Alerts

Covid-19 Business Resources

COVID-19 Notice

Starting mid-April: Small businesses in Alberta will be able to benefit from a new financial relief program that will put more money in the hands of job creators and provide more security for workers and their families. Learn more. Application is open until March 31st

February 4 update: New businesses and unregistered sole proprietors can now apply for Alberta’s small business relaunch grant. Learn more and apply

January 15 update: Effective Monday, January 18, some provincewide restrictions will be eased:

Outdoor social gatherings are allowed up to 10 people. Indoor gatherings remain prohibited
Personal and wellness services are allowed to open by appointment only

Easing of restrictions for outdoor gatherings and personal services

Effective Monday, January 18, personal and wellness services will be allowed to open by appointment only. More details

Personal and wellness services include the following:

esthetics, manicure, pedicure, body waxing, make-up
body, nose and ear piercing, and tattoos
artificial tanning and spray tanning
facial, eyebrow and eyelash treatments
cosmetic skin and body treatments
laser hair and tattoo removal
hairstyling and barbering
floatation tanks
reflexology
colonic irrigation

All Albertans, businesses, organizations and service providers must continue to follow all other existing health measures.

Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant

To better support Alberta’s small business community through the ongoing public health crisis, the Alberta government is expanding the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant

Effective February 4: New businesses and unregistered sole proprietors can now apply for Alberta’s small business relaunch grant.
Any new company that meets the 30 per cent threshold will be able to apply for the grant starting February 4, 2021.
- Small businesses that may be eligible under the new rules should wait until February 4 to apply, to avoid being deemed ineligible.
Additional supports for businesses are available through the Federal Government

Details

Reduced Capacities for Businesses

Effective Dec. 13, some businesses are required to temporarily close, reduce capacity or limit their in-person access.

Retail services must reduce customer capacity to 15% of fire code occupancy (not including staff) or a minimum of 5 customers

Curbside pick up, delivery and online services are encouraged
Shop alone if possible or only with the people you live with
- For more advice, see tips for shoppers
Shopping mall:
- capacity limits of 15% include common areas and individual stores
  for information on how to assess capacity limits, see calculating occupancy limits
- food courts open for grab and go only
Other businesses affected include:
- Restaurants, bars, pubs, lounges and cafes
- Entertainment and recreation facilities
- Personal and wellness services
- Health, social and professional services
- Hotels, motels, hunting and fishing lodges
- Performance activities
- Sport and physical activities
Exemptions:

Alberta Health Services enhanced restrictions

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.

Restricted Capacity and Occupancy Limits

Additional Information

Workplace COVID-19 guidance documents to help businesses reopen and resume operations safely
Comprehensive listing of all Canadian and Albertan 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

Town response to COVID-19

Alberta Re-launch Resources

Resources and information to help your business re-open

Starting in mid-April, the Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit will provide funding to eligible small and medium businesses most affected by the pandemic and ongoing public health restrictions. Payments will be calculated based on 15% of the eligible business’s monthly revenue, up to a maximum of $10,000. 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
To be eligible for the Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit, applicants must:
- be a businesses, cooperative or non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees
- demonstrate a revenue reduction of at least 60%
- report the levels of provincial and federal support received, to ensure no more than 80% of revenue was covered by these support
Learn more and apply
Program expansion for new businesses
Alberta’s government is expanding its relaunch grant to ensure new businesses have access to the supports they need. Any new company that meets the 30 per cent threshold will be able to apply for the grant starting February 4, 2021. Learn More
Program expansion for businesses with losses due to COVID
Starting early the week of December 14, job creators who have experienced a 30% revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic will qualify for the program, lowering the threshold from the existing 40% revenue loss requirement. This 30% threshold will be available to impacted businesses retroactive to March.
Alberta businesses affected by the public health orders in effect from November 6, 2020 and later will also be eligible to apply for a second payment through the program.
Job creators that meet the program’s eligibility criteria will be able to apply for 15% of their pre-COVID-19 monthly revenue up to:
- a maximum of $5,000 in funding for their first payment, and
- a maximum of $15,000 for their second payment
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
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

Provincial Resources

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
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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