Covid-19 Business Resources

Alberta’s government will bring in new supports for businesses implementing the Restrictions Exemption Program. Click button to learn more.

REP Support

The Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) is a program that the Government of Alberta will roll out on Sept. 20 as part of its COVID-19 Public Health Actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It will allow businesses and organizations an opportunity to continue providing services without reducing capacity limits. Read more about the Provincial REP program.

Restrictions Exemption Program posters

• Size: 8.5 x 11
• Size: 11 x 17
• 2 dose - Size 8.5 x 11
• 2 dose - Size 11 x 17

Capacity limit posters

• Size: 8.5 x 11
• Size: 11 x 17

Printable poster about mandatory mask wearing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta. For more information visit alberta.ca/covid19

• Size: 11 x 17

Download poster

Alberta Re-Launch Strategy

The Alberta Government has provided a plan for a staged re-launch of businesses through several phases. A link to the entire plan is available on the menu to the right. 

Details

As businesses prepare to reopen as part of Alberta's relaunch strategy, resources are available to help keep you, your staff, and your customers safe. 

This site includes a variety of PDFs, and resources on policies and general guidance as well as for businesses by sector, planning for operation.

Resources

The Government of Alberta has developed a reference document for businesses on reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 among workers, volunteers and patrons, and outlines the criteria for workplaces before re-opening. 

Reference Guide

Experts have predicted that there could be two or three waves of COVID-19 outbreaks. The Alberta Government has prepared a checklist to help businesses prepare for future situations:

Checklist

On May 19, 2020, the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism announced that hotels and other lodging providers will be allowed to keep tourism levy amounts collected between March 1 and December 31, 2020.

Details

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan:

This includes information related to programs being provided to businesses during COVID-19

Details

CEBA will be available to businesses that have been operating out of a non-business banking account.

To be eligible, businesses must have been operating as a business as of March 1, 2020, must successfully open a business account at a Canadian financial institution that is participating in CEBA, and meet the other existing CEBA eligibility criteria. The deadline to apply for CEBA is December 31, 2020.

CEBA is part of our economic response plan to help Canadians and Canadian businesses deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures under this plan are helping businesses keep their doors open, keep their employees on payroll, protect the jobs that Canadians depend on, and recover quickly when the time comes.

Current details

Extension announced until June, 2021

Details

How to apply

The  Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy calculator supports employers as they prepare to apply for the CEWS.

Calculator

Business Development bank of Canada

BDC has announced new measures to support Canadian entrepreneurs including working capital, payment postponements and rate reductions

Effective immediately, new relief measures for qualified businesses include:

• Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses;
• Postponement of payments for up to six months, free of charge, for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1 million or less

COVID-19: Business planning tools for entrepreneurs

These planning tools and tips can help you map out your next steps, identify new opportunities, mitigate risk and create resilience in your company, so you can emerge strong in recovery.  

Planning Tools

Canadian Federation of Independent Business

The CFIB had added staff to better support businesses during this time. Their website includes lots of information to support small business.  Support for:

• Coronavirus and small business: keeping you and your employees safe
• Providing answers to numerous questions and other information available

A list of CharityVillage resources, tools, and services available to assist your organization. Job posting fees have been reduced by 15% effective immediately for everyone until May 31, 2020. 

Details

Charity Village Website

If you are a Canadian manufacturer or business that can assist Canada in meeting the need for medical supplies, your help is needed.

Find opportunities to sell goods and services related to COVID-19 to the Government of Canada. 

My Business Wants to Help

The National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program provides advice, connections, and funding to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity and take their ideas to market. Check this link for current opportunities.

Details

Resources to help your nonprofit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DETAILS

Financial support for working Albertans who are experiencing a loss of income resulting from self-isolation due to COVID-19.

Details

Emergency Financial Services

• Wage top-up and professional development funding is available to support certified child care professionals

More Details

Several changes were introduced in 2020 to help with temporary layoffs related to COVID-19

Details

 Workers, employers and health care providers can find information and resources for the workers' compensation system Here.

Links

• OHS: Respiratory viruses and the workplace

• Alberta Employment standards

The Alberta government is temporarily expanding eligibility to the Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG) to help businesses access the training they need. The expansion is effective until February 28, 2022. Expanded eligibility includes:

1. Funding mandatory training. Use the CAJG to fund courses or training that is required for a job.
2. Allowing employers to train employed family members. Enables family-owned businesses to access training funds.
3. Allowing some business owners to receive funding to train themselves. Supports entrepreneurs to expand their skill set to grow or pivot their business.

