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Covid-19 Business Resources

New Business and service restrictions effective November 27

Okotoks remains on the enhanced list, which means that we fall under these restrictions.

27 - November, 2020

Update on Occupancy limits:

If the business has an Occupancy permit issued by the Fire Department they would be expected to comply with 25% of that given Occupancy load.

Businesses that do not have a permit issued by the Fire Department and do not require one, would fall well within the 25% of the occupancy load if they ensure their customers maintain the physical distancing of 2 meters apart.

Details at:

Alberta Health Services enhanced restrictions

Restricted Capacity and Occupancy Limits

Comprehensive listing of all Canadian and Albertan support programs

Canada & Alberta Economic support programs

Dedicated Support:

There is a dedicated staff member who will be available by phone to help businesses find and connect to the resources they need to support them.

Call 403-938-8052

Alberta Re-launch Resources

Resources and information to help your business re-open

The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations that were ordered to close or curtail operations, and that experienced a revenue reduction of at least 50%, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible organizations can apply for 15% of their pre-COVID-19 revenue, up to a maximum of $5,000 in funding.
Businesses, cooperatives and non-profits can use these funds as they see fit to help offset a portion of their relaunch costs, such as implementing measures to minimize the risk of virus transmission, which could include:
- physical barriers
- purchasing personal protective equipment and disinfecting supplies
- paying rent and employee wages
- replacing inventory and more
Details
Business and Non Profit Relaunch Grant
The application process for CECRA (Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance) for small businesses is closed.
New Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy:The new rent subsidy would support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19, 2020. Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020.
Details
Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
This is managed by the OCC, is supporting Canadian businesses across different sectors and industries with grants of up to $5,000. These grants will help thousands of small business owners cover the costs of personal protective equipment, make physical modifications to their businesses to meet local health and safety requirements, and enhance their digital or e-commerce capabilities. This is especially important as we enter the second wave of the pandemic.
Details
The Faith-based and Cultural Facility Relaunch Grant support faith-based and cultural organizations with the relaunch of facilities used for cultural, religious, spiritual and ceremonial gatherings. One-time reimbursement funding will help offset additional cost incurred to meet the appropriate public health directives for Albertans during the COVID-19 crisis. The program will enable organizations to:
- ensure these public spaces are available to the community
- ensure the safety of participants in the organization’s activities
- meet the appropriate public health directive
Details

Federal Resources

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
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

Government of Alberta

List of provincial government programs for businesses

Support for Employers

The government is doubling the capital maintenance and renewal (CMR) funding in 2020-21 from $937 million to $1.9 billion by accelerating the capital plan. This will allow government to act quickly and work with companies across the province so they can keep their workers employed during these challenging times.
the Alberta government will allocate almost $2 billion from the 2020 Capital Plan to resurface roads, repair bridges, restore schools and fill potholes, all to get thousands of Albertans back to work.
Details
- Wage top-up and professional development funding is available to support certified child care professionals
More 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

Provincial Resources

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
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 will be creating a microsite with specific information for businesses.
Details
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:

Local Support

Local support for Okotoks' businesses

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
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

Mental Health

Resources to support business owners

Mental Health Webinar Series

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.

Topic	Educational Webinar	Deep-dive Training
The Grief Response and Leading People through it	Recorded webinar	Recorded webinar
Leadership through trauma and team- building tactics in crisis	recorded video	recorded webinar
Communication skills in crisis	Recorded Webinar	Recorded Webinar
Business resilience and supporting team mental health	Recorded webinar	Recorded Webinar
Maintaining creativity and innovation in crisis	Recorded webinar	Recorded Webinar
Tough conversations	Recorded webinar	Recorded Webinar
Teaching team mental health and self-care strategies in crisis	Recorded webinar	June 2

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

Agriculture

Support for those in the agriculture industry

Free Training and Webinars

Recorded online training and seminars to support businesses with recovery and future success

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
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Recorded 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