Dear Members,
 
Here is this week’s round-up of key announcements, info and resources to help keep you informed. We are really pleased with today’s announcement on the details on rent assistance especially when you look at the results of the BC MindReader Survey included below. Please reach out to Meredith directly at mkemp@pembertonchamber.com or at 604.905.9167 if you have any comments, need help connecting to supports or just want to share what your business is going through.

COVID-19 UPDATES AND SUPPORTS FOR BUSINESS 

Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) to help lower rents by 75% for small businesses affected by COVID-19.
Announced on April 24, 2020:

• The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 percent of three-monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.
• The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 percent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 percent of the rent.
• Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70 percent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.

• Recordings of COVID-19 Webinars from the Whistler Chamber. Some of the topics include cashflow management and commercial leases.
• Catch up with SBBC’s Free Covid-19 Webinars. Topics include how to get started with Shopify, leading your business in uncertain times and managing remote workers. 

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

BC MindReader Survey Results Are In
Our Chamber network has been working together to advocating for you. Results of the second BC MindReader Survey are in and show small and medium-sized businesses affected by COVID-19 are running out of time. We received almost 1300 responses from across BC – and the results are here. The insights gathered have been sent to both the federal and provincial government – and based on the recent announcements the intelligence you shared with us is helping shape how government reacts to this pandemic crisis in real time. Here’s some coverage of the survey results.
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Golf Tournament Moved to September 25^th, 2020
The 15^th Annual Golf Tournament presented in partnership by the Pemberton + District Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Pemberton will now be held on September 25, 2020, at the Pemberton Meadows Golf Course. More details to come.

Sincerely, 

Meredith Kemp

Executive Director
Pemberton + District Chamber of Commerce
e: mkemp@pembertonchamber.com
p: 604.905.9167
w: pembertonchamber.com