In addition, other changes will make the application process more efficient. For example, an employee’s training can start as soon as government receives an application, rather than having to wait for the application to be approved. This allows businesses to begin training sooner if required.
 
Temporarily expanding the CAJG provides more opportunities for businesses to access support as part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan.
 
Learn more about the program and apply online: alberta.ca/CAJG
 

The Critical Worker Benefit will provide 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.

Eligible workers in the health care, social services, education and private sectors will receive a $1,200 benefit distributed through their employers.

Private sector employers have until Friday, March 19, 2021 to apply for the benefit on behalf of their eligible employees.

To be eligible for the Critical Worker Benefit, private sector workers must:

• earn $25 per hour or less
• have worked at least 300 hours between the period of October 12, 2020 and January 31, 2021
• be located and working in Alberta

Workers listed in the following private sectors are eligible to receive the Critical Worker Benefit:

• Retail – grocery, pharmacy and gas
• Food manufacturing
• Truck transportation of food and medical supplies
• Warehousing and storage of food and medical supplies
• Private health clinics
• Private sector workers in First Nations communities

Learn more and apply

From May 20 to August 31, 2021, employers can apply to the Albertan Jobs Now program to cover wages or training costs of hiring unemployed or underemployed workers in new or vacant positions. This funding will help employers re-open or expand their operations.

More than 22,000 Albertans will be able to get back to work through the largest jobs training program in Alberta’s history. 

The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses support much-needed jobs for unemployed and underemployed Albertans across the province and help Alberta’s economy recover.

Employers will be able to apply for a grant that covers 25 per cent of an employee’s salary for a 52-week period up to a maximum of $25,000 per employee. The grant can be used to cover salary or training costs. Employers who hire persons with disabilities will receive a grant 1.5 times higher than the amount they receive for other new employees.

APPLICATION DETAILS
-Private sector businesses and non-profit organizations in Alberta can apply.
-Applications will be assessed on a first come, first served basis

Learn more and apply

Alberta’s government is investing $17 million to ensure the stabilization of performing arts, sports and rodeo organizations.

Alberta’s live experience organizations have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. They have lost a full season of programming and revenue but still have ongoing overhead costs. The Stabilize Program will provide one-time grant funding to support live experience presenting and performing arts, sport and rodeo organizations. The funding will help these organizations continue to operate and reopen when it is safe to do so.

Quick details

• The Stabilize Program will support and leverage Albertans’ investments to non-profit organizations that own and/or operate live experience venues by matching private donations from $250,000 to $1 million dollar for dollar

• The maximum funding request is up to 25% of eligible expenses. These expenses are based on the 2 most recent board-approved/audited financial statements up to and including March 31, 2020

• To be eligible, organizations must be registered for a minimum of 3 calendar years (and in good standing) under one of the acts below. The exception to this is for Alberta-based professional or elite amateur sports teams and leagues.
• Applications will remain open until midnight on February 18, 2021

Learn more and apply

Are you an innovator? Are you working on technology development. Check the Alberta Innovates site for more details on supports and funding.

Details

Alberta Innovates held their Inventures Conference online. These videos are now available and provide information about funding for innovative, start up businesses,  from ideating to establishing.

Session 1: Support for Startups (ideating and concepting)

Webinar

Session 2:  Support through the "Valley of Death" (committing and validating)

Webinar

Sesssion 3: Support for Growth (Scaling and Establishing) 

Webinar

If a company/stakeholder/client is interested in offering support/or products during this Covid 19 emergency, please provide details on the product or service on Alberta Purchasing Connection’s  Emergency Response Database. Should there be an emergency requirement for the product or service, the company will be contacted by a representative of the Government of Alberta.

Website

Business Link is continuing to support entrepreneurs in Alberta by ensuring COVID-19 resources and information are up-to-date and available.

A list of resources for small businesses affected by COVID-19: Details

Additionally they have:

Tips for Small Businesses

Emergency Response Plan Template

Canadian Business Resilience Network (CBRN)

Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce

Sign up for their mailing list:  Here

Canadian Chambers of Commerce

The Canadian Chambers of Commerce Pandemic Preparedness guide

Business Link

Business Link  is a nonprofit organization that helps people navigate the steps toward starting their own businesses. They provide one-on-one support and guidance, market research, access to experts, training, networking opportunities, and specialized support for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Resources for Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19:

Regional Relief Recovery Fund

Small- and medium-sized businesses can apply for loans of up to $40,000 with terms that include:

• No interest accrual or principal payments through December 31, 2022. 
• If 75% of the loan is repaid by December 31, 2022, the remainder of the loan is forgiven.  
• Blended principal and interest payments beginning January 1, 2023 and loans must be repaid by December 31, 2025.  
• No prepayment penalties.  

