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 Game
  2. Snow Removal RFP Tendering Open
  3. Call Out to Indigenous Business Owners
  4. Business License Fee Rebate Introduced for 2021
  5. Redefining Badass - The Power of Connect'd Men
  6. Job Postings on Website
  7. Encouraging Employers to Step up for Students
  8. 8th Annual Mayor's Event
  9. Committees
  10. Grant, Subsidy & Loan Updates
  • Boost by Jobber - Rewarding Great Work in Home Service Grant -NEW
  • 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) EAT LOCAL GPRC Bingo Game
We are looking for local businesses to take part in our EAT LOCAL GPRC Bingo Game!

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 14, 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.
2) Snow Removal RFP Tendering Open
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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.
3) 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.
4) 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.
5) Redefining Badass - The Power of Connect'd Men
Join the Stony Plain FCSS for a conversation with Mike Cameron and learn why it is vital to our community's health to break down stereotypical, unrealistic, hypermasculine values that have been passed on from generation to generation.
Mike Cameron is a family man, entrepreneur, speaker and writer with a passion for domestic violence prevention and redefining what it means to be a badass.
All registrants will be entered into draw for a copy of Mike Cameron's book, Becoming a Better Man. 10 copies available.

Register Here or call 780-963-8583
6) Job Postings on Website
DID YOU KNOW?

Members are able to list job postings on the Chamber website through their online portal. Job posting can include information such as Title, Description, Posting Date and more. To post a job, simply login to your Member Login, click on Job Postings and then Add a Job Posting. You can also manage your job posting through the site.

If you have any questions, or need access to your Member Login, please contact the Chamber office at (780) 963-4545
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7) Encouraging Employers to Step up For Students
The Greater Parkland Regional Chamber and CAREERS: The Next Generation, has been working with Parkland School Division No. 70 to provide hands-on opportunities in the trades for students in Grades 10-12. If your business is interested in participating in this ground breaking initiative to encourage students to live, work and play in their community, contact Jodie at the GPRC office for more information.
8) 8th Annual Mayor's Event
Since 2012, Gateway Association has hosted an annual Mayor's Luncheon in partnership with Mayors and forward-thinking business leaders across Alberta, with the goal of promoting Diversity & Inclusion through the voices of our community leaders.

This year, Gateway Association welcomes you to the 8th annual, and first ever virtual, Mayors Luncheon; Business Resiliency through Community and Inclusion.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Renate Burwash, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Gateway Association: renate@gatewayassociation.ca
9) 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.
10) Grant, Subsidy & Loan Updates
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