B.C. Small & Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant - Apply by August 31
Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium-sized businesses impacted by COVID-19, with an additional $5,000 to $15,000 available to eligible tourism-related businesses.
UPDATE: The application deadline has been extended to August 31, 2021, or until funds are fully committed, whichever comes first.
Businesses now only need to show a 30% revenue loss from March 2020 to now, when compared to the same one-month period in 2019.
If businesses need extra help gathering the right documents during the application stage, or support with translation or interpretation services, they can now get that help from a Small Business BC vetted professional service provider. This service will now be included in the up to $2,000 in additional government funding paid to the service provider.
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Free BC Tourism & Hospitality Workshops
On Friday, March 12th, the BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference is pleased to offer 8 complimentary workshops for all to take part in. Workshops are designed to build industry knowledge, offering the foundation needed to drive success in 2021.
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Free COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan Review | go2HR
Go2HR has offered a wide range of services available to BC Hospitality workers. Whether you need support in starting a new hospitality business or require guidance in overcoming the challenges you are facing in an existing business due to the current situation, resources and services are there for you to avail at no cost.
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Province of British Columbia Updates
List of Province of British Columbia updates relevant to COVID-19.
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Government of Canada Updates
List of Government of Canada updates relevant to COVID-19.
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Mentoring Program
TOTA is seeking tourism operators to provide mentoring to Training Centre program participants. By volunteering as a mentor you can make a difference for a budding tourism professional by sharing career advice, positive support, and encouraging words.
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Internet Connectivity Funding Available
The Connecting British Columbia program is currently accepting applications for Phase Three of the program. Current funds ($50 Million) are available right now to help internet service providers and regional and local governments connect people in rural and Indigenous communities with high-speed internet.
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Impact of CERB on Income Tax Returns
CERB is taxable if returned after Dec 31, 2020. People who availed the befits of CERB can expect to get T4A slips by March 10,2021. You can access your T4A slips on your personal My CRA account.
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Permanent Wholesale Pricing for Liquor in BC
Bars, pubs and Restaurants with Liquor License in BC will now have permanent access to buy beer, wine and spirits at wholesale price set by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB). This decision can help hospitality businesses with liquor license to save 5% more on their wine, beer and spirit sales.
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Restaurants Canada launches “Picture life without restaurants” Campaign
Restaurants Canada launches “Picture life without restaurants” Campaign calling on consumers to support their local restaurants.
A pivotal piece of this Campaign is the television-ready public service announcement (PSA) set to be released in time for the holiday season.
SupportRestaurants.ca was recently launched where consumers can pledge their support in the form of actions they will take to support their local restaurant.
Restaurants can download the “Restaurants Are Family” toolkit which provides a diverse and helpful set of options for every operator and the entire supply chain of the foodservice industry to participate in this action.
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Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The Fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces.
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Ready to E-Market: Digital Support Services
The Ready to E-Market: Digital Support Services provides tourism businesses with one on one guidance in determining where you currently are digitally and where your business needs to be.
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Upcoming Trainings with Community Futures Okanagan - Similkameen
Community Futures Okanagan-Similkameen is organizing 7 upcoming events from Digital Marketing to Business Plan Development for Small Businesses. Check out Community Futures Okanagan-Similkameen's Live events and past events.
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Ideas Labs: Peer-to-Peer Learning
Ideas Labs are a series of online workshops on original topics requested by tourism operators across the province. The labs will bring small groups together in a business-to-business learning environment to address hot topics where solutions to common problems are discussed and shared, and new ideas are incubated.
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Applications Open for "Launch Online" Grant | StrongerBC
The new Launch Online Grant program will provide business owners with up to $7,500 to build or improve their online store and promote BuyBC at a local, national, and international level. The Launch Online Grant program is based on a first come, first-served basis. The program will run until March 31, 2021, or until all funds are distributed.
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BC Tourism Task Force recommendations
In December 2020, the B.C. Tourism Task Force presented a final report to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport with a series of recommendations for the immediate allocation of $50 million in funding to support the recovery of tourism businesses and enhance the tourism industry’s long-term competitiveness.
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Tourism Declares Community
Community support group for developing climate resilient businesses, organisations, and destinations
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10-Step Guide to Decarbonising Your Travel Business | Intrepid Travel
A complimentary resource which provides an easy-to-follow action plan on reduction and offsetting, with practical examples and tips for other tourism businesses to follow.
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Virtual Counselling Services - Canadian Mental Health Association
CMHA Kelowna is offering virtual counselling for adults 25+ through single-sessions with a counselling team. This service is available free of charge to individuals, couples, families, and caregivers of youth who are struggling. Those who are having difficulty coping with the challenges related to the COVID pandemic are also welcome to access these supports. Other CMHA offices in the Thompson Okanagan include CMHA Kamloops, CMHA Shuswap-Revelstoke, CMHA Vernon, and CMHA South Okanagan Similkameen, For service outside of these areas contact CMHA British Columbia.
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BounceBack BC® | Free Mental Health Support
BounceBack is a program designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, stress, worry, mild to moderate depression, and/or anxiety. It is available for free, to work at your own pace online or over the phone with a trained coach. Provided by Canadian Mental Health Association British Columbia.
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