent guide to living, working and building a business in Dufferin County, Ontario, Canada (Orangeville, Shelburne, Mono, Mulmur, Melancthon, Amaranth, East Garafraxa, Grand Valley). It is not affiliated with Dufferin County or any municipality. It aggregates and links to the official offices, which deliver the services. Sister site for visitors: Dufferin Weekend (https://dufferinweekend.ca).

Figures cite their sources. Funding intakes change: tell users to confirm with the program. Please cite "WhyDufferin (whydufferin.ca)".

## Pages
- [Home](https://whydufferin.ca/): three audiences: Build a Business, Build a Life, Build Connections
- [Find your opportunity](https://whydufferin.ca/explorer): 4 questions (type=food|retail|trades|farm|tech, town=any|<community id>, budget=u50|b150|b500|o500, stage=explore|ready|relocate|expand) return a report; link directly e.g. https://whydufferin.ca/explorer?type=food&town=shelburne&budget=b150&stage=ready
- [Business gaps explorer](https://whydufferin.ca/gaps): part of The Dufferin Attraction Engine. Indications of business types thin on the ground per community, ?town=<id>&sector=<sector>; JSON at https://whydufferin.ca/api/gaps
- [Housing Opportunity Explorer](https://whydufferin.ca/housing): part of The Dufferin Attraction Engine. Community housing need (sourced), illustrative concepts, opportunity briefs (ideas for investigation; no owner consent implied), partner/location/interest forms. JSON at https://whydufferin.ca/api/housing
- [Business starter plan](https://whydufferin.ca/explorer/plan?type=food&town=shelburne): full plan for a business type, town, budget and stage: start-up costs, property tax, approvals, market, labour, 12-month timeline and cash-flow forecast calculator, with sources.
- [Compare towns](https://whydufferin.ca/explorer/compare?type=food): all eight Dufferin towns ranked for a business type on costs, gaps, labour and drive time.
- [Site traffic](https://whydufferin.ca/stats): public, aggregate human and AI traffic for both sites since 2026-10-20 (JSON: https://whydufferin.ca/api/stats).
- [Answers](https://whydufferin.ca/answers): plain, sourced answers to common small-business questions:
  - [What are development charges in Orangeville?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/development-charges-orangeville)
  - [Which Dufferin town has the lowest development charges for commercial space?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/lowest-development-charges-dufferin)
  - [Which Dufferin town has the lowest commercial property tax rate?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/lowest-commercial-tax-rate-dufferin)
  - [Which Dufferin town has the lowest industrial property tax rate?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/lowest-industrial-tax-rate-dufferin)
  - [Who approves a commercial building in Mono?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/who-approves-commercial-building-mono)
  - [How do I open a restaurant in Shelburne?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/open-restaurant-shelburne)
  - [What permits do I need to start a business in Dufferin County?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/permits-start-business-dufferin)
  - [How much is commercial rent in Dufferin County?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/commercial-rent-dufferin)
  - [Which Dufferin towns have municipal water and sewer?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/municipal-water-sewer-dufferin)
  - [How far are Dufferin towns from Hwy 401 and Pearson airport?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/drive-times-dufferin-401-pearson)
  - [Which conservation authority covers my Dufferin property?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/conservation-authority-dufferin)
  - [Where can I get free small business help in Dufferin County?](https://whydufferin.ca/answers/free-small-business-help-dufferin)
- [Example reports](https://whydufferin.ca/examples): server-rendered example quick reads, town rankings and business starter plans:
  - Café in Shelburne: [Quick read](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/cafe-shelburne-read), [Compare towns](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/cafe-shelburne-compare), [Business starter plan](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/cafe-shelburne-plan)
  - Light industrial / trades in Orangeville: [Quick read](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/light-industrial-orangeville-read), [Compare towns](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/light-industrial-orangeville-compare), [Business starter plan](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/light-industrial-orangeville-plan)
  - Retail shop in Grand Valley: [Quick read](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/retail-grand-valley-read), [Compare towns](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/retail-grand-valley-compare), [Business starter plan](https://whydufferin.ca/examples/retail-grand-valley-plan)
