The Town of Hinton, Hinton & District Chamber of Commerce, and Community Futures West Yellowhead are committed to supporting local business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Want to learn more about safety during COVID? Economic Development and Strategic Services were proud to support the Chamber in a livestream of a session with Barrow Safety Services. View it here.

There are a number of new and existing resources that are available to local businesses that will provide support at this time. Hinton and our partners have compiled information to provide easy access to our community, and the information is accessible on the Town of Hinton’s website. 

March 2021

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. Click here

Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit (ECBB)

There is a now website for the ECBB (the program that comes after SMERG) https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-covid-19-business-benefit.aspx 

Applications will open in mid-April 2021.

Businesses can use these funds as they see fit to help offset the costs of re-opening, and implementing public health measures including:

• physical barriers
• purchasing personal protective equipment and disinfecting supplies
• paying rent and employee wages
• replacing inventory
• expanding online business or e-commerce opportunities

Canada-Alberta Job Grant 

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their present or future employee(s) for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees.

Canada-Alberta Job Grant | Alberta.ca 

February 2021

bdc - Business Development Bank of Canada

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee https://www.bdc.ca/en/special-support/hascap 

Supports for Business - December 2020

Provincial Supports

Changes have been made to increase eligibility to the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant.

Federal Supports

Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy - now available until June 2021

Canadian Emergency Business Account Loan - loan increase from $40,000 to $60,000, applications open until March 31, 2021

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy - Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses, starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021. This does not require the participation of landlords. 

New grants will ease relaunch costs faced by businesses

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many small- and medium-sized businesses and non-profits in Alberta have shutdown, either completely or partially, leading to severely limited sales. As they begin to reopen, the increased cost to operate under public health requirements are causing further stress among business owners and non-profits.

To ease the impacts of new measures, businesses and non-profits need support to reopen. Government is committing up to $200 million in funding for eligible businesses and non-profits to access up to $5,000 to offset a portion of their relaunch costs. These funds can be used for implementing measures to minimize the risk of virus transmission, (such as physical barriers, personal protective equipment and disinfecting supplies), rent, employee wages or replacement of inventory.

The program’s online application is expected to be available in the coming weeks. Program details, including eligibility, are being confirmed.  Click here

Rent Relief Application

BDC - Live Webinar

Planing for recovery:  How to restart your business in the wake of COVID-19 Click here

ALBERTA’S RELAUNCH STRATEGY

PPE for Businesses

For PPE requirements, employers can access the following website to order PPE through POC: Click here

If the PPE is not received in a timely manner, employers can follow up with an email to: ma.ppesupport@gov.ab.ca

To connect with POC:  1-866-618-2362

Some clarifying information:

What type of businesses can access the PPE available on the website (in the drop down menu on the website businesses are listed but some are not – want to make sure that those businesses that require PPE are not missed)?

• There are a number of business types identified in the drop down menu – if businesses do not see their type listed, choose “Other” and then in the box below, identify what type of business they are operating.
• The businesses that are currently identified on the list are the ones that are able to operate in Alberta at this time. As more businesses are allowed to open, my contact indicated that more business types will be added.
• PPE requests should be coming in from businesses that are currently allowed to operate or will be allowed to operate in the next phase, beginning May 14. Businesses not yet allowed to open should wait to order PPE.
• Businesses should source locally, where possible.

What costs are associated?

• Costs are not identified on this website. Businesses should fill out the form, identifying what they require and then the list with costs will be sent to them in an email.
• PPE is available on a cost recovery basis, POC is not looking to profit on these products.

Timelines?

• For businesses that are re-opening on May 14, they should be looking at placing an order today.

WORKPLACE GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

More information click here

Prime Minister announces partnerships with provinces and territories to deliver the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses

More Information click here

COVID-19: Get financing and support for your business

Available on demand

Our new webinar will show Canadian companies how to access the financial relief available to you.

In our new webinar, presented in English only, COVID-19: Get financing and support for your business, a panel of experts will provide guidelines on how you can access the financial relief and safeguards available to you.

Who should watch

If you’re a Canadian company, exporting or not, whose business has been disrupted or decreased by the COVID-19 pandemic, our webinar will show you the programs and assistance that can help you right now.

Watch to learn:

• The assistance programs and resources available to your company through your financial institution, the federal government, and EDC
• How to determine what assistance you qualify for, how to apply, and the timing you can expect 
• How EDC is helping our customers with capital, insurance and knowledge in our newly-expanded role
• Where to get information and who to contact 

https://www.edc.ca/en/events/webinar/get-the-financing-and-support-you-need.html

CREATING VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES

4/30/2020 - 4/30/2020

As we explore how to “do differently” to connect with customers during the COVID 19 pandemic, this session looks at turning your product or activity into a memorable and engaging virtual experience. Join Cameron Spence, Experience Development Manager with Travel Alberta to learn how the fundamental elements of experience development support online experiences. He’ll share examples that will help you to identify opportunities to maintain awareness, enhance your competitive appeal and examine innovative ways to offer products and services to local and virtual audiences, now and in the future. There is no cost to join, but pre-registration is required.  click here

•    Hosted by: Travel Alberta

•    Location: Online

•    Event Type: Webinar

Understanding the Benefits E-commerce Can Bring to Your Business and How to Get Started

The COVID -19 crisis has businesses looking at different ways to serve their customers while adhering to current restrictions to help stop the spread. On April 23, Connections LIVE welcomes Calgarian and fourth-generation Albertan Kelly Doody, Founder & CEO of Social School to discuss the benefits e-commerce can bring to your business. She will explore the types of businesses and offerings that work online and some strategies to get your business up and running. Here’s what she’ll cover: • Why e-commerce? The tools, systems and programs needed to run a business online. • E-commerce platforms and tips on how to sign-up and use them. • How to build a roadmap to evolve your business to take advantage of e-commerce capabilities. • How to build and nurture your online community of fans and clients.

industry.travelalberta.com

Connections LIVE Webinar Series. In every corner of the province, tourism businesses are facing challenging and uncertain times. Travel Alberta is here for you with Connections LIVE, a weekly webinar series to help you navigate the issues resulting from COVID 19.

Government of Canada - Call to Action

On March 20, 2020, the Federal Government announced plans to support businesses who rapidly scale up production or re-tool their manufacturing lines to develop products including critical health and safety supplies and equipment, such as personal protective equipment, sanitization products, diagnostic and testing products, and disease tracking technology. In Alberta and Ontario, some distillers have already switched to producing hand sanitizer.

Details of the announcement are available at: www.pm.gc.ca

click here

Government of Alberta - BIts and Pieces Program