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. TRINUS Cyber Security Presentation
  2. Shop Local Saturday Business Submission to be Featured RPF
  3. The Shop Local Saturday Videography RFP
  4. Web Application Creation RFP
  5. Pay It Forward
  6. Business Awards of Distinction
  7. 50% Off Digital Sign Advertising
  8. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  9. Grant, Subsidy & Loan Updates
  • Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF)
  • Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator (APBI)
  • Alberta Export Expansion Program
  • Alberta Jobs Now Program
  • Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
  • Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP)
  • Critical Worker Benefit - NEW
  • Employment Partnership Program (EPP)
  • Residential Schools Community Research Grant
  • Stabilizing Program - Phase 2
  • Visa Canada She's Next Grant Program - NEW

1) TRINUS Cyber Security Presentation
CEO Sarah Parry and Vice Chair Paulla Adamitz, represent the GPRC on the Greater Edmonton Regional Chamber (GERCC) Board. In June 2021, the GERCC Board was delighted to have Dave and Kevin White of TRINUS deliver a presentation on cyber security. Watch the presentation to learn what you need to know about cyber security in 2021 and ways to mitigate cyber crimes.
3) The Shop Local Saturday Videography RFP
12 businesses will be featured in a variety of locations in our large region, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Parkland County, and Acheson. The businesses are also located in locations where there will be residual marketing for the businesses around them, i.e.: shopping complexes and industrial areas.  

The videos will be pre-recorded over a few weeks, with some recording being put off until the fall to showcase some seasonal businesses, and be inclusive of the Christmas shopping season.

The videos will be released weekly on Saturday’s starting October 2, and ending Saturday, December 18. 
4) Web Application Creation RFP
The GPRC is looking for a developer to create a web based application that is easy to manage administratively,
responsive, and can grow with the chamber.
5) Pay It Forward GPRC
All businesses in the region are welcome to participate in the GPRC’s Pay It Forward. This event will give shoppers and elevated shopping experience while encouraging them to try new stores by offering coupons to other businesses with their purchases.

Businesses in the Greater Parkland Region are invited to create 100 coupons (4”x2 ½”) and drop them off at one of the GPRC offices (99 Campsite Road in Spruce Grove, or 4814 44 Avenue in Stony Plain) before July 23rd. The coupons can include any promotion or event that suits the business.
6) 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!
7) 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! The sponsorship is nearly used up, check out our marketing opportunities for more information, or email: kwambold@gprchamber.ca to get your digital sign advertising before the sponsorship is done!
8) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Greater Parkland Chamber of Commerce strives to provide timely and essential educational information to our members. Instead of the traditional webinar style, we will release a short video on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Workplace twice per month. Each video covers a different angle and simple steps that you can take to implement at your organization or community. For this week, we are presenting to you: Are Your Workplace Benefits Flexible Enough?
Today’s workforce is made up of individuals with varying abilities and needs. The one-size-fits-all approach to employer-sponsored benefits is proving ineffective. In this video, we will point out several key benefits and perks that are highly sought after by employees and why they are important to attract and retain talent within your organization.  
9) Grant, Subsidy & Loan Updates
Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF)
The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF) can partially or completely fund capital costs for Indigenous community-owned economic development projects. Projects like these improve social and economic outcomes for Indigenous Peoples and their communities.

ABIF provides between $150,000 and $500,000 to support an Indigenous community-owned economic development project. That could be up to 100% of eligible project costs. An ABIF grant can be stacked with other government and industry funding sources.

Closes September 30
Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator (APBI)
The Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator (APBI) is a multi-tenant facility. It provides the infrastructure and services to support the establishment and growth of new companies and new business ventures in Alberta. The APBI meets federal food-regulation requirements, enabling resident companies to market their products nationally and internationally.

The purpose of the APBI facility is to:
  • assist with the startup of new food businesses
  • provide a centre of excellence for agrivalue venture scale-up
  • attract product/process development initiatives of established food industry companies to Alberta
Alberta Export Expansion Program
The Alberta Export Expansion Program provides funding support to Alberta small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), municipalities, industry associations, Indigenous communities and economic development organizations promoting Alberta exports through:

  • outbound international business travel
  • bringing international buyers to Alberta

For-profit or municipal applicants may be reimbursed up to 50%, and non-profit applicants up to 75%, on eligible costs.

Each applicant can apply to the program multiple times, but will only be eligible for up to a combined maximum of $25,000 in approved grant agreement(s) per program year (April 1 to March 31).

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 

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).
Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP)
As a Canadian employer who continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible to apply for one of the two subsidies to cover part of your employee wages.

The CRHP and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) support wages you pay through different phases of your economic recovery. Each claim period, eligible employers can claim either CRHP or CEWS, whichever is higher.

Critical Worker Benefit
The Critical Worker Benefit provides a one-time payment of $1,200 to eligible Albertans in recognition of their hard work to provide Albertans with the care and critical services they need.

Through the benefit, the Government of Alberta will distribute up to $465 million in funding to eligible workers. This includes up to $118 million in provincial funds, in addition to $347 million from the federal government’s benefit program for low-wage critical workers.
Private sector employers have until Friday, July 23, 2021, to apply.
Employment Partnership Program (EPP)
Employment Partnerships Program (EPP) provides funding to Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program agreement holders for Indigenous workforce development.

EPP project priorities are to:
  • provide direct training and employment supports
  • foster industry partnerships to expand the availability, accessibility and quality of Indigenous employment opportunities
  • inform organizational priorities with labour market information to better meet skills needs and market demand

EPP complements other funding programs and is not intended to replace or duplicate other sources of financing that may be available.
EPP is funded federally through the Canada-Alberta Labour Market Development Agreement and the Canada-Alberta Workforce Development Agreement.

The maximum application funding amount for a single project is $100,000.
Residential Schools Community Research Grant
The Residential Schools Community Research Grant funds Indigenous-led engagement, research and related activities associated with the documented and undocumented deaths and burials of Indigenous children at any of the historical Indian residential school sites in Alberta.

This is one way Alberta is taking action on the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action relating to Indigenous children and residential schools.
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
Visa Canada She's Next Grant Program
Visa is back with more funding opportunities for women-owned businesses in Canada, in partnership with IFundWomen. As part of Visa’s continued commitment to support small businesses, women entrepreneurs in Canada are encouraged to apply for another chance to win $10,000 CAD plus a one-year IFundWomen Annual Coaching membership. Applications are being accepted through August 3, 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