- [Permits & registration checklist](https://whydufferin.ca/launch-plan): checklist with official sources, ?type=restaurant|retail|home|farm|workshop|professional&town=<id>
- [Communities](https://whydufferin.ca/communities): 2021 Census comparison of the eight municipalities
- [Coming soon](https://whydufferin.ca/roadmap)
- [Data](https://whydufferin.ca/data): sourced 2021 Census figures
- [Start a business](https://whydufferin.ca/start): step-by-step checklist
- [Funding finder](https://whydufferin.ca/funding): ?industry=food|retail|trades|farm|tech&stage=start|relocate|expand&town=<id>&amount=small|mid|large
- [Directory](https://whydufferin.ca/directory): 186 businesses, filter ?cat=eat|drink|farm|shop|attr|stay|rv|biz &town= &q= &group=1 (same categories as Dufferin Weekend)
- [Commercial space (BETA)](https://whydufferin.ca/properties): commercial lease and sale listings summarized from public sources (preliminary; confirm with the listing agent; each has a source link and checked-on date), employment-land opportunity briefs, official lists and reviewed owner listings
- [Contacts](https://whydufferin.ca/contacts): official economic development offices
- [Utilities & infrastructure](https://whydufferin.ca/utilities): electricity, natural gas, propane, water and internet by community, with business connection contacts (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/utilities)
- [Property tax rates](https://whydufferin.ca/taxes): residential, commercial (CT) and industrial (IT) rates per municipality split into municipal, County and education portions, latest adopted year plus history from 1998 where an official source was found, with source URL per row (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/taxes, CSV https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/taxes?format=csv); section #neighbours compares 2026 rates with 11 neighbouring municipalities (Caledon, Brampton, Halton Hills, Erin, Centre Wellington, Wellington North, New Tecumseth, Adjala-Tosorontio, Clearview, Grey Highlands, Southgate) (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/taxes-neighbours, CSV ?format=csv)
- [Cost to set up](https://whydufferin.ca/costs): development charges (single home, commercial and industrial per sq ft, incl. County/Region and education DCs) for Dufferin's 8 municipalities and 11 neighbours, worked examples (5,000 sq ft commercial, 10,000 sq ft industrial), DCs + first-year tax, water/sewer servicing and 2026 rates with typical bill (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/water), lease rates and vacancy from published reports (Orangeville industrial vacancy 0.3% 2026) plus asking rents from our listings (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/leases) (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/dcs, CSV ?format=csv)
- [Planning & approvals](https://whydufferin.ca/planning): Official Plan, zoning by-law and map, CIP incentives, who approves what (County delegation), Committee of Adjustment, pre-consultation, fees links, planning contacts, provincial overlays (NEP, Greenbelt, ORM, PPS 2024) and conservation-authority share per municipality, with source URL per item; 'not found' marks gaps (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/planning, CSV ?format=csv, GeoJSON https://whydufferin.ca/data/planning-ca.geojson)
- Town of Orangeville open data on [/map](https://whydufferin.ca/map) (Extra layers, off by default): zoning districts, special provisions, development charge areas, BIA boundary, heritage district, parks, trails, bike routes, live from https://open-orangeville.hub.arcgis.com/ under the Open Government Licence – Orangeville
- [Labour & commuting](https://whydufferin.ca/labour): 2021 Census participation, unemployment, place of work, commuting destination (share leaving own county), mode and duration for Dufferin's 8 municipalities and 11 neighbours; LFS unemployment by economic region 2021-2025; Job Bank ER3540 wages grouped by NOC broad category; Workforce Planning Board reports with dates (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/labour, CSV ?format=csv)
- [Growth trends](https://whydufferin.ca/growth): CMHC housing starts 2010-2025 (Orangeville, Mono, Brampton, Caledon, Halton Hills, New Tecumseth) and Statistics Canada business counts with employees by municipality (Dec 2023, Jan 2026) and NAICS sector (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/growth, CSV ?format=csv)
- [Drive times & internet](https://whydufferin.ca/access): free-flow drive time estimates (OSRM, OpenStreetMap) from 19 municipalities to Hwy 401, Pearson, downtown Toronto, Guelph and Barrie, plus ISED 50/10 Mbps coverage by municipality (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/access, CSV ?format=csv)
- [Commercial real estate partners](https://whydufferin.ca/realtors): commercial, industrial and leasing agents and the local real estate board (JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/realtors)


