Update May 26th, 2020
Here’s your YKAStrong checklist to stay up to date:
Follow us on Instagram: @yka_strong Review our weekly email send out below Visit our website: https://www.ykastrong.com Use #ykastrong on your social posts.
yka video spotlight
YKAStrong celebrates local business pivots and remarkable Kamloopsians. This feature of the Kamloops Regional Farmers’ Market shares how they have pivoted their operating strategy to ensure all local food vendors are able to sell their goods and still provide safe, nutritious, fresh food to Kamloops. WATCH ALL VIDEOS
PARTNER UPDATES
May 24-31 is Tourism Week in Canada and this year, it looks a little different than most. Nonetheless, we will come together digitally to highlight the importance of Kamloops’ strong and resilient tourism industry.
Tourism Kamloops receives funding from Province to re-ignite visitor economy – This funding injection helps Tourism Kamloops to retain our marketing team in preparation to welcome visitors back to our city as soon as it is safe to do so.
Upcoming Webinars:
- May 27 – Stress: How to take back your energy and use it to be more effective with KayH Consulting. $30 /person. Register
- June 3 – Catalyst Leadership: What is it and what does it look like virtually with KayH Consulting. $30 /person. Register
- More Webinars
Kamloops Resident Survey
Help inform COVID-19 recovery operations and promotion for Kamloops businesses and the local tourism economy. Take Survey
Community Futures Emergency Loan Fund
The Community Futures Network has been provided additional loan funds to support businesses impacted by COVID-19 . the emergency loan fund will be similar to the CEBA funds, whereby, businesses will be eligible to receive loans of up to $40k, with zero percent interest and no principle payments required until December 31, 2022. If the balance is repaid by December 31, 2022, 25% of the loan will be forgivable, up to $10k. The loans can also be converted to a term loan and will be fully repaid by December 31st 2025.
The main benefit of the CF’s fund is, if a small business is not eligible or did not qualify for some reason for the BCAP or CEBA funds, they most likely will qualify for the CF emergency funds.
- $40,000 maximum (but they can apply for less)
- No payments, no interest accrual through December 31, 2022
- Interest accrual and blended payments begin January 1, 2023
- Interest rate charged can be between Prime and 5%; rate to be determined by the CF based on risk
- Loan must be repaid by December 31, 2025
- If repaid by December 31, 2022, 25% of the loan is forgivable
- No security will be taken; only a Promissory Note or Credit Agreement will be required (we are in the process of getting a legal opinion on which would be best)
Community Futures Self Employment Services
The Self-Employment program is designed to support clients who would like to start a business and have an idea that is appropriate, based on the local labour market. This is still true during the COVID-19 Pandemic and virtual Self-Employment services are ongoing during the crisis. The program will provide a holistic evaluation of your business concept and our Business Coach will work with you to meet all of the necessary business requirements and provide advice and access to the resources you will require to start your career as an entrepreneur. Eligible clients will receive financial supports for the 48-week duration of the program. Contact Community Futures today to find out more.
Community Futures Continuity Plan:
It is never to late to develop a continuity plan for your business when facing a crisis. Community Futures’ comprehensive emergency and continuity planning document will prepare your business in the face of an emergency or crisis situation. A valuable part of continuity planning is evaluating business opportunities during a crisis. The interactive Business Continuity Plan can be found here.
Connect with Venture Kamloops – COVID-19 Business Support
Venture Kamloops is working with our business community to get through the COVID-19 crisis and help you during the four Phases of BC’s Restart Plan. Schedule a virtual meeting with VK Staff to discuss COVID-19 and your business.
Learning Opportunities & Webinars
- Designing a New Content Marketing Plan for 2020: Content Marketing in the Age of COVID-19 is a free online webinar on Monday June 1 hosted by Small Business BC.
- Assessing Your Organization’s Readiness to Return-to-Work is a free online webinar on Tuesday June 2 hosted by BDO.
ADVOCACY: Last weekend at the BC Chamber of Commerce AGM, three Kamloops proposed recommendations were passed. Learn what they are.
