🌱 Clean up, export, training and coffee of course🌱

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Welcome to our bi-weekly Greater Knysna Business Chamber update. Full of info not to be missed!

In this edition:
Coffee Podium at Elegant – have you RSVP'ed?
Rates & Taxes – update and waiting
SANParks' deep-water sampling – first results are in and looking good
Knysna Safety & Security Initiative – it's ongoing
Revive Knysna – it starts with 'us'
Productivity SA initiative - Business Turnaround and Recovery Program
MyAHI - nuusbrief
Panel of service providers GRDM – maintenance of vehicles and small plant equipment
Knysna Host Employers – opportunity for employee future electricians
Export Advance Program – become export ready!
Tourism Technology – Innovation and Incubation Programme
International Coastal Clean Up day – join any (or our) team!

GREATER KNYSNA BUSINESS CHAMBER NEWS

Coffee Podium at Elegant – have you RSVP'ed?

Our next Coffee Podium - postponed from last month and in collaboration with the Black Business Forum - will be at Elegant Tshisanyama in Concordia, Northern Areas, August 26. This event venue has made a name for itself by hosting chilled parties. Haven't been yet? This is your chance!

As always up to 10 businesses will be given the opportunity to present themselves to the audience attending on the day. Your opportunity to get known within the broader business community of Greater Knysna! The Coffee Podium opens at 07h30 with presentations starting at 08h00.

Please RSVP on info@gkbc.co.za to mingle, network and market your business. R60 for members, R80 for future members. Limited availability, covid-regulations to be adhered to, booking is essential!

PLEASE RSVP by latest August 24.

Details for our next Coffee Podium to be held in Sedgefield on September 30 (diarize now 😊) will be available on our facebook page.

Rates & Taxes – update and waiting

Rebate for accommodation establishments with max. 8 lettable rooms
The adjustment to re-instate the 40% rebate for accommodation establishments with max. 8 lettable rooms was approved during a Council meeting end of July. All accommodation establishments which were eligible in the previous year, will automatically be eligible this year and will not have to re-apply.

This was confirmed in writing by the Chief Financial Officer.

Sedgefield Ratepayers' Association and GKBC
We reported in our last newsletters about some of the other extremely high increases. No comments or adjustments were received with regards to the minutes of the meetings held.

It remains a concern that no further public participation was required after the adjustments of the Draft Budget had been made, and a letter requesting clarification and reconsideration was sent jointly by the Sedgefield Ratepayers & Residents Association (SR&RA) and the Greater Knysna Business Chamber (GKBC). The letter can be found here.

While receipt of this correspondence has been acknowledged, no response has yet been received.

SANParks' deep-water sampling – first results are in and looking good

Thanks to funding by Mr. Trevor Kells, arranged through Mr. Albert McClean and the Greater Knysna Business Chamber, SANParks is able to once again monitor the deepwater channels of the Knysna Estuary in terms of health for recreational purposes. The funding will allow water samples to be taken from 12 sample points in the estuary every two months for a period of two years.

The water samples are taken during spring low tide conditions and sent off to the laboratory in George for testing to monitor the levels of E.coli bacteria that are present. Park rangers take the samples of estuary water from just under the surface of the waterbody in the deepwater channels of the estuary. The recreational limit for E.coli is 500cfu/100ml. This means that when the water is placed under conditions conducive for bacterial growth in the laboratory, not more than 500 coli-forming units will be present in 100ml of water. High levels of E.coli in the water can be harmful to people.

Monthly samples for E.coli are also taken and sampling funded by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) at 14 sites along the edges of the estuary. These sample sites are located to monitor the influence of stormwater, waste water treatment works effluent and river water that enters the Knysna Estuary. Sites such as the Bongani outflow, Ashmead Channel, Long Street outflow, Queen Street outflow and Train Station outflow are regularly non-compliant to E.coli recreational water limits.

The first round of deepwater samples funded by Mr. Kells was taken on the 9^th of August 2021. Sample results were received a week later and showed that all sites that were tested were well under the healthy limit for recreational use of 500cfu/100ml. This is good news, meaning that the natural tidal flush of the estuary is dispersing water-borne pollutants and that the deepwater channels of the estuary are safe for human use.

Meanwhile, the South African Earth Observation Network (SAEON) has commenced biological monitoring of the Knysna Estuary waters in a collaboration with SANParks. This sampling will provide information about the nutrients (such as nitrates, nitrites, ammonia) and other indicators (such as chlorophyll levels) entering the estuary from sewage and stormwater infrastructure and provide a better picture of the biological and environmental health of the Knysna Estuary.

SANParks holds regular Estuary Authority Pollution meetings with Knysna Municipal departments, the GRDM and the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Authority to find ways of mitigating pollution impacts on the Knysna Estuary emanating from municipal infrastructure.

Thanks to Megan Taplin and Owen Govender at SANParks Knysna.

Knysna Safety & Security Initiative – it's ongoing

The Greater Knysna Business Chamber has been able to introduce relevant businesses and their owners to the Knysna Safety & Security Initiative (KSSI) in an ongoing process of increasing safety and security around town. Additional camera's as well as more advanced equipment placed in town have proven to be instrumental in catching unwanted elements on several occasions including a cash-in-transit robbery only two months ago.

The recent article in the Knysna Plett Herald eluded to the success of the KSSI, through its continued work and growing security network.

Should you wish to contribute financially or otherwise you can contact Ray Ferguson on rayfergscx@gmail.com or get in touch with the Business Chamber for further info.

Revive Knysna – it starts with 'us'

The Greater Knysna Business Chamber proudly supports the Revive Knysna team headed up by Gail Sofianos in their efforts to clean up and beautify Knysna's CBD. In recent weeks giant steps have been made cleaning up and planting flowers on the sidewalk along the train tracks at corner of Long Street and Waterfront Drive.

