Photo from the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

By Curtis Galbraith

Local Business

Business Resiliency Taskforce hosting webinar, social media campaign to support local businesses

Dec 14, 2020 | 6:00 AM

The local Business Resiliency Taskforce, which includes the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce and the City and County of Grande Prairie, says it has come up with two ideas to try to help local businesses.

The first is a webinar set to start at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Registration can be done here.

Chamber CEO Tanya Oliver says this is a free information session and that any business can take part.

“We’re providing information on the more recent updates and enhancements to the federal programs (like) the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. There is also the new rent subsidy that is available that is a re-work from the original one.”

Oliver says there are a lot of businesses that still do not know about all the help and resources that might be available.

The other idea is a social media campaign, where people are asked to share how they are supporting local businesses with the hashtag #LoveLocalGP. They are also being asked to name the business and tag the Chamber, City, and County to be entered into a draw for gift cards.

The grand prize is worth $2000.

Oliver adds supporting local is more important now than ever.

“We really want to encourage people to support the businesses that we have in our city and the region as much as possible. Whether it is patronizing them specifically, you give them a review, you share their information, all of the above. You can buy gift cards, you can buy stocking stuffers, you can buy all the things.”

Oliver says local businesses offer many things and it is worth taking the time to see what they have.

“We’re just really wanting to reward the people for supporting local and, of course, all of the prize money goes right back to the local businesses as well. We’re hoping to show the businesses some love and get that buzz out there and help them through this tough time.”

Oliver says we are resilient in the Peace Country and this situation is no different.