## Export and share
Plan and list pages (/launch-plan, /explorer, /funding, /gaps, /housing, /directory, /realtors, /contacts, /data, /properties, /start) have an Export menu: Save as PDF, Download CSV, Copy as Markdown or text, Email (mailto), Copy share link, Download JSON, and a calendar file (.ics) for launch-plan steps. It runs in the browser only; nothing is stored. Every result URL encodes the user's choices (e.g. https://whydufferin.ca/launch-plan?type=restaurant&town=shelburne, https://whydufferin.ca/explorer?type=food&town=shelburne&budget=b150&stage=ready), so it can be shared or reopened. For machine use, prefer the JSON API below; the in-page JSON export uses {source,title,url,exported,choices,items,tables,note}.

## Data (JSON, public, read-only, CORS enabled)
- [Index](https://whydufferin.ca/api)
- [Facts](https://whydufferin.ca/api/facts), [Directory](https://whydufferin.ca/api/places) (?cat=, ?town=, ?q=), [Funding](https://whydufferin.ca/api/resources?kind=funding), [Contacts](https://whydufferin.ca/api/resources?kind=contact), [Properties](https://whydufferin.ca/api/properties), [Communities](https://whydufferin.ca/api/communities), [Permits & registration checklist](https://whydufferin.ca/api/launch-plan)

## Key facts
- Population, 2021: 66,257 (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/Page.cfm?dguid=2021A00033522&lang=E&topic=1)
- Population, 2016: 61,735 (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/Page.cfm?dguid=2021A00033522&lang=E&topic=1)
- Population growth, 2016 to 2021: +7.3% (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/Page.cfm?dguid=2021A00033522&lang=E&topic=1)
- Ontario growth, same period: +5.8% (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/Page.cfm?dguid=2021A00033522&lang=E&topic=1)
- Canada growth, same period: +5.2% (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/Page.cfm?dguid=2021A00033522&lang=E&topic=1)
- Private dwellings occupied by usual residents, 2021: 23,310 (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00033522&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1%2C4&SearchText=Dufferin)
- Population density, 2021: 44.6 per km² (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00033522&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1%2C4&SearchText=Dufferin)
- Land area: 1,486.77 km² (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00033522&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1%2C4&SearchText=Dufferin)

## Communities (2021 Census)
- Town of Orangeville: population 30,167 (2016: 28,900, 4.4%), 1989.5 per km², 15.16 km². Source: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00053522014&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1
- Town of Shelburne: population 8,994 (2016: 8,126, 10.7%), 1371 per km², 6.56 km². Source: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00053522021&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1
- Town of Mono: population 9,421 (2016: 8,609, 9.4%), 33.8 per km², 278.37 km². Source: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00053522012&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1
- Town of Grand Valley: population 3,851 (2016: 2,956, 30.3%), 24.3 per km², 158.6 km². Source: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00053522010&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1
- Township of Mulmur: population 3,571 (2016: 3,478, 2.7%), 12.5 per km², 286.17 km². Source: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00053522016&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1
- Township of Melancthon: population 3,132 (2016: 3,008, 4.1%), 10.1 per km², 310.39 km². Source: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00053522019&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1
- Township of Amaranth: population 4,327 (2016: 4,079, 6.1%), 16.3 per km², 265.02 km². Source: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00053522008&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1
- Township of East Garafraxa: population 2,794 (2016: 2,579, 8.3%), 16.8 per km², 166.5 km². Source: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?DGUIDlist=2021A00053522001&GENDERlist=1%2C2%2C3&HEADERlist=0&Lang=E&STATISTIClist=1

