COVID-19: Important Business Resources
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Greetings!
We love our community and we are dedicated to support all local businesses. Even though it feels like everything has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our commitment as an organization to our community remains constant.
The Chamber of Commerce is being used as the hub for business information and news for our region and we are asking businesses to direct their inquiries and question to us. If we don’t have the answers, we have contacts at every level of Government through our network that we are reaching out to with questions and we are advocating to government with recommendations when we find gaps in supports and resources.
Email us at
info@airdriechamber.ab.ca
with your concerns today. We will forward your comments to the City of Airdrie and the provincial and federal chambers so that we can collectively advocate for you.
Together we are stronger,
Your Airdrie Chamber of Commerce
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The City of Airdrie launched a free online platform to promote businesses that are open during COVID-19. It features an interactive directory, good news-stories and an offer page to showcase how our businesses and organizations are serving their patrons during this challenging time.
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Your Chamber Membership is Making a Difference
During the COVID-19 Crisis
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Roadmap to Recovery
In the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic, it is difficult for Canadians, their families, businesses and governments to look beyond confronting the immediate effects of COVID-19. While Canadians continue to focus on supporting each other today, we must also start looking over the horizon to the post-COVID-19 world to start planning how our country and economy can emerge stronger.
Recovery starts with resiliency. Supporting business and employees through the COVID-19 pandemic is helping to ensure they will be able propel our economic recovery.
While no one can predict with any certainty the economic, political and cultural changes this crisis will have on Canada and the rest of the world, we know these changes will be significant. The high level of collaboration among governments, businesses and civil society managing this pandemic should give Canadians confidence about our collective ability to deal with the long-lasting changes it will bring.
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COVID-19 and Low Oil Prices
Business Impact Survey Now live!
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How can government help your business stay viable while COVID-19 health measures are in place?
We want to hear directly from Alberta job creators. Please take our short survey (less than ten minutes). We will share your feedback directly with government!
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Changes to Canada Emergency Response Benefit
The Government of Canada
announced
that upper and lower payroll limits for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) have been expanded in order to include more businesses. The new CEBA 2019 payroll limits are:
• A lower limit of $20,000
• An upper limit of $1.5 million
We are encouraged by this expansion and are still advocating for those business owners who get paid in dividends to be included in these programs. The Chamber network is also pushing the government to expand this program to be offered through other financial institutions, such as credit unions. Read the
Canadian Chamber of Commerce statement
regarding this announcement.
Government of Canada launches
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Calculator for Employers
To help employers keep and re-hire workers amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is implementing the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). This important economic measure provides a 75% wage subsidy of up to $847 per employee per week, to eligible employers, for up to 12 weeks, preventing further job losses and encouraging employers to re-hire workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19, retroactive to March 15, 2020.
April
21st, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, launched the
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy calculator
to support employers as they prepare to apply for the CEWS.
The CEWS calculator can be found on CRA’s
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Web page
. This Web page incorporates feedback received during user testing with stakeholders, including the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. It includes detailed information and instructions about who can apply for the subsidy, how eligibility is assessed, and how the subsidy is calculated. The calculator also includes a printable statement feature that employers can use to view their claim at a glance and, as of April 27, enter required information into the CEWS application form quickly and easily.
By providing employers with additional details about their subsidy claim, the CEWS calculator can equip employers with important information they can use now to make more informed decisions about retaining and re-hiring workers. A series of information sessions will be held in the coming days to provide a forum for eligible employers.
The CRA also encourages employers to sign up for
My Business Account
or
Represent a Client
, as employers will be able to apply through these portals. The CRA will open the application process on April 27, 2020. CEWS claims will be subject to verification by the CRA. Funds for approved applications will begin to be released on May 5.
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Changes to Canada Emergency Response Benefit
The
federal government announced
it will be expanding the CERB in order to help more Canadians benefit from the program. The government will be changing the eligibility rules to:
- Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
- Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their usual seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Extend the CERB to workers who recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19. Read more.
