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Monday September 14, 2020
The Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce
Elevating, Connecting, & Advocating
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Bow Valley Restart Fund Second Round Of
Applications Now Open
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The Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Town of Canmore to initiate the Bow Valley Restart Fund. Given the unique nature of the economic environment we intend to help as many Bow Valley businesses as possible. Based on contributions received we can help those who need it the most by awarding grants of up to $5,000.00.
Second round of applications opened to all Bow Valley businesses including sole proprietors on Friday September 4, 2020. Application deadline has been EXTENDED to Friday September 25,2020.
To view all BVRF information visit the BVCC website and select the menu heading under Bow Valley Restart Fund (BVRF) that pertains to you.
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2020 Bow Valley Business Excellence Awards
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The Business Excellence Awards (BEA's) are a chance to celebrate the accomplishments and hard work of businesses throughout the Bow Valley.
By nominating businesses, you are promoting and recognizing your local entrepreneurs and showing them that their hard work has not gone unnoticed! And you can nominate more than one business!
2020's BEA's will celebrate three businesses in the following categories:
Community Impact Award
Business that has done the most for the Bow Valley community in 2020.
Innovation Award
Business that has done their best by pivoting and adapting to the ever-changing business operations during COVID-19.
Bow Valley Business of The Year Award
Let us know what business you think deserves the most recognition for all they have accomplished in 2020!
Nomination and Selection Information
Nomination form will be available on the BVCC website soon!
Any Bow Valley business can be nominated but only Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce members will be eligible to win an award.
The BEA selection committee will decide the winners of the three categories. All information shared with BEA selection committee members will be kept confidential and private. All BEA Selection Committee members have signed the BEA selection committee Confidentiality & Intent Agreement document. This ensures their understanding of their role on the committee and their obligation to maintain all personal and confidential information private.
Ticket information
Tickets will be available soon at: www.bowvalleychamber.com/eventcalendar
Reminder: Any Bow Valley business can be nominated but only Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce members will be eligible to win an award.
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Support Local Campaign
Join the conversation by using the hashtags #SupportLocalCanmore and #BuyItInTheBow to help us celebrate local businesses' contribution to our economy and community. Or post a video or photo along with a short write-up about why is it important to support local.
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Pick up a free support local sticker from businesses around town!
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Are you a local business owner ?
Then this survey is for you! We are asking local businesses to fill out this quick 10 question survey so that we can acquire more information on your products and promotions, stories, and COVID-19 safety protocols. That way we can work to promote your business and the idea of shopping locally to our community.
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SMARTstart Entrepreneurial Program
Mentors & Teachers Needed
In partnership with the Town of Canmore the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce has initiated SMARTstart. An 8 month entrepreneurial program that focuses on online learning, seminars, and mentoring. Each entrepreneur comes away from the program with a plan they have created to set their business up for success. Applications closed on July 19, 2020 but we are still looking for mentors and teachers to provide tools and support. Learn more about being a mentor HERE.
If you would like to teach a session in the SMARTstart program please email treasurer@bowvalleychamber.com
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The Government of Alberta
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The GOA Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant
Applications are still open for the Government of Alberta Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant. The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations that were ordered to close or curtail operations, and that experienced a revenue reduction of at least 50%, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible organizations can apply for 15% of their pre-COVID-19 revenue, up to a maximum of $5,000 in funding.
Application intake will remain open until August 31 or for 4 weeks following the start of Phase 3 of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy – whichever is later. An official date for intake closure will be posted HERE when Phase 3 of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy is announced.
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View all guidance and restrictions to help Albertans limit the spread of COVID-19 when gathering in groups HERE
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GOA COVID-19 Update As At September 10, 2020
-113 new cases have been identified and 9,711 tests completed in the last 24 hours.
-Alberta labs have now performed 1,072,681 tests on 838,433 Albertans.
-There were five deaths in the last 24 hours.
-7 active cases and 30 recovered cases in zones to be confirmed
-There are 60 active cases and 1,016 recovered cases at continuing care facilities; 162 facility residents have died.
-In total, 13,557 Albertans have now recovered from COVID-19.