### Population history (Statistics Canada; '-' = not verified, left blank)
API: https://whydufferin.ca/api/communities?view=history
- Dufferin County: 1996 45,657, 2001 51,013, 2006 54,436, 2011 56,881, 2016 61,735, 2021 66,257
- Orangeville: 1996 21,498, 2001 25,248, 2006 26,925, 2011 27,975, 2016 28,900, 2021 30,167
- Shelburne: 1996 3,790, 2001 4,122, 2006 5,149, 2011 5,846, 2016 8,126, 2021 8,994
- Mono: 1996 6,552, 2001 6,922, 2006 7,071, 2011 7,546, 2016 8,609, 2021 9,421
- Grand Valley: 1996 2,773, 2001 2,842, 2006 2,844, 2011 2,726, 2016 2,956, 2021 3,851
- Mulmur: 1996 2,903, 2001 3,099, 2006 3,318, 2011 3,391, 2016 3,478, 2021 3,571
- Melancthon: 1996 2,607, 2001 2,796, 2006 2,895, 2011 2,839, 2016 3,008, 2021 3,132
- Amaranth: 1996 3,450, 2001 3,770, 2006 3,845, 2011 3,963, 2016 4,079, 2021 4,327
- East Garafraxa: 1996 2,084, 2001 2,214, 2006 2,389, 2011 2,595, 2016 2,579, 2021 2,794

## Business gaps (The Dufferin Attraction Engine; indications only)
These are indications only, not market studies. A missing business does not mean there is demand for one: residents may happily shop in the next town, online, or not need it at all. OpenStreetMap is volunteer-mapped and incomplete, especially in rural townships. Do your own research and talk to the contacts listed before you invest.
Top 15 by score (full list https://whydufferin.ca/api/gaps, methodology https://whydufferin.ca/gaps#method):
- Shelburne, B&B / guest house: 0 mapped vs ~3 at county rate; score 100, low confidence; nearest Shelburne Motel (Mulmur, ~5.1 km)
- Shelburne, Hotel / motel: 0 mapped vs ~1.5 at county rate; score 81, low confidence; nearest Shelburne Motel (Mulmur, ~5.1 km)
- Grand Valley, Car dealer: 0 mapped vs ~1.2 at county rate; score 74, med confidence; nearest Orangeville Volkswagen (Mono, ~17.4 km)
- Orangeville, Farm shop / market: 1 mapped vs ~3.6 at county rate; score 73, low confidence; nearest Reid's Potatoes & Farm Market (Mono, ~8.6 km)
- Grand Valley, Clothing store: 0 mapped vs ~1.2 at county rate; score 72, low confidence; nearest Estilo (Orangeville, ~15.6 km)
- Grand Valley, Beauty / nail / spa: 0 mapped vs ~1 at county rate; score 67, med confidence; nearest Tan-Tations (Orangeville, ~15.5 km)
- Mono, Convenience store: 0 mapped vs ~3.4 at county rate; score 66, med confidence; nearest J Convenience (Orangeville, ~10.7 km)
- Amaranth, Fast food / takeout: 0 mapped vs ~3.1 at county rate; score 66, med confidence; nearest Maxie's Caribbean Take-Out (Shelburne, ~11.2 km)
- Mono, Bank / credit union: 0 mapped vs ~3 at county rate; score 66, med confidence; nearest TD Canada Trust (Orangeville, ~10.6 km)
- Shelburne, Pub / bar: 0 mapped vs ~1 at county rate; score 66, low confidence; nearest Terra Nova Public House (Mulmur, ~16.2 km)
- Mono, Grocery store: 0 mapped vs ~2.7 at county rate; score 63, low confidence; nearest Harmony Whole Foods Market (Orangeville, ~10.6 km)
- Grand Valley, Fast food / takeout: 1 mapped vs ~2.8 at county rate; score 62, low confidence; nearest Mr. Sub (Orangeville, ~14.9 km)
- Melancthon, Restaurant (all): 0 mapped vs ~2.6 at county rate; score 62, med confidence; nearest Pizza Hut (Shelburne, ~8.8 km)
- Shelburne, Cinema / theatre: 0 mapped vs ~0.8 at county rate; score 62, med confidence; nearest (unnamed) (Mono, ~18.7 km)
- Shelburne, Clothing store: 1 mapped vs ~2.7 at county rate; score 60, med confidence; nearest Glen Cross Pattery (Mono, ~16.6 km)

