Details on financial support available for businesses can be found here:
Province of Alberta supports available here
Government of Canada supports available here
The City of Grande Prairie, County of Grande Prairie and Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce have launched a joint task force to support businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The partners are meeting daily as the situation and business needs rapidly evolve. The coordinated regional response is aimed at business and economic recovery and will be introducing new initiatives as needs emerge.
View the full media release here.
For a list of supports available to businesses during the pandemic, visit www.grandeprairiechamber.com/covid-19-business-resiliency/.
On May 7, GPREP shifted its focus to help support local businesses as they prepared to re-open. Read the full media release here.
The Business Relaunch of the GPREP website is available to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information and resources to help support businesses that are re-opening or continuing operations.
Business Relaunch, at www.gprep.ca, offers resources on a range of topics including how to prepare workspaces to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19; proper use of personal protective equipment like masks and gloves; employee screening questions; and resources for financial support. A variety of free communication materials, such as decals and posters promoting safe workspaces, can be downloaded and printed right from the site.
GPREP is assisted local businesses to keep workers, patrons & volunteers safe during re-opening through its PPE4Biz Program. A limited supply of masks, gloves and hand sanitizers were available for purchase to eligible businesses in the City and County of Grande Prairie, Hythe, Beaverlodge, Wembley and Sexsmith.
The program closed July 24.
Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region are now offering loans through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund to small and medium business owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund provides funding to support businesses that have not been approved for supports through the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) or the Emergency Loan Program delivered through Aboriginal Financial Institutions.
The Alberta Government is providing $30 million to municipalities, charitable and non-profit organizations to provide social services to individuals, seniors, families and other vulnerable Albertans who are isolated or impacted by measures to contain COVID-19.
These organizations will support a range of services needed from at-home help for seniors, crisis and helplines, food security issues, emotional and mental health counselling or any other identified community issues related to COVID-19.
Charitable and non-profit organizations are encouraged to connect directly with their local FCSS program to receive the funding guidelines and grant criteria. FCSS offices will accept the applications on behalf of Community and Social Services and forward them to the Province for deliberation.
Starting Thursday, April 30, the City of Grande Prairie is hosting weekly virtual coffee meetings with local non-profits to discuss challenges and opportunities related to the pandemic.
The meetings take place every Thursday from 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. until May 28.
To join, contact csd@cityofgp.com and request access to the Zoom meeting.
Learn more in the media release here.
On May 19, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a new Emergency Community Support Fund to provide support to charities and non-profit organizations serving vulnerable populations.
Funds are being distributed through three national networks: Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.
For more information and to apply online visit the Community Foundation's funding page.