To date, AHS has confirmed 24 individuals with COVID-19 were present at 21 schools while infectious. Currently, the identified cases have come from community transmission, not transmission within the schools.
Three school outbreaks (two to four cases) have been identified:
-Henry Wise Wood High School, Calgary
-St. Wilfred Elementary School, Calgary
-Chinook High School, Lethbridge
As of September 10, 2020 , all zones across the province have cases:
Calgary zone: 594 active cases and 7,274 recovered
South zone: 37 active cases and 1,712 recovered
Edmonton zone: 596 active cases and 3,058 recovered
North zone: 215 active cases and 906 recovered
Central zone: 45 active cases and 577 recovered
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COVID-19 And Schools
The new COVID-19 online status map lists every school where there are two or more confirmed cases and an outbreak is declared. The map is updated daily and will also list schools that have shifted into scenario 2 or 3 to protect the health of students and staff.
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The Federal Government of Canada
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September 8, 2020
Federal Government Announces Extension of
Rent Relief for Small Businesses
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses will be extended by one month to help eligible small businesses pay rent for September. All provinces and territories continue to participate in this initiative and collaborate with the federal government to provide rent supports to those small businesses most in need. Current CECRA application deadlines will also be extended to accommodate this extension.
This will be the final extension of the program as the government explores options to support small businesses as they face the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic — including the challenges of fixed costs at a time when health concerns and precautions prevent many businesses from operating at full capacity.
Across the country, thousands of small businesses that were forced to close or were especially hard hit have been able to use CECRA to help cover rent and position themselves to reopen as the economy reopens. As of September 7, 2020, over 106,000 small business tenants have been supported, representing 994,000 employees, for a total of over $1.32 billion in rent support.
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August 31, 2020
Greater flexibility and extension of
Canada Emergency Business Account
The application deadline for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is extended from August 31 to October 31, 2020.
The government is working closely with financial institutions to make the CEBA program available to those with qualifying payroll or non-deferrable expenses that have so far been unable to apply due to not operating from a business banking account.
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Future Of Transportation: Trucking
September 17 | 1:00 P.M. ET
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70% of Canadian goods are transported by truck, whether it’s groceries, raw materials, or other items essential to Canada’s economic well-being. Before and throughout the pandemic, the trucking industry has been invaluable in helping to keep supply chains open and flowing. Join the CCC as they focus on the initial impacts of COVID-19 on trucking operations and steps the industry has taken to mitigate those impacts. There will also be a discussion on what the future of trucking may look like in a post-COVID world.
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Taste Of Adventure!
To help support Banff Lake Louise restaurant sector and drive visitation in shoulder season, Banff Lake Louise Tourisim is launching a food event from October 12 - November 13 targeted at our regional audience.
Taste for Adventure will offer visitors a range of culinary offers from restaurants across the destination. The event will encourage visitation to multiple restaurants and return visits to the destination over the month-long event. Guests who eat at four or more restaurants over the course of the event will be entered into a contest to win the ultimate winter adventure getaway for four or any one of a number of secondary prizes.
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Succession planning - it’s always a good time to think about the future of your business or non-profit organization. Community Futures has put together a variety of resources for you - single and masterclass workshops (exit planning, selling your business) as well as a special series focused on passing a business to a family member. We even have resources to help sell your business if you are ready.
- Sept 16, 2020: Not-For-Profit Succession Planning Workshop
- Oct 21, 2020: Business Transition and Succession Planning Workshop
- Nov 18, 2020: Business Transition and Succession Planning Workshop
Visit http://centrewest.albertacf.com/succession-planning-0 for more information.
Upcoming Sessions:
Exit Planning (16 week masterclass) – Starts Sept 17
Selling Your Business (16 week masterclass) – Starts Oct 22
Family Business Transition – In Depth Series (8 classes) – Starts Sept 17
Single Workshops (2 hours)
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Cheers to You & Entrepreneurship
The BVCC’s mission is to sustain a successful business community in the Bow Valley by Elevating, Connecting and Advocating for our members. A BVCC membership connects you and your business with nearly 300 other businesses spanning from Kananaskis to Lake Louise.
#SupportLocalCanmore & #BuyItInTheBow
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