Mayerthorpe and Area Business Support Network

The Town selected Bike Track to complete the BMX/Skate Park presently under construction. Bike Track estimates the surface finishing could be complete sometime next week, weather permitting. We're excited to see it when finished!

The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses with job supports to get thousands of Albertans back to work. Employers can apply for funding to offset the cost of hiring and training unemployed or underemployed Albertans in new or vacant positions. Employers can apply for a grant to offset salary or training costs, or both, equal to:... 25% of a new hire’s salary up to $25,000 per employee 37.5% of the new hire's salary up to $37,500 per employee with a disability apply for up to 20 full-time new hires per intake period: first intake: May 20 to August 31, 2021 second intake: September 15 to December 31, 2021 third intake: to be announced at a later date Full details: http://www.alberta.ca/jobsnow

We would like to thank Minister Doug Schweitzer and MLA Martin Long for providing an update from the Jobs, Economy and Innovation ministry, and taking questions... from our valued members. We look forward to bringing more opportunities for our membership to engage with elected officials in the coming months. See more

LEMONADE DAY Lemonade Day Northern Alberta is a-go for JUNE 19, 2021! With increased protocols enhancing the health and safety of all participants, this youth entrepreneurial program can go forward. CFYE is super excited to offer this free program in 8 communities - Whitecourt, Woodlands County, Swan Hills, Fox Creek, Mayerthorpe, Barrhead, Onoway and Alberta Beach.... Register youth before JUNE 1, and get ready for the Training Session on JUNE 2 - virtual Training Session from 4:30-6 PM via Zoom combined with 'My Lemonade Day' app workbook completion. Register youth ages pre-K to teen: https://lemonadeday.org/northern-alberta

Just a reminder, SMERG spring intake closes May 31, 2021: The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant (SMERG) program has been reopened for a new payment to businesses affected by the April 2021 public health orders. SMERG offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees that have faced restrictions or closures due to COVID-related public health orders, and have experienced revenue losses of at least... 30 per cent. Hotels, taxis and ride-sharing services are also now eligible for this payment. https://www.alberta.ca/sme-relaunch-grant.aspx

The Town of Mayerthorpe wants to hear from you! Taking the 2021 Citizen Satisfaction Survey will allow us to record your opinions for informed decision-making. Take your survey now, or anytime up until April 30th, 2021. The survey closes at the end of the month. Print versions are available at the Town Office and will be distributed throughout the Town. These can be completed and placed in the Town drop box. As the Town Office is presently closed due to COVID-19, should anyon...e wish to pick up a paper survey, you are asked to call the Town Office to make arrangements. Please consider liking and sharing this post to help spread the word. The data from this survey will be invaluable in future decisions. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WCN8YW8

Status Update for COVID-19, as of April 14, 2021:

The Alberta government is offering small businesses affected by the most recent public health orders another payment of up to $10,000 from the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant. Alberta businesses affected by the latest public health orders will be eligible to apply for another payment in the second half of April. This additional payment will also be available to new businesses that began operating between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, as well as hotels, taxis an...d ride-sharing services. Funds can be used to: Cover costs of items that help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies. Pay rent, employee wages or replace inventory. Help businesses expand their online presence or e-commerce opportunities so that they can continue to serve customers. For full details: https://www.alberta.ca/sme-relaunch-grant.aspx

Did you know that your business, co-operative or non-profit organization may be eligible for a grant from the Government of Alberta if you were ordered to close or curtail operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Organizations may be eligible for up to $20,000 to help offset some of the impacts of new public health measures or help with your relaunch costs! Application intake is open until March 31, 2021. For more details, and to apply, visit https://www.alberta.ca/sme-relaunch-grant.aspx#toc-0

January 12, 2021 The Honourable Jason Kenney, MLA Premier of Alberta [email protected]... Dear Mr. Kenney, On behalf of the membership of the Whitecourt & District Chamber of Commerce, it is requested that the Government of Alberta, via the Emergency Management Cabinet Committee and Jobs and Economy Cabinet Policy Committee, reconsider the current restrictions on businesses throughout the province in relation to COVID-19. While it is acknowledged that these are unprecedented times, and protecting our most vulnerable members of society is priority, the current restrictions are creating a new sector of vulnerability in regards to business owners and their employees. In a survey of our membership and business community, over 83% of respondents have stated that their business has been negatively impacted by the restrictions, with 69% stating they would like action to reduce the current restrictions. Respondents self-identified their industry as Service (10%), Manufacturing (2%), Education/Child Care (4%), Retail (16%), Financial Services (5%), Healthcare (6%), Restaurant/Hospitality (10%), Industrial (14%), Fitness (5%), Personal Care (7%), and Other (20%). Enforcing the complete closure of some industries, partial closure of others, and reduced capacity for retail is a blanketed approach that does not align with the significant sources of transmission. By implementing restrictions to these areas, the most prevalent cause of transmission is not being addressed, and the resulting impacts are crippling those businesses affected. Additionally, smaller urban centres such as ours find it hard to digest images of mass gatherings at large retail facilities and outdoor recreation facilities, yet cannot operate at even a one-on-one capacity in a barriered and sanitized environment. The continuation of blanketed restrictions on businesses will be the final blow for many of our local businesses, and that reality will be exponential across the province. An immediate repeal of the existing business restrictions is required, with pre-December regulations in place at most, to allow for businesses and their employees to recover and operate with assurance and consistency moving forward. Sincerely, The Executive & Board of Directors Whitecourt & District Chamber of Commerce Cc: Hon. Ric McIver (Vice Chair, Emergency Management Cabinet Committee) Hon. Kaycee Madu Hon. Travis Toews Hon. Jason Nixon Hon. Devin Dreeshen Hon. Prasad Panda Hon. Rajan Sawhney Hon. Tyler Shandro Hon. Rick Wilson Hon. Doug Schweitzer (Chair, Jobs and Economy Cabinet Policy Committee) Hon. Demetrios Nicolaides (Vice Chair, Jobs and Economy Cabinet Policy Committee) Hon. Jason Copping Hon. Travis Toews Hon. Nate Glubish Hon. Grant Hunter Mr. Glenn van Dijken, MLA Mr. Martin Long, MLA