Fuelling Our Business Community |
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Shop YXH will be comprised of small businesses in Southeast Alberta selling their unique goods and services. The platform empowers sellers to do what they love and helps consumers support local creators, makers, and entrepreneurs. Shop YXH is an aggregated site that makes it easy to find, discover and buy local, and gives businesses a competitive advantage online. Read the full press release.
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Shop Local First, Shop Medicine Hat and Southeast Alberta Businesses online at ShopYXH.ca
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On Wednesday, Dec. 2, City Council passed Bylaw #4637 - Mandatory Face Coverings, which introduces the mandatory use of face coverings in public places and public vehicles in an effort to decrease the rate of COVID-19 virus transmission. This bylaw does not apply to privately owned vehicles and private dwellings. Read more.
The City of Medicine Hat's new Fast Track Permit (FTP) process meant to reduce regulatory red tape and timelines for issuing a Building Permit for the construction of all new detached “Single Family Detached Dwellings”. The new FTP application process will ensure construction starts will not be delayed, while ensuring compliance is maintained with all provincial regulations. Read more.
During the 2020 construction season, almost $1 billion was invested in more than 150 projects across Alberta. These projects will be built over the next few years and support more than 9,200 jobs. Read more.
The Government of Alberta is collaborating with Global Affairs Canada to create an Alberta Seniors Care Capabilities Directory in order to promote Alberta seniors care companies. We are looking for companies that have the below capabilities:
a. Smart solutions
b. Medical equipment
c. Rehab, assistive device solutions
d. Training & services (***must be exportable)
e. NHPs (only those targeted at aging – e.g. improving cognition)
If you are interested in getting this exposure for your company with seniors care capabilities, please contact Hanna Wajda, Trade Commissioner at Hanna.Wajda@international.gc.ca.
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The Government of Canada announced additional COVID-19 funding support in its Fall Economic Statement 2020 yesterday. Businesses in highly-affected sectors like tourism will have access to additional funding through government-guaranteed financing, the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), support for workers in the live events and arts sector, and continued support for businesses.
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Last month, the Government of Alberta announced up to $55 million in funding for Emission Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) new Energy Savings for Business Program. This program will help accelerate the uptake of commercially available energy efficiency technologies, leading to operational efficiencies and cost reductions for small and medium-sized industrial and commercial facilities. The program objectives are to stimulate investment, create jobs and address longer-term environmental sustainability priorities. You can find out more about receiving incentives through the program or becoming an eligible contractor by:
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Want to know what else happened that you need to know?
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The challenges aren’t getting smaller, but I continue to be impressed with the energy people in our region bring to work every day.
Earnings may be down, and in some cases survival is at stake, yet businesses in town and around the world are using their resources and ideas to generate innovative new devices and apps, hand sanitizer, PPE, and more. What a tremendous thing to see business giving back, and to witness our society benefiting from the entrepreneurial and innovative business methods we teach. Read more.
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Community Builder Spotlight:
Best Western Premier & Executive Residency
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We sat down with Natalie Szankar, General Manager, Best Western Premier & Executive Residency to chat about the Best Western brand, the investment of this brand in our community and the importance of supporting and investing locally. Thank you for your commitment Best Western Premier & Executive Residency and for your investment in our Chamber as a Community Builder!
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Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 |
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In the spring we released a video stressing the importance of preventing the spread of COVID-19. We thought it was appropriate to release this version of the video now as case numbers on the rise. We are urging our community to look out for each other and help protect those who are must vulnerable in our region. |
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Safety Buzz was the winner of our Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence and the Better Business Bureau Business Ethics Award at the 2020 Business Awards. Amy shared with us what it meant to her to receive this recognition for their team, as she reflects on the process and achievements.
As you are out and about this holiday season and you recognize a deserving business, you can nominate them here
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Women Entrepreneurs-in-STEM program has a number of great upcoming events for all women entrepreneurs across Southern Alberta.
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Telephone Town Halls with Minister Schweitzer |
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Telephone Town Hall with Restaurants, Food Service, Retail, Casinos, Hospitality (Hotels & Ski Lodges) and Personal Services stakeholders, Monday, December 7, 2020 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM MST, where I will be joined by:
· Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health
· Martin Long, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism
Please pre-register for the Telephone Town Hall by entering your name, organization and phone number at the following link by December 7 at 3 PM MST: Click Here to Register
Telephone Town Hall with Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, and Agriculture stakeholders, Tuesday, December 8, 2020 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM MST, where I will be joined by:
· Dr. Marcia Johnson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health
· Martin Long, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism
Please pre-register for the Telephone Town Hall by entering your name, organization and phone number at the following link by December 8 at 3 PM MST: Click Here to Register
Telephone Town Hall with Professional Services and Business Group stakeholders, Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM MST, where I will be joined by:
· Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health
· Martin Long, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism
Please pre-register for the Telephone Town Hall by entering your name, organization and phone number at the following link by December 9 at 3 PM MST: Click Here to Register
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This week, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, released Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19: Fall Economic Statement 2020. The Fall Economic Statement was an opportunity to provide a detailed plan to get us from today’s hardships to economic recovery and growth. The statement provided needed supports for businesses and Canadians to build a foundation for growth, though many questions remain about the government’s economic recovery plan. We’re calling on the government to lay out its recovery plan in an early 2021 federal budget. View the News Release. Here's some of the numbers:
- Total support offered during the pandemic is over $490 billion.
- The federal deficit for this year is $381.6 billion
- The federal net debt is $1.2 trillion
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Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations or charities that have seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses up to 65% of eligible expenses, retroactively from September 27, 2020 until June 2021.
Qualifying organizations that are under a lockdown or have significantly limited activities under a public health order will have access to Lockdown Support, a top-up subsidy of 25%, meaning that they could receive rent or property expenses support of up to 90%. This subsidy will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring the participation of landlords. The Canada Revenue Agency has shared useful infographics that can determine your actions and eligibility.
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There has been 13 businesses to date that have taken advantage of the program and about half of the funding that was set aside for the program is still available for use, which means there is about $5,000 up for grabs.
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Let's Make This a Local First Holiday Season! |
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Show some local love during this holiday shopping season by participating in #localfirstyxh Christmas! Our community has everything you need to prepare for the holiday season with:
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Looking for help? Post your job openings today! |
Did you know that you can post jobs and find jobs on our website? As a member you have exclusive access to the Info Hub which allows you to customize your directory listing, list sales and advertise your job openings.
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Supporting Local Business; Essential To Our Economy And Communities
December 10
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Resilience in the Workplace
December 17
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Have you shopped local for your Christmas Gifts?
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Haven't started Christmas Shopping yet
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Last week's poll results:
With increased COVID-19 case numbers will you be downloading the AB Trace Together app?:
Yes: 11.1% No: 77.8% Already downloaded: 11.1%
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Find more updates on our social media |
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