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. EAT LOCAL GPRC Bingo
  2. Indigenous Business Connections Event
  3. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  4. Business Awards of Distinction
  5. 50% Off Digital Sign Advertising
  6. Women in Business Summit
  7. Grant, Subsidy & Loan Updates
  • Boost by Jobber - Rewarding Great Work in Home Service Grant - Closes Tomorrow
  • Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) - Closes June 30
  • Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee - Closes June 30
  • Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant - Closes June 30
  • CEBA application deadline extended to June 30 - Closes June 30
  • Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
  • Alberta Jobs Now Program
  • Stabilizing Program - Phase 2
  • Amplifying live music funding in Alberta
1) EAT LOCAL GPRC Bingo
The EAT LOCAL GPRC Bingo game is officially complete and we are extending the drop off date!

If you have a completed Bingo Card be sure to drop off the Bingo card by 4:30 PM today, Tuesday June 21 to enter for one of three prizes of $25.00 gift cards from the participating restaurants.

You can drop off your Bingo card(s) at either GPRC office/VIC.
  • Spruce Grove Office: 99 Campsite Road, Spruce Grove (Spruce Grove Rotary Park)
  • Stony Plain: 4815 – 44 Avenue, Stony Plain (Stony Plain Rotary Park)
2) Indigenous Business Connections Event
The Indigenous Business Connections event was well received. If you would like to watch the event, you can find the link below. Please fill out the corresponding survey once you have finished watching as this helps us develop future events.

We would like to thank our sponsors and partners for a very successful, informative presentation and look forward to continuing to build the relationships we have started by hosting this event. For more information about the GPRC or our Indigenous Business Committee please contact our office.

If you watch the event and would like to receive a copy of the post event email, you can email Jodie at jmacpherson@gprchamber.ca and she will forward it to you.
3) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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 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) Business Awards of Distinction
October 21, 2021
Spruce Grove Hall, Heritage Park

The Chamber of Commerce Business Awards of Distinction is a celebration of our business community. Over the years, we have recognized the high standards our entrepreneurs bring to business and our awards evening acknowledges local excellence along with Chambers across Canada during Small Business Week.
Nominations are OPEN - submit a nomination today!
5) 50% Off Digital Sign Advertising
You may have heard that we have a new Gold Sponsor, Community Futures Capital Region. They have teamed up with the GPRC to offer 50% off of digital sign advertising. The Stony Plain sign is already 50% off with our recovery and resiliency discount, and Community Futures Capital Region is taking it further by offering another 50% off. That makes the Stony Plain digital sign 75% off!! The generosity of Community Futures is extended to the Wabamun sign as well, so you can capture the attention of all of the traffic visiting the hamlet this summer! Check out our marketing opportunities for more information, or email: kwambold@gprchamber.ca if you are interested.
6) Women in Business Summit
June 23, 2021
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.
7) Grant, Subsidy & Loan Updates
Boost by Jobber - Rewarding Great Work in Home Service Grant - Closes Tomorrow
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.
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) - Closes June 30
The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) is providing assistance to businesses and communities that may require additional support to cope with and recover from the pandemic. The RRRF is part of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.
The fund will help to:
  • mitigate the financial pressure experienced by businesses and organizations to allow them to continue their operations, including paying their employees; and
  • support projects by businesses, organizations and communities to prepare now for a successful recovery.
Recognizing the importance of the RRRF in supporting small businesses, the government is increasing the fund by up to $500 million. The funds will go to regional development agencies and the Community Futures Network of Canada, bringing total funding to over $2 billion—25% of the funding is earmarked for the struggling tourism sector.

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee - Closes June 30
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 - Closes June 30
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 extended to June 30.

CEBA Application Deadline is Extended - Closes June 30
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.

Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, and several financial institutions. It will provide loans up to $250,000 to Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.

The Government of Canada has announced that the Loan Fund is accepting loan applications from Black business owners and entrepreneurs through the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE).

Alberta Jobs Now Program
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.

This federal-provincial investment is the largest job training program in Alberta’s history. It will support our province’s recovery, help businesses re-open or grow their workforce, and give Albertans an opportunity to gain the skills they need in today’s job market.

First intake open: May 20 to August 31, 2021
Second intake: September 15 to December 31, 2021 

Stabilizing Program - Phase 2
The Stabilize Program – Phase 2 is rolling out more one-time grants to further help Alberta’s live experience sector to adapt and develop creative solutions for resuming live events.
To adapt, innovate and prepare for the province’s relaunch, the Stabilize Program – Phase 2 starts with the Stabilize Live Music Grant to support:
  • Alberta’s musicians
  • live music professionals
  • for-profit live music venues

Grant information session
When: Tuesday, June 29, 10:30 to 11:30 am

This webinar will cover the Stabilize Donation Matching 2.0 stream and the Adapt and Innovate funding stream. The session will explain the streams, eligibility, criteria, application process and timelines. There will be time for questions after the presentation.

Limited spots are available. A recording of the webinar will be available after.

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