photo courtesy Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce

By Chantal Wagner

support breakdown

Chamber talks about government supports available amid new restrictions

Dec 9, 2020 | 4:45 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce is evaluating if the supports announced by the government on Tuesday are enough for the immediate and long-term planning for businesses.

Executive director Lisa Kowalchuk says money is available even for businesses that have already applied.

She highly encourages businesses to look at Alberta’s Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant. That grant has been topped up and second payment is available.

The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy program is available to support renters, tenants, and property owners. The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy is also there for support.

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Kowalchuk says with the new restrictions, it will be more important than ever for businesses to access the supports that are out there.

She says businesses have pivoted since the first set of restrictions in the spring.

“This kind of scenario is never great for our business community because it has that much more uncertainty for them. However, I do think having gone through the first wave of the pandemic businesses started planning and preparing, knowing there was that potential second wave so whether that was pandemic plans or business continuity plans or trying to ensure that the workforce could work remotely. As well as businesses getting online and an online presence so that they could still have those connections and transactions with their customers.”

The online market Shop YXH website was announced this week to encourage local online shopping and virtual presence for businesses.

Kowalchuk says businesses can reach out to the chamber for assistance on government funding and programs.