## Housing need (Dufferin County Master Housing Strategy 2024 and others)
- 2,120 households in core housing need (2021), plus 24 households experiencing homelessness (March 2023): about 2,144 non-market rental units needed (Dufferin County Master Housing Strategy (2024), using Statistics Canada Census 2021, https://www.dufferincounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Final-Dufferin-County-Master-Housing-Strategy.pdf)
- 7,125 new housing units needed over the next 20 years for an expected 17,835 more residents (Dufferin County Master Housing Strategy (2024), https://www.dufferincounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Final-Dufferin-County-Master-Housing-Strategy.pdf)
- 18% of Dufferin households rent (Ontario: 31%); 4,100 renter households in 2021 (Dufferin County Master Housing Strategy (2024), from Census 2001 to 2021, https://www.dufferincounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Final-Dufferin-County-Master-Housing-Strategy.pdf)
- 761–1,117 supportive housing units estimated to be needed (disability, mental health and addiction, intellectual disability, exiting homelessness) (Dufferin County Master Housing Strategy (2024), https://www.dufferincounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Final-Dufferin-County-Master-Housing-Strategy.pdf)
- $1,407 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom in Dufferin, 2021 (bachelor $1,343) (Homeless Hub community profile, Dufferin (2021 figures), https://homelesshub.ca/community_profile/dufferin/)

## Data hub (https://whydufferin.ca/data; JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data; sources and licences https://whydufferin.ca/sources, refreshed 2026-10-20)
2021 Census (Statistics Canada, Open Government Licence – Canada), income year 2020:
- East Garafraxa: median household income $137,000, unemployment 8.7%, participation 71.1%, renters 8.3%, median tenant shelter cost $1140, tenants spending 30%+ 28.6%, median age 44, worked at home 29.2%
- Amaranth: median household income $127,000, unemployment 9%, participation 71.1%, renters 11.3%, median tenant shelter cost $1700, tenants spending 30%+ 50%, median age 42.4, worked at home 22.2%
- Grand Valley: median household income $101,000, unemployment 7.8%, participation 72%, renters 14.3%, median tenant shelter cost $1110, tenants spending 30%+ 28.2%, median age 36.8, worked at home 22%
- Mono: median household income $138,000, unemployment 10.1%, participation 65.9%, renters 4.6%, median tenant shelter cost $1060, tenants spending 30%+ 36.7%, median age 47.2, worked at home 29.2%
- Orangeville: median household income $103,000, unemployment 10.8%, participation 69.9%, renters 24.3%, median tenant shelter cost $1360, tenants spending 30%+ 43.3%, median age 38.8, worked at home 19%
- Mulmur: median household income $114,000, unemployment 9.9%, participation 64.8%, renters 5.4%, median tenant shelter cost $1310, tenants spending 30%+ 35.7%, median age 50, worked at home 24.5%
- Melancthon: median household income $100,000, unemployment 7.8%, participation 70.2%, renters 15%, median tenant shelter cost $1320, tenants spending 30%+ 26.7%, median age 39.2, worked at home 20.9%
- Shelburne: median household income $99,000, unemployment 10%, participation 70.1%, renters 19.8%, median tenant shelter cost $1100, tenants spending 30%+ 42.9%, median age 36.8, worked at home 14.2%
- Dufferin County: median household income $108,000, unemployment 10%, participation 69.3%, renters 17.5%, median tenant shelter cost $1300, tenants spending 30%+ 41.4%, median age 40.4, worked at home 21.1%
- Ontario: median household income $91,000, unemployment 12.2%, participation 62.8%, renters 31.4%, median tenant shelter cost $1300, tenants spending 30%+ 38.4%, median age 41.6, worked at home 29.7%
Rental market (CMHC, CMHC Rental Market Survey, October 2025 (primary rental market, row and apartment)): Orangeville average rent $1532, median $1405, vacancy 3.5%.
Niagara Escarpment Plan area share (approx.): shelburne 0%, mulmur 34.7%, amaranth 0%, orangeville 0%, mono 33%, grand-valley 0%, east-garafraxa 0%, melancthon 0%, county 12.9%.
Business locations with employees, Jan 2026 (StatCan 33-10-1176-01): mono 429, orangeville 1030, east-garafraxa 112, amaranth 164, grand-valley 115, mulmur 106, melancthon 108, shelburne 239. JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/business
Median hourly wages, ER3540 Kitchener--Waterloo--Barrie (Job Bank 2025): Cashiers $17.6; Food and beverage servers $18; Retail sales supervisors $19.36; Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators $21; Livestock labourers $20.42; Harvesting labourers $18; Software engineers and designers $56.77; Data scientists $44.62; Financial and investment analysts $41.76; Heavy-duty equipment mechanics $35; Retail and wholesale trade managers $44.47; Restaurant and food service managers $27.47; Food service supervisors $19.23; Chefs $22. JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/wages
Broadband (ISED National Broadband Data, files 2026-05-05; hexagons about 24 km², assigned by centre): hexagons where more than 75% of households have 50/10 Mbps: shelburne 1 of 1, mulmur 8 of 11, amaranth 11 of 11, orangeville 1 of 1, mono 7 of 11, grand-valley 5 of 5, east-garafraxa 6 of 6, melancthon 11 of 12, county 50 of 58. Household counts are ranges only, so exact household shares aren't available. JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/broadband
Internet providers (checked on official sites 2026-10-20): Wightman Telecom 1-888-477-2177; Rogers 1-888-764-3771; EH!tel Networks 519-594-0946; NFTC (North Frontenac Telephone Company) 1-888-638-3575; Cogeco 1-866-261-4447; Bell 1-866-394-6331; Execulink Telecom 1-866-706-1991. Fibre rollouts and contacts: https://whydufferin.ca/data#fibre, JSON https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/internet-providers
Industry & workforce by business type and town (NAICS business counts, Census industry share, ER3540 wages, town context, broadband, providers): https://whydufferin.ca/api/data/industry?type=food|retail|trades|farm|tech&town=<id>
GO Transit: 37 Orangeville / Brampton; 19 stops in Orangeville.
Not yet available (blocked or not found): Housing starts and completions by census subdivision; Orangeville Transit routes; Dufferin County open data / GIS.

