Community Futures Crowsnest Pass
Room 180, 12501-20th Ave. T0K 0E0 Blairmore, AB, Canada

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) through Community Futures is now offering additional loans up to $20,000 for businesses that have previously received a $40,000 loan. RRRF also offers loans up to $60,000 to new eligible applicants. The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund supports rural SMEs with operating expenses such as payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, and property tax. If your small or medium-sized business has been impacted by COVID-19 and you’re ineligible for other federal business support programs - we’re here to help. For more information, email [email protected] or visit: http://crowsnest.albertacf.com/rrrf-crowsnest-pass

Are you overwhelmed by the number of programs available to small businesses these days? For a list of financial supports through the Federal government during Covid, visit https://www.canada.ca//busi/maintaining-your-business.html

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced the launch of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program, or HASCAP. The program is intended to help businesses with their day-to-day operating costs during the COVID-19 crisis and enable them to invest in their longer-term prosperity. Highlights of the program: - Through HASCAP, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will work with participating Canadia...n financial institutions to offer government-guaranteed, low-interest loans of up to $1 million. Hard-hit businesses, like a chain of hotels or restaurants with multiple locations under one related entity, could be eligible for up to $6.25 million. HASCAP will help businesses with their day-to-day operating costs during the COVID-19 crisis and enable them to invest in their longer-term prosperity. - HASCAP is available to businesses across the country, in all sectors, that have been hit hard by the pandemic. This includes restaurants, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and those that rely on in-person service. - To be eligible for HASCAP, businesses need to show a year-over-year revenue decline of at least 50% in three months, within the eight months prior to their application. They must also be able to show their financial institutions that they have previously applied for either the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy. - Eligible businesses can start applying as early as February 1 at principal financial institutions and more widely by February 15. Interested businesses should contact their primary lender to get more information and to apply. If you would like to speak with someone from Community Futures on this program, please email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] l See more

Customer loyalty is something that every company strives for, because who doesn’t want loyal customers who promote your products and services to their networks. Unfortunately, customer loyalty doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes time and effort to build this up and establish it. These are a few of the things you can do to start building that consumer loyalty: https://www.awebusiness.com//how-to-foster-customer-loyalt

We are pleased to announce SuccessionMatching’s upcoming ‘Business Transition and Succession Planning Webinar Summit’. If you are a business owner looking to sell, or someone interested in buying a business, this comprehensive webinar summit is being offered free of charge to help individuals navigate business succession and empower them to move forward through transition in 2021 with confidence. Follow this link to find out more, and to register! https://insights.successionmatching.com/webinar-summit-2021/

TOUGH CONVERSATIONS Join us for this FREE ONLINE workshop to learn when you are in the right place to have a tough conversation and give feedback About this Event: Engaging tough conversations, including giving honest and productive feedback, Maintaining Respect and Truth, the hallmarks of every tough conversation that is effective,... How accountability accelerates productivity, How kindness comes through clarity, while a lack of clarity is inherently unkind, The power of empathy to connect to the emotions that underpin an experience, How to know when you are in the right place to have a tough conversation and give feedback, Register today at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tough-conversations-tickets-128 See more

PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE Psychological safety is the number of one variable in team performance. In the coming decade, teams that do not achieve high levels of psychological safety will lose their talent, innovation and competitive edge. Join a certified coach and trainer in the 4 Stages of Psychological Safety and discover why both Google and Microsoft have identified psychological safety as the key driver of team performance. Join us for this FREE ONLINE workshop on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 12:00-1:30pm. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/employer-workshop-5-making-your

CANADA SUMMER JOBS 2021 APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED The Federal Governments’ Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market. The Canada Summer Jobs program objectives align with the redesigned Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and are as follows: pr...ovide quality work experiences for youth respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers provide opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills The program provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Funded employers are not restricted to hiring students all youth aged 15 to 30 years may be eligible participants. Visit https://www.canada.ca//ser/funding/canada-summer-jobs.html See more

Happy New Year everyone - here's to a better year ahead! And what better way to get it started than some amazing workshops to help get you and your business on the way to a fabulous year. Starting next week, Community Futures Crowsnest Pass is continuing to offer FREE online workshops in a variety of topics. Check out our EVENTS page for more information. Register soon to secure your spot!