Please watch out for our next newsletter, in which Revive Knysna will introduce themselves and explain the Adopt-a-Verge programme to further beautify our town.

'Be the change you want to see' starts with all of us. Donations towards Revive Knysna are most welcome and will assist in growing the Revive Knysna movement and impact. Please email info@gkbc.co.za for bank details and further info.

INDUSTRY NEWS AND UPDATES

Productivity SA initiative - Business Turnaround and Recovery Program

South African enterprises that were severely affected by the economic downturn and the COVID-19, may qualify for the Business Turnaround and Recovery Program (BT&R) which is managed by Productivity SA.

The BT&R program is fully funded by the Department of Employment and Labor and offers non-financial assistance in the form of expert consulting support. The program can span over a period of 9 to 12 months to achieve a business turnaround and recovery. During this time, the company is empowered to put processes in place to turn the company around.

In order to qualify for the program, enterprises should meet the minimum criteria:

•             The enterprise must be registered and should operate from physical premises.
•             It should be in operation for 2 years.
•             It should show financial and/or operational distress
•             The enterprise should employ a minimum of 20 employees (though - 10 can be considered)
•             It should have the latest 2 years’ Financial Statements and/or Management accounts
•             Confirmation of UIF contribution
•             A Valid Tax Clearance Certificate

There is no financial input needed from the company.
Enquiries can be directed to: turnaround@productivitysa.co.za;
For more info: https://productivitysa.co.za/turnaround-solutions

Please email info@gkbc.co.za should you need assistance in applying for this BT&R program.

Productivity SA will assess whether the enterprise qualifies for the program and will either accept or reject the application.

MyAHI - nuusbrief

In vandeesweek se jongste AHi nuusbrief vertel ons jou meer van ’n plaaslike onderneming se inisiatief om vroulike entrepreneurs te bemagtig. Ons vertel jou ook van ’n entrepreneurskompetisie wat deur die onderneming aangebied word.

Verder in die nuusbrief vertel ons jou meer oor inentings wat spoed optel, met meer as 9 miljoen entstofdosisse wat al in Suid-Afrika uitgereik is. Ons is ook opgewonde dat diegene bo die ouderdom van 35 jaar reeds hul inentings kan ontvang en diegene bo 18 jaar vanaf 1 September.

Lees ook verder in die nuusbrief oor die AHi se nuwe platform wat in tye van nood groot hulp vir entrepreneurs kan wees.

Ons is ook opgewonde om nuus uit ons sake-organisasies met jou te deel, sowel as inisiatiewe wat mense help wat deur onluste geraak word.

Lees dit, en meer, in AHI's jongste nuusbrief.

Panel of service providers GRDM – maintenance of vehicles and small plant equipment

The Garden Route District Municipality is looking to appoint a panel of service providers for the maintenance, service and repairs of the Garden Route District Municipality's fleet of vehicles and small plant equipment. This will be for a period of three years.

The advert can be found here; the tender document can be downloaded here.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Enjoying our newsletters, updates and opportunities presented every 2 weeks?

Please consider joining the Greater Knysna Business Chamber and become part of the Voice of Business. Click on the below link, fill in the Membership Application Form - annual membership fees start from as little as R250 per year, depending on the size of your company / organization.

MEMBER APPLICATION FORM

DO IT! Do it NOW!

TRAINING AND FUNDING

Knysna Host Employers – opportunity for employee future electricians

Support your loyal employees by furthering their education! The Africa Skills Private College has a limited number of openings for 18-27 year old's to become fully qualified electricians at the Knysna campus in the Industrial Area.

Businesses already paying Skills Development Levy also qualify for a tax rebate.

Interested? Further info, rates and contact details can be found here. To apply better react soon, as application deadline is August 20, 2021.

Export Advance Program – become export ready!

Wesgro will be presenting the Export Advancement Programme, specifically for companies in the Garden Route seeking to become export ready.

The Export Advancement Programme is a vocational training tool in international trade designed to build export competence within companies globally. This programme provides the expertise, knowledge and network needed to help businesses grow internationally and offers a blend of company best practice, export coaching in local seminars in standardised training modules.

This highly-subsidised series of workshops which comprises of 5 modules offered over seven online training sessions, will on completion, enable you to increase your competitiveness in the international arena. You will be given the tools to implement sound strategies in your business that will help you exploit international market opportunities and combat threats in the local market.

The programme will be taking place virtually from the 23^rd August – 1^st September 2021 and is free of charge for qualifying companies. Click here for the invitation.

Please note there are a limited number of places available. Application deadline is TODAY August 18, 2021.

Tourism Technology – Innovation and Incubation Programme

The Tourism Technology Grassroots Innovation and Incubation Programme (TTGIIP) is a jointly developed initiative between the Technology Innovation Agency and the Department of Tourism. Existing and prospective young women innovators and people with disabilities in the tourism sector are invited to submit funding applications for the development of technologies addressing the needs of the tourism sector with a strong emphasis on digital and green technologies.

Click here for the Call for Proposals;
and here for the Application guidelines.

GETTING INVOLVED

International Coastal Clean Up day – join any (or our) team!

Saturday 18 September is International Coastal Clean Up Day. Ocean Odyssey's 4^th year of heading up this communal effort has seen a record number of teams come forward to clean up Greater Knysna. Choose your own area and become a team leader or join any of the teams by contacting the respective team leaders.

The GKBC team has selected cleaning up Grey Street, being a hub for business. Email info@gkbc.co.za to join our team or contact Teresa at marketing@oceanodyssey.co.za to join with your own team.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday - or What's left of it ;) !

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Greater Knysna Business Chamber · Greater Knysna Business Chamber · Knysna, WC 6570 · South Africa