Greetings!
Everything is changing daily and we are on top of it.
Check out todays local news
for you, your family and your business.
COVID-19 arrives in Invermere.
Now more than ever we need to bound together by staying apart.
Sadly, this global issue has reached our little Valley. We have all been preparing for this. Now more than ever we need to remain level headed and community focused. Read more
Community Futures East Kootenay is taking two immediate steps to provide assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses in our service area.
First, we are providing a 3-month Payment Relief Program for all of our current clients. CFEK is suspending interest and waiving fees until June 30, 2020 so that our clients have one less thing to worry about. Learn more
The results are in!
Thank you for your spectacular engagement in the BC chamber network  COVID-19 Business Impact Survey  that launched last Friday and closed at 5pm on March 18 th .
We received an unprecedented 7900+ responses.You can be proud – and know with confidence – that there is no more definitive business community “pulse check” in the province right now.
We have prepared three online “Insight Stories” for you:

  1. An overall summary of the data
  2. A breakdown by region
  3. A breakdown by size of business

These insights have been sent to both the federal and provincial government – and the intelligence you shared with us is helping shape how government reacts to this pandemic crisis in real time.
Here’s the quick analysis:

  • 90% of businesses are “currently being impacted by COVID-19”
  • Of those impacted, 83% are seeing a “drop in revenue, business, or deal flow”
  • 91% anticipate a further “decrease in revenue in the near-term” [sic]
  • 73% of businesses expect their revenues will drop by 50% or more (with nearly a quarter saying revenues will drop by 100%)
  • Half of the respondents say they will be “temporarily shutting down” their offices.
  • 64% of respondents expect to reduce their staff by over half (with a quarter saying they will be reducing their staff by 100%)
The governments plan to support you, your employees and your business.
Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. During this extraordinary time, the Government of Canada is taking strong action to help Canadian businesses as COVID-19 is affecting them, their employees and their families. Read more
10 Positive Updates on the COVID-19 Outbreaks From Around the World
If it seems that your news feed has been flooded with nerve-wracking updates on the COVID-19 outbreaks. There are also plenty of positive updates on the pandemic as well. Read more
Your Local Network to Help and Be Helped is here
Are you in need of assistance or do you have time to assist others? If so, please visit  Volunteer Columbia Valley  website to register. 

If you are able to be a Grocery Food Shopper for others, register  here .

If you are able to help with Grocery Food Delivery for others, register  here .

If you are in need of either of these supports, register  here .
 
Should you have any questions on this, please email  klassenlaurie@gmail.com , or
call 250-688-0529. 
 
Thank you for being such a caring community.
Don't just stop at facebook . Help us centralize your business information / how you are operating over the coming weeks.
Many local businesses have already created an official statement on their website and social media. In an effort to centralize communication from your business to our visitors, municipalities and local community members, Please quickly submit your information below.
It is imperative that our community rallies together during this time and we strongly encourage everyone to support local business as much as possible.
By doing our part both on the health and safety side and responsible communication management side, we will get through this challenge together and protect the wellbeing of our community.

Your Chamber Team