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Mental Health Supports
- The federal government launched a new portal dedicated to mental wellness. Wellness Together Canada will connect Canadians to peer support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls and will make it easier to find credible information and help address mental health and substance use issues.
- Alberta’s Mental Health Helpline is available 24-7 toll-free and offers confidential support for mental health concerns: 1-877-303-264
- The Crisis Text Line Alberta is a service available 24-7 that offers information, referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support for Albertans of all ages, by texting CONNECT to 741741.
- Alberta 211 is a free helpline that connects Albertans to community and social services in their area 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in over 150 languages.
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Save the Date!
Your Q&A Connection
A virtual opportunity for Airdrie businesses to connect with Federal, Provincial and Municipal government representatives and the Alberta Chambers of Commerce to ask questions about COVID-19 business resources. This event, hosted by the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce and City of Airdrie, will take place online
Thursday, May 7th from 4:00 - 5:30 pm
.
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Managing Stress in a Changing Environment
Thursday, April 23
@ 10:00 AM
Times like this are stressful and at times, overwhelming. Presented by CPA Alberta and led by Dale Carnegie Training, this webinar workshop will focus on the ways to manage stress during these unprecedented times. Join us next Thursday and learn coping mechanisms and tips to control worry and healthy ways to relieve stress!
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How to dominate the first page of Google without paying for ads
Thursday, April 23, 2020
@ 10:00 AM
When more than 90% of customers use search engines like Google when making buying decisions and 40% of searches on Google have a local intent, it is clear that customers want to find the specific product or service in their local area!
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Emotional Regulation using Mindfulness
Thursday, April 23
@ 1:00 PM
Explore how, for most of us, our survival responses (fight, flight or freeze) are currently going haywire. Learn how mindfulness practices can help to regulate your child's emotions, boost immunity, decrease anxieties, improve focus, concentration, and improve our overall sense of well-being. Participants will be invited through guided mindfulness activities during the session.
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Chamber Members Are Amazing
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Minuteman Press Airdrie, is doing their part to author Canada’s recovery story by running the Bounce Back Airdrie initiative.
Bounce Back Airdrie was created by Minuteman Press to offer two free services to help support neighboring businesses by distributing COVID-19 awareness and prevention posters at no charge to any business in our service area plus they are providing free local advertising
to stimulate business.
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Polite Pups Training is happy to offer free dog walking or potty breaks, seven days a week, anytime between 9 am and 9 pm to local first responders who need assistance with their dogs during this global crisis.
Please contact Donna Barrett at Polite Pup Training at:
403-980-1281
to discuss.
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Rob Ing Productions is ready to assist businesses in reaching customers, clients, students or employees via
full video productions and multi-camera webcasting. Professional video messaging allows for education, communication, motivation or promotion of virtually anything.
Rob Ing Productions is offering a
50% discount to all Airdrie Chamber members
until
the end of April 2020.
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Want 40% off your order today?
Join Papa Murphy's text club by texting "pizza15" to
604- 229-6804
and show the offer in-store.
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Chamber members, take advantage of the UPS Members Benefit Program and save on a variety of UPS services! You’ll receive 50% off all small package shipments* including imports to Canada, 30% off brokerage entry preparations fees, at least 75% off freight shipments over 150 lb. and more.
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As you may know in this time of crisis, hand sanitizer is very hard to find these days.
So Straight Flush decided to make their own hand sanitizer and they are selling them at $24.00 per bottle for a 24oz bottle. If interested, please email or call me to put in your order.
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We're happy to share your stories and offers!
Thank you Chamber Members for sharing some of your feel good news!
Please continue to let us know how your organization is finding innovative and creative ways to continue serving your community during this difficult time.
If you are offering an event or service that our membership could benefit from and that you would like highlighted in our weekly update, contact
events@airdriechamber.ab.ca
with your information.
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Airdrie Chamber of Commerce
102, 150 Edwards Way NW
Airdrie, AB T4B 4B9
403. 948.4412
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