Table of Contents
Our new format for Tuesday's e-Blasts will start with a table of contents so that you can easily see what will be outlined and so that you can scroll to the parts that interest you the most.
  1. Community Futures - Project Support for Women Owned Businesses
  2. Women in Business Summit
  3. Diversity, Equality & Inclusion - Educational Webinars
  4. EAT LOCAL GPRC Bingo Game
  5. Snow Removal RFP Tendering Open
  6. Call Out to Indigenous Business Owners
  7. Business License Fee Rebate Introduced for 2021
  8. Committees
  9. Grant, Subsidy & Loan Updates
  • Grants for Non-Profits - NEW
  • Amplifying live music funding in Alberta - NEW
  • Boost by Jobber - Rewarding Great Work in Home Service Grant 
  • Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee
  • Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant
  • Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
  • CEBA application deadline extended to June 30
1) Community Futures - Project Support for Women Owned Businesses
"Community Futures Capital Region has seen far too many businesses and organizations that are led by women, staffed by women and serving women impacted this last year and we wanted to do our bit to help those in our local business community.
 
We wanted to take care of the Chamber Membership costs for a number of women led businesses so that they did not need to cut out an opportunity to network, learn and thrive in the coming year. We need everyone to be lifted up and out of the pandemic and on to better things.
 
Community Futures Capital Region is proud to help our clients and our community. We will stand strong right next to you."

-Adam McArthur, Community Futures Capital Region
These businesses benefited from a Chamber membership by the generosity of Community Futures:
Backyard Birds Nature Shop – Alana Tollenaar – Spruce Grove
Black Fly Environmental – Jen Gosse – Acheson
Brave Girls – Kari-Lynn Hastmas – Spruce Grove
Dale-E-Bread – Dale Mills – Acheson
Jingls on 52nd – Joanne Hay – Wabamun
Kangoo Club – Tina Hofer – Spruce Grove
Kountry Korner Gifts – Mona Fairless – Stony Plain
Let Us Produce – Alissa Kazarian – Parkland County
LovePizza – Terri Haug – Spruce Grove
Orchard Berry Arrangements – Raynette Russell – Spruce Grove
Pretty Little Industries – Kerry Richmond – Spruce Grove
Shelly’s Finds – Melody Nikish – Stony Plain
The Play Café – Aimee Hennig – Spruce Grove
TwiLite Frames & Gifts – Shona Holzer – Stony Plain
U Vinification – Robin Halter – Spruce Grove
Wags Cookies – Emily Ainsworth – Stony Plain
2) Women in Business Summit
From stories of resilience to conversations about upskilling and reskilling, diversity and mental health, the Women in Business Summit will focus on the ways the Canadian Chamber of Commerce network, businesses, female entrepreneurs and community leaders can work together to support women in the workforce through the pandemic and towards an inclusive recovery.

Registration button linked to event.
3) Diversity, Equality & Inclusion - Educational Webinars
The Greater Parkland Chamber of Commerce strives to provide timely and essential educational information to our members. In 2021, one of our initiatives is to support workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) needs. This year, we planned a series of six webinars presented by subject matter experts, and a number of business-focused events hosted by the Chamber and other partners. With the stress of COVID-19 the GPRC recognized that business owners simply do not have the capacity to take on educational series right now.

With that in mind, we have created a video series and will release videos twice a month about Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the workplace. These short videos will cover the topics which would have been touched on in the educational webinars.
4) EAT LOCAL GPRC Bingo Game
Our EAT LOCAL GPRC Bingo Game starts this Thursday, 20 May 2021! This is your last chance to get your spot on the Bingo card!

To participate, restaurants must be a member in good standing with the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce and provide one $25 gift card. The gift card will be used for the prize packages.

Each participating business, once confirmed and to a maximum of 24 restaurants, will receive a spot on the Bingo card and be assigned a letter. Closer to May 20, a representative from the GPRC will drop off a stack of Bingo cards, your assigned letter, and a stamp. Each restaurant will have a unique stamp, which will correspond with their assigned letter.
5) Snow Removal RFP Tendering Open
snow-shovel.jpg
The Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce is seeking Snow Removal Service to clear the decks and pathways at their our Stony Plain and Spruce Grove offices between the months of November 2021 and March 2022, approximately.

