COVID-19: Important Business Resources
Greetings!

With the recent relaunch strategy announced by the Provincial Government, businesses will now need to shift focus to recovery readiness and determining strategies to return to work and reopen their businesses. CLICK HERE for Alberta's relaunch strategy and for guidance on reopening your business.
Workplace Plans for RELAUNCH

The Chief Medical Officer of Health has amended her Public Health Order, and completion and public posting of the template is now voluntary . They still strongly recommend that all businesses fill out and post the template for the confidence and reassurance of their staff and customers.
 
The relaunch considerations template can be accessed HERE .

The government will constantly update their Q&A and information on our website at Alberta Biz Connect , which also includes a list of PPE suppliers and sector-specific guidelines.

Send questions to: BizConnect@gov.ab.ca  

We are here for you...

If there is a gap in government support, let us know. No question is off-topic or too small. We want to hear from you and will advocate on your behalf, reach out to us at info@airdriechamber.ab.ca 
Canadian Business Resilience Network
Reopen or Revamp Your Business Toolkit
As businesses prepare to reopen or revamp their operations amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are numerous issues and challenges to consider. This toolkit prepared by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Canadian Business Resilience Network is designed to provide guidance, or access to guidance, for business owners and senior managers responsible for re-establishing their operations while ensuring the health and safety of their staff, customers, suppliers and the general public is at the forefront.
The toolkit provides key information on government regulations, childcare availability, sourcing PPE, government financial supports and communicating to staff, customers and suppliers. The guide also includes links to a wide range of additional toolkits and resources prepared by members of the CBRN. Key sections of the guide will be regularly updated online to provide the most recent information available.
Please feel encouraged to share the link to the guide with your own networks. We are all in this together.
Share your experiences with Alberta's reopening
Pulse check survey
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce, Economic Developers Alberta, and Community Futures Alberta have launched a short pulse check survey as Alberta begins the process of relaunching its economy. The survey will help our network gather insights on the barriers businesses face when reopening in phase one of Alberta's relaunch as well as ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices.

The survey will be open through Friday, May 22 . To share the survey with other job creators, please copy and paste the link https://albertaperspectives.vision-critical.com/c/r/ab-covid-pulsecheck2-2020-chambers rather than sharing your unique URL.
Support for Businesses
Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Expanded

The program will now be available to a greater number of businesses that are sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll. See eligibility for business with less than 20,000 in payroll.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Extended
The government announced CEWS will be extended to August 29, 2020 and additional types of organizations are now eligible to apply. Neither the 30% drop in revenue requirement nor the allowed types of payroll used in calculations have changed.  Read more .

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund

The newly announced Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) will help eligible small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) alleviate financial hardship resulting from COVID-19. The objective of this program is to assist western Canadian SMEs that do not qualify for the  Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA)  program.

Please contact P atti-Jay Powell at 403-389-8272 or Dianne Graham at 403-464-2572 of Community Futures Centre West for more information. 
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety
Your workplace may look different during this unprecedented time. With these changes come new health and safety challenges and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS) are here to help. They have unlocked a collection of pandemic related e-courses and publications, and created new tips sheets and resources – available at no cost - to help you as you work through COVID-19.

Pandemic (COVID-19) Tip Sheets
Download this series of free tip sheets offering guidance for higher-risk and essential occupations and industries. There are 17 titles and growing, ranging from construction to transportation to healthcare and retail.

Posters and Podcasts
Available as free downloads, use these new hand washin g  and prevent the spread posters to help stop the spread of viruses at the workplace.
Listen to podcasts on mental health, office ergonomics and stress.

Free online courses and resources
Explore this collection of 13 courses and publications , focused on mental health, business continuity planning, and ergonomics, available for free during this pandemic period. 

Infectious Disease Outbreaks/Pandemics Website
Access tools and resources from some of the most credible national and international organizations to help you navigate the pandemic.
New information and resources are added and updated regularly.
Community Information
Canada-U.S. Border Closure Extended

It was announced the closure of the Canada-U.S. border would be extended an additional 30 days to June 21. The conditions of the closure remain unchanged, which bans non-essential travel. 


