March 16, 2020
Together We Can
Dear Business Owners:

As we prepare for the COVID 19 pandemic we want to ensure all businesses are supported through this. We will be updating our local business community and sharing resources more often. We expect to send an email every two days and will be consistently updating our social media as information for businesses arise. Let us know how we can best support you as we know this will add stress on already challenging times effecting all Stettler businesses. We expect to see impacts to labour, trading and local shopping. At this time we plan to promote alternative methods of supporting local. Please let us know of any businesses who will be offering delivery or online shopping. We would appreciate if you could stay in touch with us if you plan to make any changes to your business re: layoffs, closures, etc. as we monitor our community.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
As business owners, here are some tips to prepare your business:
  1. Discuss potential protocols and policies to mitigate the impact and spread of COVID19 in the workplace.
  2. Assess what essential services must be delivered and strategies for how services will be maintained with a reduced workforce.
  3. Understand the risk
  4. Determine Recovery Time Objective
  5. Determine business functions that will be affected
  6. Determine Action
  7. Resources needed
  8. Determine what personal protective equipment is required for employees and options for procurement.
  9. Follow recommendations from Alberta Health Services
  10. Identify financial implications of, and processes for, emergency needs.
  11. Employee processes for monitoring and reporting of employee illness and travel.
  12. Identify employee social distancing options, including teleworking, teleconferencing, staggered work shifts, and cancellation of group events.
  13. Assess information technology requirements to support telework and other remote meeting/ working solutions.
  14. Implement facility controls.
  15. Determine need and ability for personnel control in buildings
  16. Increase sanitation and cleaning of work spaces.
  17. Develop messaging for employees regarding:
  18. Your organization’s preparedness
  19. Employee protection protocols and practices.


The Stettler Regional Board of Trade & Community Development will remain open regular hours (8:30am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:30pm) Monday to Friday. We do ask that if you’ve been around an infected area or have travelled in the last 2 weeks to please call or email us rather than stopping by. Please email info@stettlerboardoftrade.com with questions or concerns as this email is monitored consistently. 

Sincerely,

Stacey Benjamin
Executive Director

BUSINESS RESOURCES
Please watch our Facebook Page for updates
Live Workshop

The Stettler Board of Trade has teamed up with Rairdan Services to offer a Live Facebook Workshop for our local businesses. Please email your questions to wendy@rairdanservices.ca prior to the event.
Business Operational Changes
Rairdan Services has built a page on stettlerlocal.com for businesses to post their operational changes. This will give the community a way to check up on numerous local businesses at once.


For Not For Profits

Rairdan Services is offering not for profits and charities to register for StettlerGives.com for no cost right now. By creating a page on the site assistance can be given to recruit volunteers for these groups and help advertise their volunteer openings.
From the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Facebook Webinar: How to Keep Your Employees Informed and Connected During a Crisis

Thursday March 19, 10am PDT. Sign up here .

Facebook has also created a Business Resource Hub , especially good for SMEs
Business Continuity

Please see the following link from the City of Calgary for a template on Business Continuity Planning. This is an important process utilized in the creation of systems for the economic recovery of our local businesses.
GENERAL INFORMATION
As of 11:40am the Prime Minister of Canada has announced that Canada's Borders will be closed to all non-Canadians. Only 4 Canadian Airports will be accepting International Flights. These restrictions will not be applied to commerce or trade to ensure Canadians can still access the goods they require. Canadians currently abroad are being told to return to Canada and take part in a self induced 2 week (14 day) self isolation.
On the Calling All Suppliers - Help Canada Combat COVID-19 page posted on the Buyandsell.gc.ca site, businesses are asked to provide information about products and services they can supply in support of Canada’s response to COVID-19.
A list of suggested products and services is provided and businesses can fill out and submit an electronic form  with their information on these or other products and services that may be relevant. As this page will continue to be updated, businesses are encouraged to check back for new information that may be posted. Thank you in advance for your assistance in sharing this information as widely as possible in your supplier community.
To help you to stay alert on what is happening in your region, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has gathered some information sites from across the country that you can bookmark for updates on the COVID-19 virus.

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