LOCAL PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES
In order to assist local business in gaining information on business opportunities with local municipalities, Wainwright Garrison etc., the Wainwright Economic Development Office will periodically send out business opportunities featured on   merx.com  and  buyandsell.gc.ca  that pertain particularly to Wainwright and area.

These are systems used by the Government for procurement of goods and services over $25,000.

Click here for the list of   WAINWRIGHT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
UPCOMING BUSINESS EDUCATION
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Canada Recovery Hiring Program
The Canada Recovery Hiring Program provides a subsidy on eligible salary or wages to help hard-hit businesses hire the workers they need to recover and grow as local economies reopen.

This program allows eligible employers to hire new workers, increase workers' hours, or increase wages at a pace that works for them. As with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, eligible employers can apply for support after each four-week period of the program.

We are ensuring that businesses can continue to get the financial support they need to invest in their longer-term prosperity, including businesses in hard-hit sectors like tourism and hospitality, hotels, arts and entertainment.

Support is available retroactively to June 6 2021 and until November 20, 2021.


Tourism Relief Fund
The Tourism Relief Fund supports tourism businesses and organizations adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. This fund will position Canada to be a destination of choice when domestic and international travel is once again safe by:
  • empowering tourism operators to create new or enhance existing tourism experiences and products to attract more local and domestic visitors
  • helping the sector reposition itself to welcome international visitors by offering the best Canadian tourism experiences we have to offer the world


A complete list of Federal Government programs available to business owners can be found at Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.  
ALBERTA GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Critical Worker Benefit - Deadline has been extended to end of August 2021
A second phase of the one time payment for critical workers has been expanded to help Albertans who provides critical services, are essential to the supply and movement of goods and have a potential risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their work environments. 

Please visit the Critical Worker Benefit website for further information and a complete list of the expanded occupations at www.alberta.ca/critical-worker-benefit.aspx. 


Alberta Jobs Now Program - Next intake period opens on September 16
The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses with job supports to get thousands of Albertans back to work. Employers can apply for funding to offset the cost of hiring and training unemployed or underemployed Albertans in new or vacant positions. The current intake period is now open through the Alberta Jobs Now Program Portal. If you are interested in hosting a presentation, please let me know and we can arrange a date.     

View the Alberta Jobs Now Program Fact Sheet or for further information, www.alberta.ca/jobsnow.         

Rapid Testing Program
Alberta is the first province in Western Canada to offer rapid antigen testing kits to all chambers of commerce province-wide to help identify pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic cases and isolate them early. For more information please go to Rapid testing program | Alberta.ca. Businesses that are not Chamber members can still get the tests through the Chamber.

The Wainwright & District Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 780.842.4910 or wainwrightchamber@gmail.com

Canada Alberta Job Grant
Eligible employers can get government funding to help employees and unemployed Albertans access training opportunities. Eligible employers are required to contribute a minimum of one-third of the total training costs for existing employees. Government contributes two-thirds of the cost to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee per fiscal year. If hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, up to 100% of training costs could be covered, up to $15,000 per trainee. For further information, please visit the Canada Alberta Job Grant website at www.alberta.ca/canada-alberta-job-grant.aspx.
 
Labour Marketing Information
Alberta’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.3% in June 2021, a 0.6 percentage point increase from the previous month and a 6.5 percentage points decrease from the same month last year. This rate was tied for third highest in Canada with New Brunswick, after Newfoundland and Labrador’s 13.0% and Prince Edward Island’s 12.5%.The national rate was 7.8%, down 0.4 percentage points from the previous month.
 
The June 2021 LFS Alberta Highlights are available in the Government of Alberta website. Please use this link to the publication: Labour Force Statistics


All Provincial Government Programs available to business owners can now be found at BizConnect, including information on relaunch plans.  
MAN VAN SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
The Man Van is planning to come to Wainwright in September and there is an opportunity for businesses to sponsor the Van and receive recognition. If interested, please contact linda.m@prostatecancercentre.ca or 403.943.8869.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROGRAMS
BUSINESSES RESOURCES
VISIT alberta.ca/COVID19 for up-to-date COVID-19 information
While every effort is made to ensure the currency, accuracy and completeness of the information provided, The Town of Wainwright (Wainwright Economic Development) is not liable for any loss, claim or demand arising directly or indirectly from any use or reliance upon the information provided.