More information

This website has a diversity of resources to help businesses understand the challenges and opportunities associated with running their business operations during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Website

Online list of local businesses and services. There are updates from businesses on products and services that are still available to residents:

Website

GetintheLoop for Business makes local marketing easier. Attract and retain more customers with mobile offers, delivered directly to their phones. 

Website

The Town has relaxed the requirements for parking temporary storage containers (PODs, C-Cans) on private driveways. 

Businesses can now park these on their residential driveways has been extended 

If you need to do this, please contact Planning Services at 403-995-2760 or by email

If you have a business with an approved, fenced yard and have room, please reach out to other businesses or contact Planning Services to let them know you would be willing to store a container. 

Full news release

Tactics for Maintaining Mental Fitness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Website

The Okotoks Entrepreneurial Ecosystem sponsored a series of FREE webinars for local entrepreneurs and businesses, along with anyone else who may need a little extra support during this time. Each topic will kick off on Thursdays with an educational webinar followed by a deeper dive training the following Tuesday on the same topic. 

The Alberta Government will be providing grant funding for projects that enhance community mental health and addiction recovery. 

One time grant funding of up to $25 million will be available to organizations for eligible projects and services to enhance community mental health and addiction recovery.

Key points:

• Funding will be distributed through 3 calls for proposals from Alberta Health.
• Overall administration of the funding should not exceed 1%.

Important Dates:

• Third call for proposals – August 2020 to November 2020

Details

To ensure producers, agribusinesses and food processors can remain focused on business-critical functions, FCC has put customer support programs in place.

Details

Calgary Chamber Webinars

The Calgary Chamber has created the following webinars to support businesses. Each one is less than an hour long and these are and can be viewed anytime:

HR Resource webinar - a Business to Business conversation: Link

Workshare and Remote Working: Link

Leadership through a crisis: Link

Mental Health and Resiliency for your employees: Link

Recorded Webinars - note a zoom account will be required to view webinars.

Business Finance and tax: Intermediate

Finance and tax topics can often seem like another language but understanding them is necessary to the success of your business. This workshop is appropriate for owners who have some experience with finance and tax and are interested to take the next steps in your business. Those who have completed our “Business Finance and Tax: Introduction” seminar may also be interested to continue with these intermediate topics.

Recorded Webinar

Introduction to e-commerce through Shopify

E-commerce isn't easy. How do you get your products online? How will you build an online brand? How are you going to drive traffic and sales? This workshop will teach you about selling online through Shopify and how the multichannel ecosystem works. It’s an opportunity to learn the basics of online brand strategy, as well as how to find the right customers through effective digital marketing. This workshop covers everything you need to know to get your first sale online! 

Recorded Webinar

Managing Cash flow in a Crisis

Business Link presenter Mark Shields.

Recorded webinar

A guide to successful email marketing for small business

Understand the steps to plan an effective email marketing strategy, to build campaigns that engage your target audience via their inbox, and to ultimately grow your business. Pre-registration is required

Recorded webinar

Digital communications in the age of OVID-19 (webinar)

In the era of physical distancing, communicating with customers has taken on a whole new importance – and challenge. Customers we previously interacted with in-person have moved online, and now all communication must flow through digital channels. 
Pre-registration required. 

Recorded webinar

Get your store online in changing times - recorded webinar

Saved Webinar

During this time of social distancing and store closures, it is crucial now more than ever to have an online presence to still engage with customers and continue to grow your business. This webinar focused on building the basics of your Shopify store! This workshop helped businesses start from the very beginning, from creating Shopify stores and Account Settings to setting up a Payment Provider (how to get paid!)

How to dominate the first page of Google without paying for ads

SAVED WEBINAR

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Managing the impact on global supply chains

This on-demand webinar is being offered by Economic Development Canada  for participants to learn how the coronavirus is affecting global trade and how your company can be protected.

Webinar Link

Remote working Tips and Tricks

If you missed the remote working teleconference hosted by Lethbridge Telconnect. You can still watch the recorded session. 

Recorded webinar link

Destination Canada

Destination Canada provides intelligence, tools and resources that help the Canadian tourism industry reach international markets. Check their web site for tools and resources, and coronavirus updates.

Website

Webinars

April 1 - watch the recorded conversation with the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages; Ben Cowan-Dewar, Chair of the Board, Destination Canada; and Charlotte Bell, President & CEO, Tourism Industry Association of Canada. 

Recorded Webinar 

Travel Alberta

Travel Alberta has been hosting a number of webinars to support businesses in the tourism industry:

Recorded webinars:

Communicating with your customers during a crisis

webinar