COVID-19 RESPONSE We have recently adjusted our services to limit the transmission of COVID-19. To safeguard the health and wellbeing of our team members and clients we are not facilitating any in-person meetings, training and/or workshops until further notice. We can still be reached during business hours by email or online messaging. Contact emails are: Shar Cartwright at [email protected]... Sacha Anderson at [email protected] Larry Saloff at [email protected] Joni MacFarlane at [email protected] See more

As we prepare for what the future of retail holds, there's only one thing that’s certain: the in-store shopping experience has changed irrevocably. When stores open back up, it’s important that retailers are mindful of how consumer behavior has shifted since the pandemic, and what services and experiences are now expected of all brick-and-mortar shops. Visit our website for important information for safe reopening of retail stores. Visit http://crowsnest.albertacf.com/latest-news

Community Futures Continues to Bridge the Gap for Rural Small Business Local business and non-profits continue to be seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response Community Futures Crowsnest Pass is offering additional $40,000 loans as part of the Government of Canada's Regional Relief & Recovery Fund. These zero-interest, partially forgivable loans, are intended to help small and medium-sized businesses cover ongoing costs and help them resume operations after COVID-19. For more information or to apply for this loan, please visit our website at www.crowsnest.albertacf.com

New measures announced today will impact many Crowsnest Pass businesses. Please continue to support local through online ordering, take out, and whatever options are available to businesses. They need us and we need them.

The updated SMALL & 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 30%, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to apply or find out more, the guide and program information is now available and can be found in the link below. https://www.alberta.ca/sme-relaunch-grant.aspx

Crowsnest Pass Community Futures has been working together with Community Futures Southwest and Community Futures Highwood as well as many stakeholders and the Foothills Recovery Task Force on a Business Recovery and Retention Project as a direct response to the impact of COVID-19 to many of the small to medium sized enterprises within our community. We are hoping you could provide us with some of your time to answer a quick survey to give us a better understanding of how some new protocols may affect your business over the next 1-5 years. To take the survey please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2CLQTWT

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees of the Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce 2020 Business Awards of Excellence!

Due to the latest restrictions from the Province of Alberta, all Community Futures Crowsnest Pass will be working from home over the next few weeks. If you require assistance or would like to set up an appointment please make sure to send an email to the appropriate staff member. Thanks everyone - remember to stay safe and stay kind.

Business Tip of the Day How much of the new normal is here to stay? Based on research from Shopify, buying habits (like everything else) have changedmaybe forever. What does this mean for you as a business owner? They've identified 5 consumer trends spurred by the pandemic, why they’ll have staying power, and how you can successfully adapt your business in 2020 and beyond. https://www.shopify.ca/blog/consumer-trends

Celebrating all our amazing women entrepreneurs! Did you know women-owned businesses in Canada contribute $150 billion to the economy and employ over 1.5 million people? Now that's worth celebrating! https://www.awebusiness.com//happy-international-womens-en

Business Tip of the Week As your business matures, so should your marketing strategy. It’s one of the pillars of your business that should continue to evolve and expand, reflecting the growth of your business and the attention you’d like to attract from existing and new customers. From investing in community to harnessing social media, ATB explores some smart marketing strategies to help grow your business. https://www.atb.com//smart-marketing-strategies-to-grow-y/

The process of starting your own business can be one that is both rewarding and overwhelming and maybe a bit lonely. Luckily, you don’t have to navigate the process by yourself. But who are the key people you need when starting your business? https://www.awebusiness.com//the-key-people-you-need-when-

Don't just sign whatever you're given by the landlord, experts say. Tips to help you negotiate commercial space.