File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Where would we be without local businesses?

Jan 27, 2021 | 9:53 AM

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE A YEAR HAS PASSED since the COVID-19 pandemic swept around the globe, affecting us so profoundly. People in Kamloops and around B.C. have experienced the tragic loss of loved ones, while our daily lives have been disrupted in ways none of us could have imagined.

I don’t need to give statistics for you to know that some businesses are hurting; we all have a friend or family member who is working hard to make their small business a success. I know how hard it is to run a small business. I watched first-hand as my mother made our family restaurant work. I want businesses to know that I hear you, and that you’re not in this alone.

As B.C.’s Minister for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, I am here to support our communities and businesses so that you can emerge from this stronger. That’s why our government launched StrongerBC, B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan. The plan invests $1.5 billion to protect people’s health and livelihoods and build stronger communities and a brighter future.

We all know a business that needs help, and as part of StrongerBC, we have put the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program in place to support businesses to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Eligible small- or medium-sized business can receive up to $30,000. Tourism-related businesses can access up to an additional $15,000, for a total of up to $45,000 to help them get back on their feet faster. This is money that does not need to be paid back; it is there to help get you through this.

Our government wants to get these Recovery Grants into the hands of businesses as quickly as possible. If your business has been impacted financially by the pandemic, now is the time to apply. Visit: https://bcbusinessrecoverygrant.com/ to apply now.

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

52m ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

7h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 12, 2024

Dec 12, 2024

We only need to look around our communities to know how critical local businesses are to our economy. Without a doubt, they are the cornerstones of our communities and we know that when they thrive, the entire community thrives.

From the onset of the pandemic, our government has taken quick action to support businesses and help them through these uncertain times. For example, we reduced most commercial property tax bills by an average of 25 per cent and we postponed late penalties for commercial property taxes, which gave businesses more time to pay their reduced property tax bill without penalty.

To help businesses as they opened back up, we put the B.C. Increased Employment Incentive in place to encourage businesses to hire with a 15 per cent tax credit on eligible new payroll from the third to fourth quarter of 2020. This means an estimated $190 million in rebates for businesses to keep people working. Applications to access this rebate will open in spring 2021. We also contributed funding to the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program which addressed one of the biggest challenges businesses faced by providing rent relief to eligible small businesses.

The magic word for many businesses during these uncertain times has been “pivot” and we have seen some bold business owners embrace change and adapt to new approaches. Perhaps one of the biggest pivots has been the shift to online marketing.

To help more businesses make this shift, we partnered with Alacrity Canada to cover the tuition for an online training program for up to 2,500 participants from small- and medium-sized businesses. By the end of this eight-week Bootcamp, participants will be ready to jump in and help their businesses adapt and grow with online marketing strategies. You can learn more and apply by visiting, https://www.alacritycanada.com/.

It has been said that growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.

I encourage every British Columbian to continue to work together and to support the businesses in our communities. Show your appreciation for your local restaurant, bakery or hair salon and pay them a visit. After all, where would we be without our local businesses? They need us and we need them.

——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.