Blackfalds & District Chamber of Commerce
Monthly Newsletter
|
|
For the latest news and updates on COVID-19, please Like and visit our Facebook page.
Small business advice:
Business Link
Talk to a small business advisor at
Business Link
to get free advice, coaching and information on COVID-19 resources and supports.
Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed weekends and statutory holidays)
Federal Government Programs
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
- CERB is a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19.
Who is eligible
The Benefit is available to workers:
- Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
- Who have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits or have exhausted their Employment Insurance regular benefits or Employment Insurance fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020;
- Who had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and,
- Who have not quit their job voluntarily.
When submitting your first claim, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within the four-week benefit period of your claim.
When submitting subsequent claims, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of your new claim.
Only apply for the CERB through either Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) –
not both
.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would cover 75% of an employee’s wages, up to $847 per week, for employers of all sizes and across all sectors who have suffered a drop in gross revenues of at least 15% in March, and 30% in April and May.
- The program would be in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
- The federal government is also proposing that employers eligible for the CEWS be entitled to receive a 100% refund for certain employer contributions to Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, the Quebec Pension Plan, and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan paid in respect of employees who are on leave with pay.
Canada Emergency Business Account
- The Canada Emergency Business Account provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits to help cover operating costs during periods when revenues have been temporarily reduced.
- To qualify, organization must demonstrate they paid between $20,000 to $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019.
- Business owners can apply through their banks and credit unions.
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)
- CECRA will provide a forgivable loan to qualifying commercial property owners to cover half of rent for April, May, and June of this year.
- The loan will be forgivable if the property owner and tenant agree to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75% for April, May and June under a rent forgiveness agreement.
- This agreement must include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place.
- Eligible landlords and tenants would each be responsible for 25% of the remaining costs
- Qualifying small businesses must:
- pay less than $50,000 per month in rent
- have been asked to close, or near-close their operations due to COIVD-19
- have experienced at least a 70% drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues
- This support will be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.
- The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will administer the program and expects to open it for applications in mid-May.
|
|
To find out what Blackfalds Businesses are available to you during this time, please check out the link below. Many of our local and fantastic businesses are still open to you in some capacity!
Support Local!
|
|
Why Support Local?
Local business is essential for our economy. They bring growth and innovation to our communities. The provide employment and create entrepreneurship opportunities and support the local economies, communities and neighborhoods.
The also care about their community. They know their customers by name; they are our neighbors and friends. They are what make our towns special and unique.
Most are feeling a financial strain right now, and are worried about the future. But if you need to buy something, try your local store first. If you still have an income, try ordering from your favorite local restaurant once a week. Here are some ways to support your local businesses:
- Many restaurants are offering delivery and pickup, but check for delivery options at places other than restaurants. Your local toy store, flower shop, bookstore or clothing boutique may not have their usual storefront, but many are providing delivery or curbside pickup.
- Buy gift cards or credit for later from your favorite restaurants, stores, hair salons, spas, childcare providers and hardware store.
- Share local restaurant delivery menus on your social media pages
- Check with the businesses you frequently shop with. They may have altered their services to fit the temporary ‘new normal’. For example, your local cleaners now may provide a disinfecting service, or maybe a toy store is now selling homeschool supplies.
- If you still have steady income and the financial means to do it, continue to pay your cleaning people, hair stylist, nanny, etc. They need us and we need them.
- Check to see which of your services/providers are now being provided online. Therapists, tutoring, yoga, personal trainers, coaches, financial planners, lawyers, music classes for kids - all of these can be continued through videos or online conferencing.
- Tip service workers extra.
- Keep paying your memberships and subscriptions, even if they’ve been temporarily suspended.
- If you or your child already paid for a class that was cancelled, instead of a refund, donate that lost money to the organization.
- Start a local business network where people can engage with local businesses remotely.
- Are you a website designer, developer, or a social media expert? Offer your services to local businesses that don’t have an online presence to help them sell and promote online.
- If you learn of a unique promotion or idea from a local business, share it online.
- Just give a donation. Cash is always appreciated.
**Liz Frazier @ Forbes.com
If you have any suggestions or have come across any great ideas as to how to promote your own local business or others that you appreciate please let us know via email at
[email protected]
We would love to promote your business!
|
|
CHAMBER MEETING INFORMATION
|
|
|
Annual General Meeting (May 2020):
- Delayed until further notice.
Monthly Meetings:
- Suspended until further notice.
We are currently working on a solution for both of these as we would like to maintain contact with our members. Once a solution has been provided we will advise via an email notification.
Stay safe everyone!
|
|
|
Canada's tax deadline extended until June, payment can be delayed until September
|
The federal government has announced Canadians will now have
until June 1, 2020
to file taxes and the deadline to pay them will be extended.
If any business or individual finds they owe money, they will have until September 1 to pay.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said $55 billion dollars of the $82 billion package to keep Canadians afloat will account for these tax deferrals.
Trudeau said the government is focused on making sure Canadians have the money they need to support their families, buy groceries and pay the rent.
|
|
TOWN OF BLACKFALDS
COVID-19 UPDATE
Facility Closures extended to May 31st, Events cancelled until June 30th, 2020
Posted on Apr 27, 2020 - Town of Blackfalds website
Blackfalds, Alberta (April 27, 2020) – The Town of Blackfalds would like to reiterate that the risk of contracting COVID-19 is still low in Alberta.
The Town’s top priority is the health, safety and well-being of the public and our employees. We continue to do everything we can to mitigate the spread of the virus and encourage all residents to practice social distancing and personal hygiene. As the weather starts to get nicer, there is the natural tendency to want to get out and we ask that you continue to follow the guidelines set forth by the Province of Alberta.
At their meeting on April 20, Town Council made the tough decisions to shut down all playgrounds. The risk of spread of the virus is high in these areas where people are constantly touching, especially children who may inadvertently touch something, and then touch their own face.
Furthermore, closure of public facilities has been extended to May 31. This includes the Abbey Centre (Field House, Fitness Studios, Program Room, Child Minding, Border Paving Fitness Centre, Red Deer Kinsmen Indoor Play Space, Running Track, etc.), Blackfalds Public Library, the Civic Cultural Centre, Multi-Plex Arena (Ag Room, Banquet Room, Dry Floor/Ice), Operations Centre, the Wadey Centre, and the Community Centre (Main Hall and Multi-Purpose Room).
As of April 23, all events are cancelled until the June 30, which includes the Town’s Community Garage Sale at the end of May and our annual Blackfalds Days during Father’s Day weekend. At this time, plans for Canada Day are still under consideration.
We strongly advise against any garage sales or similar activity and ask that the community delay any planned yard and garage sales until the Province has lifted the restrictions on gatherings. Yard and garage sales tend to draw large numbers of people and require cash transactions and touching of objects – all of which are the main cause of the COVID-19 spread.
We hope to re-schedule the annual Community Garage Sale to a later date.
Please continue to follow the guidelines as laid out by Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Province of Alberta.
|
|
Canada's #1 benefits plan for small firms can provide your business with a comprehensive and competitive health, dental, and disability program customized to meet the needs of your employees! Regardless of the size of your firm we can find a plan that's right for you! Visit our website today to find out why
Chambers Plan
is Canada's #1 health care benefit plans for small businesses and the self-employed!
|
|
|
Blackfalds & District Chamber of Commerce
P.O.Box 249 Blackfalds, AB T0M 0J0 | ph. 403-506-6735
|
|
|
|
|
|
|