LAST CALL: Business Excellence Award nominations are being accepted until this Sunday, May 31 @ 11:59 PM PDT, nominate a resilient business in one of eighteen award categories. Get the details
STAY INFORMED: The Chamber Weekly Briefing with tips, tools and resources that is curated for the Kamloops Business community and is now free for all businesses, sign-up here
GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESS: Our Canadian Chamber network alongside Salesforce is offering $10K to help 62 small businesses during COVID-19 recover. Get the details and apply
MEMBERSHIP: The Kamloops Chamber is your direct link to Government, with a staff working to get you and your business the support you need, your ongoing support is greatly appreciated. Stay informed, join the Chamber
As BC enters Phase 2 of the BC Restart Plan, the City of Kamloops is committed to gradually reopening City facilities. Similar to what has become familiar in retail stores, residents can expect to see physical distancing barriers and signage and increased cleaning practices between customers. Many City services can also be paid for through the City website. Planning is underway to reopen other City facilities as well, including recreation facilities. For more information, please click below.
May 22nd Update from the Mayor
City of Kamloops Slowly Reopening Civic Facilities
CAP Team – We are currently recruiting to hire additional CAP Team members interested in supporting our Downtown community. The Customer Care and Patrol (CAP) Team are Downtown ambassadors who provide various services and support to businesses, residents, tourists, and the downtown vulnerable population. CAP Team members contribute towards promoting a safer and friendlier downtown community, and are responsible for addressing issues involving the vulnerable populations in support of a safe and vibrant Downtown. Team members support #YKAStrong and other initiatives that create positive visitor experiences.
Communications – The KCBIA continues to facilitate regular webinars for the business community. The topics of webinars that have been introduced have been in response to feedback received from our members, and have been very well attended. Our next webinar, Digital Strategies in the time of COVID, is scheduled for May 28th. Registration information can be found on our website. We invite the #YKAStrong community to reach out and share ideas about how the KCBIA can support businesses with future webinars.
The NSBIA continues to drive relevant and timely information to our members through both our COVID 19 resources page and through our Power Hour series of webinars.
We are adding a special eighth webinar Thursday, June 2nd , entitled “COVID and Employment Considerations”, which will be hosted by Forward aw and HR Inspired Solutions. To register for this webinar, please visit our COVID Page at www.NSBIA.com
We are starting our Open For Business campaign, this week, and have a billboard up on the Halston. This campaign will continue through the next eight weeks, with Billboard changes every few weeks. Additionally, we will be pushing out our Open for Business ads through our Social Media and Newsletters, and will be running radio in June. If you are on the shore and Open, we want to hear from you!
Help us Help You
Stumped by a thorny business question? Struggling to solve a wicked problem caused by the COVID-19 situation? Tell us about it—we’d like to help.
- Email a summary of your problem to yka@tru.ca
- A team of TRU faculty, staff and/or students will examine the problem and, using Design Thinking techniques, brainstorm possible solutions. Please Note: emails will be adapted into a summary template with content anonymized and all identifying details removed.
- We’ll return the results to you.
In these uncertain times, we turn to our Vision Statement (tru.ca/vision) for guidance. Our partnership in #YKASTRONG is guided by the following value from the Vision Statement, “Community-Mindedness. We come together to help one another (Pelkwaílc-kt es knucwentwécw-kt). Mutual benefit guides us to connect meaningfully with people in the communities we serve, contributing to an interconnected world where we all share a common future and humanity.”
Kamloops passengers continue to be served by WestJet with 4 x weekly service to Calgary. Passengers are reminded that travel restrictions remain iEffective May 3, the Air Terminal Building will be accessible to the travelling public from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Sundays through June 4th to correspond with planned flight arrivals and departures.
The Airport will remain operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to serve charter passenger, air cargo, medevac and wildfire flight activity.
Air Canada is introducing measures to enhance passenger safety and health as physical distancing and travel restrictions are gradually lifted.
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