Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

grants for businesses

Chamber chair cautiously optimistic with latest provincial COVID-19 grants for businesses

Apr 24, 2021 | 5:00 AM

The Chair of the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce says he is pleased with the provincial government opening another round of grants for small and medium-sized businesses hardest hit by public health restrictions.

Applications opened on April 23, after it was announced earlier in the month the province would be pulling back on its re-opening plan as COVID-19 cases began to resurge.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant will offer financial assistance to businesses and organizations that were ordered to close or curtail operations, and that experienced a revenue reduction of at least 30 per cent, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m glad to see the provincial government come out with these additional grants to help individuals get through,” said Larry Gibson, the Chair of the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce.

“They (the businesses) were loud and clear that more loans weren’t what they needed, they actually need some grants to ride this out.”

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While he adds he is happy with the grants, he says it will be a wait-and-see approach to tell if the support is enough to help businesses get through this third wave.

“Everybody’s situation is unique and different. Being that it’s a grant is the key because it doesn’t have to be repaid,” said Gibson.

“There are levels we’re going to have to gauge here as we network with our business community and find out if that 30 per cent drop is adequate, or if there are other criteria we need to start lobbying and advocating for as well.”

Gibson says he’s optimistic, like many as we head into the summer, that businesses will rebound, with 1.3 million Albertans now given at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Our biggest hope is that we get this situation under control and get business back to normal here as quick as possible,” explained Gibson.

You can learn more about the Alberta government’s grants at their website.