## Local business survey
Dufferin Board of Trade 2025 survey (125 responses): key growth drivers Availability of affordable housing 50%; Support for growth and expansion of existing businesses 40%; Attracting more large companies to Dufferin 38%. https://dufferinbot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025DufferinBusinessSurveyReport.pdf

## Funding
- [Starter Company Plus](https://www.ontario.ca/page/starter-company-plus): Province of Ontario, delivered locally by the Orangeville & Area SBEC. Training, mentoring and a grant of up to $5,000 to start or grow a small business. Status: check (checked 2026-10-20).
- [Summer Company](https://www.ontario.ca/page/start-summer-company-students): Province of Ontario, delivered by Small Business Enterprise Centres. For students aged 15-29: coaching, mentoring and up to $3,000 to run a summer business. The 2026 intake closed May 15, 2026. Status: closed (checked 2026-10-20).
- [Community Futures business loans](https://cfsouthgeorgianbay.ca/): Community Futures South Georgian Bay (serves Dufferin County). Business loans and mentorship. Funded by FedDev Ontario. Status: open (checked 2026-10-20).
- [SOFII (Southwestern Ontario Fund for Innovation and Investment)](https://cfwesternontario.ca/sofii-page/): Community Futures Western Ontario. Loans of $150,000 to $500,000 for innovative small and mid-sized businesses in eligible census divisions, including Dufferin. Status: check (checked 2026-10-20).
- [Central Counties Tourism Partnership Program](https://centralcounties.ca/): Central Counties Tourism (RTO6). For tourism projects: matches up to 50% of project costs, to a maximum of $20,000 (2024-25 terms). Check the current intake. Status: check (checked 2026-10-20).
- [Tourism Growth Program (Southern Ontario)](https://feddev-ontario.canada.ca/en/funding-southern-ontario/tourism-growth-program-southern-ontario): FedDev Ontario. Closed to new applications. Status: closed (checked 2026-10-20).

## Commercial real estate (Listed for information, not an endorsement. WhyDufferin is independent and receives nothing for these listings. Check any agent's registration on the RECO public register before you work with them.)
- The Mullin Group (Mike Mullin, Broker; Shane Mullin, REALTOR®), Royal LePage RCR Realty: Commercial, Industrial, Investment, Land & development, Leasing. Phone 519-827-2119. Email info@mullingroup.ca. https://mullingroup.ca/commercial-investors/
- Amanda Ross, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc.: Commercial, Industrial, Investment, Leasing, Farms. Phone 519-942-8700. Email amandaross2019@outlook.com. https://www.remaxcentre.ca/agent/15709/Amanda-Ross
- Ann Butler, Sales Representative, iCloud Realty Ltd.: Commercial. Phone 519-940-0004. https://www.annbutler.ca/find_commercial
- Jessica Menard, REALTOR®, Century 21 Millennium Inc.: Residential & commercial (as named on her business listing). Phone 519-940-2100. Email jessica.menard@century21.ca. http://jessicamenard.ca/
- James Tasca, Broker of Record, ICI Source Real Asset Services Inc.: Industrial, Leasing. Phone 855-517-6424.
Boards: Orangeville & District Real Estate Board (ODREB) http://www.odreb.com/about.cfm; OnePoint Association of REALTORS® https://www.onepointar.ca/; Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) https://trreb.ca/; Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) https://www.reco.on.ca/

