Thank you for supporting the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce! This WEEKLY email highlights information and updates from our Chamber, the Alberta and Canadian Chambers of Commerce, and our municipal, provincial, and federal government partners.  

Be sure to watch for our weekly Chamber Member Connections newsletter on Thursdays featuring sales, promotions, accomplishments, events, and general awareness of our membership. 

For more information on Chamber Member Connections submissions,

please email tom@gpchamber.com.

BDC Small Business Week 2020 is set for October 18-24. This year's theme is "Forging the Way Forward". Join us as we recognize entrepreneurial resilience and forge a way forward in uncertain times. The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce will host an informative, entertaining and interactive virtual event on Thursday, October 22 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. The event will include speaker presentations as well as local businesses sharing their stories of entrepreneurial resilience and innovation.

Participants are urged to watch in their cohort groups while enjoying snacks delivered to your office! More details to come - keep watching your emails as well as our website and social media. If you are interested in sponsorship and/or would like to share your story of adapting to the pandemic; employee resiliency; or what you've learned about your industry moving forward, contact Cindy Simigan in our office by phone at 780-532-5340 or email cindy@gpchamber.com.

The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce invites you to join our members and guests at a Ribbon Cutting for Quen's Tea and Juice on Wednesday, September 16 at 10:00 AM. Event runs from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM).

Quen's Tea and Juice is located at 9823 116 Avenue, Unit 104, Grande Prairie.

The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce invites you to join our members and guests at a Ribbon Cutting for MYST Gastro Lounge on Thursday, September 24 at 5:00 PM. Event runs from 4:00-6:00 PM).

MYST Gastro Lounge is located at 10011 - 101 Avenue, Grande Prairie in the Acropolis Restaurant.

The Chamber of Commerce along with the City of Grande Prairie and County of Grande Prairie Economic Development Departments are working together to provide a unified approach to supporting local businesses. On our website is a list of resources to help you navigate the various levels of support for business.

Thank you to the 1,300 member businesses for supporting our Chamber! In our efforts to best promote your services, we need your help. Please take a few moments to check your information with us including your contact information, and categories in which you are listed. We also ask you to review your web page with us to ensure you are making the most of your membership and look your best to users searching for your info!

Contact Leah Fujarczuk, Member Relations and Engagement, at 780-532-5340 or leah@gpchamber.com for more information on using your Info Hub with us!

Let us help you spread the word about your business! Send us an ad for our our Digital Sign outside Centre 2000 on 116 Avenue!

For more information on Digital Sign advertising with EXCLUSIVE RATES FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS, contact Leah in our office by phone at 780-532-5340 or email leah@gpchamber.com.

By joining the Alberta Perspectives insight community, you'll hear first about new Alberta Chambers of Commerce surveys and research.

The Government of Alberta has released its expanded recovery plan.

Alberta Innovates and Western Economic Diversification Canada are providing funding to the Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association (SSRIA). The funding will be used to establish a network of test buildings for small and medium-sized construction firms to develop new innovations in energy-efficient construction through testing, commercializing and adoption of new products and technologies.

The Government of Canada announced that Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses will be extended by one month to help eligible small businesses pay rent for September. Current CECRA application deadlines will also be extended to accommodate this extension.

The Government of Canada released an update on COVID-19 measures to support youth and students.

Join the Canadian Chamber for an interactive webinar with guest speakers Mark Boutet and Larry Markowitz of NATIONAL Public Relations, Canada's leading public relations firm to discuss the basic principles of crisis communication, and focus on maintaining your brand during these challenging times.

Grant applications for the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund are now open! Small business members have the opportunity to apply for the grant of up to $5,000 for unexpected spending on measures related to COVID-19. Alberta businesses CLICK HERE.

The Government of Canada announced that the application deadline for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is extended to October 31, 2020. The government is working closely with financial institutions to make the CEBA program available to those with qualifying payroll or non-deferrable expenses that have so far been unable to apply due to not operating from a business banking account.

The Government of Canada announced the coming into force of changes to federal labour standards. The changes strengthen protections and regulations for internships in federally regulated workplaces and build on other efforts to protect young workers, including anti-harassment and violence legislation.

More than 2,400 businesses in Western Canada have received over $154 million in RRRF funding, protecting almost 11,000 jobs in communities across the West.

The Economic Recovery Program has been developed by the City of Grande Prairie to support businesses in the creation of employment and recovery activities in the wake of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic. Phase One of the program includes the Beautification and Patio Grant and the Local Marketing Grant.

The Beautification & Patio Grant matches 50% of Project Costs for up to a maximum $15,000 for any Façade improvement, landscaping or patio project that improves aesthetic appeal, pedestrian access and safety according to the Program Guidelines. Click here for full application details for the Beautification & Patio Grant.

The Local Marketing Grant matches up to 50% of Project Costs, to a maximum of $2,500 for the creation of a marketing plan or marketing content. Or, a grant equal to 75% Project Costs, to a maximum of $7,500 for the creation of a collaborative marketing plan or project involving three or more businesses. Click here for full application details for the Local Marketing Grant.

We are seeking the services of a Consultant to complete a 360-degree Gap Analysis and Needs Assessment for regional innovation services, focusing on current and past GPRIN clients, partners and stakeholders, service providers and regional partners.

We want to make sure that you have everything you need to operate in these challenging times. We have all had to adapt to a “new normal” and we know that many of your needs have changed too. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has launched a survey to understand how your needs have changed and what programs and services they can provide to help your business persevere, and ultimately prosper, through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The survey is completely anonymous and will take no more than 5 minutes.

Take The Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EBSsurvey2020