Benefits Payments for Eligible Canadians to
Continue Until Fall 2020
 
The federal government announced that benefit payments will continue for an additional three months for those who are not able to file their 2019 returns on time. Eligible Canadians who are presently receiving the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit and/or the Canada child benefit (CCB) will continue to receive these payments until the end of September 2020. 
Advocacy in Action
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) Program Expanded!

We have been advocating for changes to the CECRA to allow rent assistance for businesses without mortgages and the government has finally made the change! The CECRA program will now be administered for properties with mortgages, other forms of debt or no mortgages at all with the application process open in the second half of May. The website has been updated with new information and answers to questions that have been received concerning eligibility, role of property owner/landlord, mortgage requirements, and process. Visit the website and sign up to receive details when they’re available.    
Our Chamber Events
Join your fellow chamber member's for an informal chat with like minded business professionals. Want help brainstorming solutions to a particular problem you are facing or are you willing to share best practices on how your business has pivoted during the COVID-19 crisis? Let's connect; we are stronger together!

Please note: There are two date/times for this event; pick the one that works best for your schedule via the buttons below.
Additional Online Events
Digital Transformation: Leaveraging Technology to Drive Innovation

This webinar will explore how emerging technology can easily and effectively increase your organization’s productivity. Led by RSM Canada, we will discuss how investing in technology can lead to resilience to rapidly changing economic and societal factors. Plus, our presenters will highlight how not taking an integrated approach to technology investments, can impede your competitiveness, operational effectiveness and agility.

Thursday, May 21 @
10:00 AM

Planning for recovery: How to restart your business in the wake of COVID-19

The Canadian economy is gradually reopening after a shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You will need to plan how your business will restart, adapting your operations to meet demand, ensuring your supply chains and managing your financial circumstances. You will also need to put best practices in place to ensure the safety of your employees as they return to work.
 
Friday, May 22 @
12 pm EDT



Strategies for how Businesses can persevere and recover from COVID-19

You’re invited to join a webinar to discuss strategies for how businesses can persevere and recover from COVID-19. 

Throughout this webinar, Canadian Western Bank will discuss tips and tricks for how to take care of your employees as well as provide insight into how they are able to offer their support to businesses and clients as they navigate the crisis and beyond.

Tuesday, May 26 @
1:00 PM





Business Finance and Tax (Intermediate)

Finance and tax topics can often seem like another language but understanding them is necessary to the success of your business. This workshop is appropriate for owners who have some experience with finance and tax and are interested to take the next steps in your business.

Tuesday, May 26 @
10:00 AM





Emotional Regulation Using Mindfulness

Are you finding it difficult to find balance in this challenging time? 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.

Thursday, June 4 @
6:30 PM


Intermediate Facebook Marketing
This webinar is for those already comfortable with the platform but want to do more with their advertising. You will learn to: 
- Develop a strong content strategy 
- Optimize boosted posts 
- Optimize Facebook ads 
- Understand Facebook analytics 

Wednesday, June 10 @ 10:00 AM

Connections LIVE Webinar Series

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Travel Alberta has been actively monitoring the impact on tourism and the economy, placing great importance on data and insights to help guide business decisions going forward.


COVID-19 Webinar Series

These weekly webinars will not only provide information to help mitigate the economic impacts of this pandemic disaster; they'll also give participants some relief from the social isolation this pandemic is causing.

Every Wednesday @
12:00 PM

#Here4YYC
Business resource webinar series

Tune into upcoming webinars and listen to previously recorded webinars from the Calgary Chamber. 

Ongoing webinar series.

Community Marketing Fund
Great West Newspapers has announced a special Community Marketing Fund worth $1 Million to help local business owners with marketing during these challenging times. Matching funds are available through this program for May, June, July & August to help us both get back to business together!  
 
Grants will be available for both new and existing customers for incremental ad spending for our newspaper and website digital marketing products. 
 
If you are interested, please check out the details and apply online by May 31, 2020 . Matching funds are available while funds last! 
Local Cleaning Supplies
At All Clean Natural our goal is to create compelling, healthy alternatives that are not only as good, but better than department store chemicals. We aim to develop solutions that promote a natural lifestyle, are environmentally friendly, never tested on animals, and are safe for you and your family.
Airdrie Chamber of Commerce
102, 150 Edwards Way NW
Airdrie, AB T4B 4B9
403. 948.4412