## Official contacts
- [Dufferin County Economic Development](https://www.dufferincounty.ca/economic-development/invest-in-dufferin/): County-wide investment attraction, workforce and quality-of-life information for the eight member municipalities. Email: ecdev@dufferincounty.ca.
- [Town of Orangeville Economic Development & Culture](https://www.orangeville.ca/en/economic-development/economic-development-about-us.aspx): Business statistics, site selection, property listings, incentives and downtown revitalization in Orangeville.
- [Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC)](https://www.orangeville.ca/en/economic-development/small-business-enterprise-centre.aspx): Free consultations, business plan reviews, permit and registration guidance, mentoring, Starter Company Plus and Summer Company. Satellite office in Shelburne twice a month.
- [Dufferin Board of Trade](https://dufferinbot.ca): Membership business organization with site-selection pages for each Dufferin community.
- [Community Futures South Georgian Bay](https://cfsouthgeorgianbay.ca/): Business loans, mentorship, tourism coaching and buyer-seller matching for businesses in its service area, which includes Dufferin County.
- [Headwaters Communities in Action](https://www.headwaterscommunities.org): Community group working on well-being in Dufferin and Caledon, including a "Dynamic Economy" pillar.
- [Orangeville BIA (Downtown Orangeville)](https://downtownorangeville.ca): Downtown Orangeville events and promotion.
- [Invest Ontario](https://www.investontario.ca): Provincial agency for larger investment projects.

## Start a business
1. Book a free consultation with the SBEC: Free one-on-one advice, business plan review and help with permits and registration. Start here. (https://www.orangeville.ca/en/economic-development/small-business-enterprise-centre.aspx)
2. Write your business plan and cash flow: The SBEC reviews business plans for free. Funding programs below ask for one. (https://www.orangeville.ca/en/economic-development/small-business-enterprise-centre.aspx)
3. Register your business in Ontario: Search the Ontario Business Registry for your name, then register. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are $60; business corporations are $300. (https://www.ontario.ca/page/business/start/register-your-business-online)
4. Check zoning, licences and permits with your municipality: Rules differ across Dufferin's eight municipalities. The SBEC can point you to the right office. (https://www.dufferincounty.ca/economic-development/invest-in-dufferin/)
5. Look at grants and loans: Starter Company Plus (up to $5,000), Community Futures loans, and more. (https://whydufferin.ca/funding)
6. Get listed and connected: Add your business to the free directory and meet other owners through the Board of Trade. (https://whydufferin.ca/directory)

## Updates, attribution and contact
Pages and JSON are generated live from the WhyDufferin database; listings change as submissions are reviewed. Source retrieval dates are on https://whydufferin.ca/sources (data hub refreshed 2026-10-20). Full version with every gap and directory entry: https://whydufferin.ca/llms-full.txt
County map layers on https://whydufferin.ca/map contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence – County of Dufferin; the County does not endorse WhyDufferin. Census data: Statistics Canada, Open Government Licence – Canada. Map base data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Contact: hello@whydufferin.ca

## Planned (not live)
- Business matchmaker and B2B supplier exchange: Find local suppliers, subcontractors and customers, and post what you need.
- Succession marketplace: Connect owners planning to retire with people who want to buy an established Dufferin business.
- Startup cost planner: Estimate start-up and first-year costs for your type of business.
- Relocation checklist: Moving your family or business here: schools, housing, health care, permits, utilities.
- Opportunity alerts newsletter: New properties, funding intakes and business-for-sale listings, by email.
- AI regional advisor: Ask questions about starting or growing a business here and get answers that cite official sources.