Tendering will close Friday, 28 May 2021

Submit your RFP to Sarah Parry or contact the Chamber office at (780) 963-4545 for more information.
6) Call Out to Indigenous Business Owners
The Greater Parkland Regional Chamber and several local partners are pleased to present Indigenous Business Connections on June 18th. We are looking for Indigenous business owners to join us for a round table discussion. More information on the event including times, registration information and more will be available in the upcoming weeks.
7) Business License Fee Rebate Introduced for 2021
A rebate program for business licenses in Stony Plain is now open for application. The 2021 Business License Fee Rebate provides a 50 per cent rebate to resident businesses whose operations have been negatively impacted by the global health pandemic. Businesses will be able to apply for the program until May 31, 2021.
8) Committees
We welcome the participation of our members on one or more committees of their choosing. Each committee usually meets monthly for 1-2 hours. There may be tasks assigned to be completed between meetings as well. This is a great opportunity to expand your ideas and become active with your Chamber of Commerce. Outlined in the invitation letter is a brief description of each committee as they are an ideal training ground for future community leaders and Board members.
9) Grant, Subsidy & Loan Updates
Grants for Non-Profits - NEW
Financial assistance for non-profit organizations, including the Community Initiatives and Community Facility Enhancement programs.
Amplifying live music funding in Alberta - NEW
Alberta’s government is launching the Stabilize Live Music Grant program to help rebuild and reopen live experiences once public health guidelines allow. Grants of $1,500 will help musicians and other live music professionals prepare for a return to live performances. Grants up to $25,000 for for-profit music venues will support innovative projects to help Alberta’s music industry adapt and relaunch.
Boost by Jobber - Rewarding Great Work in Home Service Grant
You’re out there every day doing great things for your community, and Boost by Jobber wants to support and spotlight your work through their $100,000 grant program built to help launch, grow, and strengthen small home services businesses.

"Almost entrepreneurs", new business owners, and experienced owners, are invited to apply for one of 20 grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 based on which category your business qualifies for.

Deadline to apply is June 23. This is open to home service businesses.
Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee
Businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 can access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs. These loans are for small and medium-sized businesses that have seen their revenues decrease by 50% or more as a result of COVID-19.

The HASCAP Guarantee is available until June 30, 2021.

HASCAP Quick Facts:
  • If your business has financing already, you need to apply through that financial institution. If not, you have no lending, then you are free to go to any bank.
  •  Term Loan
  •  4% fixed interest rate
  •  Amortization up to 10 years (can be shorter if preferred)
  •  Up to 12 months interest only payments 
  •  Prepayment penalties in effect (calculated by Interest Rate Differential or 3-months' Interest, whichever is greater)
Please note that these funds are NOT to be used to pay any of the following:
  • Dividends
  • Distributions
  • Management Fees
  • Bonuses 
  • Payout of current existing debt
They are to be used for financing day-to-day operating costs and support cash flow within the business. 
Please review this document for more details:
To start the application process, you will need to fill out this online form at BDC and receive your unique code:
Along with the code, you will need the following for your financial institution:
  1. Year-End Financial Statements Prior to March 1, 2020
  2. Amount of loan you are requesting

AND
3 months’ of attestations from the CEWS or CERS program showing a 50% loss in revenue within the past 8 month period. The months do not need to be consecutive
OR
Documentation showing that you have had a loss of 50% revenue or more for 3 months within the past 8 month period when compared to the previous year. The months do not need to be consecutive
i.e.: January 2020 = $35,000 January 2021 = $16,000, loss of 54.3% 
Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant
The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta organizations (businesses, cooperatives and non-profits) that were ordered to close or curtail operations, and that experienced a revenue reduction of at least 30%, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Spring 2021 payment is calculated as 15% of the eligible organization's revenue from the chosen month to a maximum of $10,000.

April 12, 2021: the Government of Alberta announced that it is offering small- and medium sized businesses, cooperatives, and non-profits affected by the April 2021 public health orders the opportunity to apply for a new payment of up to $10,000 from the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant Program.

Application intake for Spring 2021 closes May 31.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
As a Canadian employer who has seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your employee wages.

The Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy will enable you to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses, and ease your business back into normal operations.

Pay period ends May 20.
CEBA Application Deadline is Extended
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, and the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, the Honourable Mary Ng, announced that the deadline for new Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) applications is being extended from March 31 to June 30, 2021.
We're always keeping the GPRC website current with information about new and updated grants and subsidies. Check it out!
THANK YOU TO OUR PLATINUM SPONSOR
THANK YOU TO OUR GOLD SPONSOR
This e-Blast is from: Greater Parkland Regional Chamber of Commerce

Name: Elizabeth Olsen
Title: Office Administrator
Company: GPRC
Contact: eolsen@gprchamber.ca