Look for "NEW" to see which programs have been updated and/or added
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
Hours are noon-4 pm Monday - Friday
Resources and information to help your business re-open
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.
Unless otherwise identified in public health orders, the following gathering restrictions are in place:
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:
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.
Travel Alberta acknowledges the extraordinary circumstances and challenges that tourism businesses are dealing with in our province. The Cooperative Investment Program is to assist tourism operators and regions across Alberta to RESTART consumer marketing activities and aid in the development of traveller products, experiences, and packaging in a COVID-19 travel environment.
The Alberta Government has created guidelines to support market managers and vendors in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
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.
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:
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.
To help ease the economic pinch, government is planning further measures including legislation to ensure commercial tenants will not face rent increases or be evicted for non-payment of rent due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The new measures will help address shortfalls in the current Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program, and will give eligible business owners piece of mind as they reopen and help with the provincial economic recovery.
Additional details are expected to be finalized during the current summer session.
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.
Business Series for Digital Marketing is a series of multiple workshops designed to empower entrepreneurs in the adoption and implementation of digital skills and tools to help their businesses survive...and thrive.
Upcoming workshops are facilitated live online via Zoom by a digital marketing expert. If you can't make it at that time or want more time to review the strategies and concepts a follow-up will be provided the following day and provide you with 7 days access to the learner materials and recording.
$50 per workshop
3 - 3.5 hours; live online
| Course | Date |
| Email Marketing | Oct. 14 |
| Google Search Optimization | Oct. 21 |
| Social Media Marketing | Oct. 28 |
| Google Ads | Oct. 6 or Nov 4 |
This includes information related to programs being provided to businesses during COVID-19
The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June.
The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the eligible small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent for the three corresponding months under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.
Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70 per cent drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will administer and deliver the CECRA, a collaboration between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships.
Provinces and territories have agreed to cost share total costs and facilitate implementation of the program. They will cost share up to 25 per cent of costs, subject to terms of agreements with the federal government.
As of June 26, 2020, businesses eligible for CEBA now include owner-operated small businesses that do not have a payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll. This means that more small businesses can access it.
Applicants without at least $20,000 in payroll in 2019 will have to demonstrate having eligible non-deferrable expenses between Cdn.$40,000 and Cdn.$1,500,000 in 2020.
The new Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.
To qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $20,000 to $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019.
Business owners can apply for support from the Canada Emergency Business Account through their banks and credit unions.
To help businesses keep and return workers to their payroll through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, proposed the new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. This would provide a 75-per-cent wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020.
Welcome to WD’s Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF).
The Fund aims to help western Canadian businesses cope with the financial hardship resulting from COVID-19.
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:
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.
The CFIB had added staff to better support businesses during this time. Their website includes lots of information to support small business. Support for:
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.
If you are a Canadian manufacturer or business that can assist Canada in meeting the need for medical supplies, your help is needed.
If you can say yes to the following, we want to hear from you.
Go to:
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.
Resources to help your nonprofit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
List of provincial government programs for businesses
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.
The Alberta government announced additional emergency funding to charities, not-for-profits and civil society organizations to support their COVID-19 response.
This funding will be provided immediately and will support social services in enabling social distancing, as well as supports and services for at-risk seniors and families facing homelessness, poverty and social isolation.
Financial support for working Albertans who are experiencing a loss of income resulting from self-isolation due to COVID-19.
The provincial government has provided up to $17.8 million in grants for the child care sector.
Quick facts:
Supports are in addition to federal support for businesses, including:
Increased wage support for qualifying small and medium-sized businesses to 75 per cent, for up to three months.
Canada Emergency Business Account provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.
$10,000 is considered a grant and does not have to be repaid.
Deferral of GST payments until June 30.
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance relief program, to cover 75 per cent of rent payments.
Employers who want to keep an employment relationship may temporarily lay off an employee. Albertans affected by COVID-19 can apply for a one-time payment of $1,146 from the provincial government as part of a $50 million relief fund.
The Government of Alberta has announced new measures to provide financial support to help employers through the challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Workers, employers and health care providers can find information and resources for the workers' compensation system Here.
Are you an innovator? Are you working on technology development. Check the Alberta Innovates site for more details on supports and funding.
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.
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.
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:
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce , in partnership with the Government of Canada, has launched the Canadian Business Resilience Network (CBRN) to help the business community prepare, persevere and, ultimately, prosper as we collectively face the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CBRN aims to:
Sign up for their mailing list: Here
The Canadian Chambers of Commerce will be creating a microsite with specific information for businesses.
The Canadian Chambers of Commerce Pandemic Preparedness guide
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.
Local support for Okotoks' businesses
Bring me basics is a website set up by the Eagle Radio station and it's parent company Golden West Broadcasting to make it possible for the community with local businesses by facilitating the online purchase of items.
Small- and medium-sized businesses can apply for loans of up to $40,000 with terms that include:
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.
Online list of local businesses and services. There are updates from businesses on products and services that are still available to residents:
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.
Resources to support business owners
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:
Important Dates:
Support for those in the agriculture industry
To ensure producers, agribusinesses and food processors can remain focused on business-critical functions, FCC has put customer support programs in place.
The purpose of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership Products to Markets –Small Projects Program is to support growth of Alberta’s agricultural industries by supporting the development of New Products and/or Processes, commercialization of products in New Markets, and expansion into local, domestic and international markets.
Online training and seminars to support businesses with recovery and future success
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:
If you missed the remote working teleconference hosted by Lethbridge Telconnect. You can still watch the recorded session.
Forward to 10:45 where the session begins.
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.
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.
Travel Alberta has been hosting a number of webinars to support businesses in the tourism industry:
April 23 I 10 - 11 am
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.
Previous recorded webinars:
