COVID 19 Resources for Business

The Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce (P&DCC) is urging our Members, network and community to support local businesses impacted by economic challenges caused by the virus by looking to do business with a local business first. We also encourage everyone to exercise reasonable precautions and planning in light of this pandemic.

While it is important to treat the COVID-19 pandemic with seriousness, it is also important not to compound the real challenges this virus is causing our business community by unduly curtailing and restricting our own activities locally.

Please use the updates and resources below to make sure your business, your employees and your customers stay safe and remember to "Call A Member 1st". Here is a direct link to the P&DCC Membership Directory.

RECOMMENDED PROTOCOLS

Frequent hand washing and covering your face when coughing or sneezing.
Stay home if you are sick (and create a culture where this is encouraged in your workplace)
Leverage technology and consider remove work for your team where possible.
Social distancing
BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

RELIABLE SOURCES

Office of the British Columbia Provincial Health Officer - for provincial statements and resources
Health Canada - for Canada specific travel advice, preparedness and Canada's response
Vancouver Coastal Health
World Health Organization - for FAQs, global travel advice and situation reports

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Financing Options for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 - Small Business BC
Business Continuity & COVID-19: Key Considerations for Small Businesses in BC - Small Business BC
Business Support "Cheat Sheet" - BC Chamber of Commerce
Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses - Department of Finance Canada
Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan COVID-19 Update and FAQs - Johnston Group
Employer Guide to Managing COVID-19 in the Workplace - Video | PowerPoint - KSW Lawyers
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian Businesses - Government of Canada
Pandemic Preparedness for Business - Canadian Chamber of Commerce
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update - Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Coronavirus and Small Business: Keeping You and Your Employees Safe - Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Emergency Preparedness - Calgary Chamber
An Employer's Guide to Managing Coronavirus in the Workplace: Frequently Asked Questions - KSW Lawyers
Useful Advice to Help Entrepreneurs Plan and Respond to the Impacts of Coronavirus - BDC
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update - Destination British Columbia
'Do Not Visit if You Are Sick' Poster - Fraser Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - Langley City
Business Continuity & COVID-19 Checklist: Key Considerations for Small Businesses in BC - Small Business BC
Business Resource Hub: Managing Through and Building Resilience During the COVID-19 Outbreak - Facebook for Business
Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Getting Your Workplace Read for COVID-19 - World Health Organization
Guide for Small Businesses - PreparedBC
Emergency Plan for Small Businesses - PreparedBC
Webinar - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Managing the Impact on Global Supply Chains - Export Development Canada
Business Continuity Plan and Templates for Entrepreneurs - BDC

OPERATIONAL/STAFFING SUPPORT

Employment and Social Development Canada: Several measures are available to assist employees who have been laid off or are unable to work due to quarantine. This includes waiving the one week waiting period for EI sickness benefits and priority application processing for related claims.
Uber Eats: The company has created a support package to promote "contactless" delivery from local restaurants, which includes waiving delivery fees and a daily payout option to assist restaurants with cash flow.
Work-Sharing Program: Work-Sharing is a federal government adjustment program designed to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. Temporary special measures have extended the maximum duration of work-sharing agreements from 38 weeks to 76 weeks for businesses affected by COVID-19.
Government of Canada Travel Health Notices

FINANCIAL SUPPORT/RELIEF

Export Development Canada (EDC), in partnership with the federal government and Canadian banks, will ensure customers impacted by COVID-19 have access to credit.
CMHC is working to address mortgage payment difficulties.
BC Hydro: The COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program provides customers the option to defer bill payments or arrange for flexible payment plans with no penalty. Customers are encouraged to call BC Hydro's customer team at 1-800-224-9376 to discuss options.
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has resources available include:
- Small Business Loan - Up to $100,000 can be obtained online.
- Working Capital Loan - Get extra funds to bridge cash flow gaps and support everyday operations.
- Purchase Order Financing - Increase your cash flow to fulfill domestic or international orders with very flexible terms.
- BDC's Advisory Services experts are offering tools and support to review your financial management and operations.

SIGNAGE/VISUALS

COVID-19 Stop the Spread of Germs - PDF | JPEG
COVID-19 Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease - PDF | JPEG
Reduce the Spread of COVID-19. Wash Your Hands. - PDF | JPEG
Help Prevent the Spread - PDF | JPEG

UPDATED HELPFUL ARTICLES AND LINKS

FAQ: COVID-19 from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce - March 20, 2020
Prime Minister Announces More Support for Workers and Businesses Through Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan - March 27, 2020
Government Extends Tax Deadline to June 1 Admidst COVID-19 Outbreak - March 17, 2020
The Coronavirus Outbreak - General Information - March 17, 2020
Why Outbreaks Like Coronavirus Spread Exponentially, and How to "Flatten the Curve" - March 14, 2020
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Prevention and Risks - March 13, 2020
Donate to Coronavirus Outbreak Response - March 13, 2020
Support Charities in Your Community - March 13, 2020
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates: Canada - March 13, 2020
How COVID-19 Delays Could Affect Your Supply Chain From Contracts to Insurance and Custom Clearance - March 12, 2020
How to Manage COVID-19 in the Workplace - March 12, 2020
The Dos and Don'ts of 'Social Distancing' - March 12, 2020
How Cancelled Events and Self-Quarantines Save Lives - March 10, 2020
Updated FAQs: What Canadian Exporters Need to Know About the Coronavirus (COVID-19) - March 9, 2020

P&DCC COMMUNICATION

Stay up-to-date on future P&DCC events and announcements by following our social media channels:

Economic Development MOU

The Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to be part of a collaborative working agreement with key business and tourism stakeholders. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the Lighthouse Country Business Association (LCBA), the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce (PDCC), Parksville Downtown Business Association (PDBA), Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association (PQBTA) and Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce (QBCC) has been developed to support a cooperative relationship to promote business and group 5 tourism in the Oceanside Region.

The partners agree to focus their collective efforts on developing a strategic plan identifying economic drivers, developing a position statement on business attraction, growth and retention and promoting economic development in the region. To have a successful economic development strategy in place, the partners recognize working together on common goals better serves the community and a stronger regional economy.

The roles and responsibilities of each organization will not change but the MOU will enhance the opportunity of working together with common goals in mind.

PQBTA - mandate is external destination marketing.
PDBA – promotes and enhances businesses within a defined area of downtown Parksville.
PDCC & QBCC - The Chambers are the voice of business and deliver visitor services in their respective communities.
LCBA – advances the interests and prosperity of the businesses within the Lighthouse Country.

Partners finalized and signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 28, at the QB Town office lobby. On hand to sign for each organization were:

Sandy Herle, representing Parksville Downtown Business Association

Sarah Duncan, representing the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce

Jeannie Maltesen, representing the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce

Paul Drummond, representing the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association

Dietmar Baumeister – Quint, representing the Lighthouse Country Business Association

Orange Bridge Business District

A common thread that came from our 2019 Business Walk was that the merchants in the area close to the orange bridge felt there was room for some improvements in terms of appearance and services. The Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce took the comments seriously and organized several breakfast meetings to discuss the business needs of the area. From those meetings, the ‘Orange Bridge Business District’ was created with the goal of working together to unite the businesses in the district.

Our first project is streetlight pole banners along the 19A and they are designed to both beautify and define area of the city referred to as the ‘Orange Bridge Business District’. We’ve come a long way with a beautiful design created by Robert Held himself! Kim Burden, Executive Director presented the project on July 15, to city council for their approval. The banners are produced locally and the cost to design, produce and install will be a shared cost among the business owners taking into consideration their highway frontage.

‘We see this as a first step in defining the district and using this as a template for other regions we want to work with in the region. It’s about working together with a group of businesses and creating something we can all be proud of that is inviting to visitors and locals. We’re anxious to move forward on the banner project and wait to hear from council in September’, said Kim Burden, Executive Director for the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce.

Banner design:

OrangeBridgeBannerFinal

Policy Committee Partnership Pays off

The Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce and Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce received overwhelming support for their policies presented at the BC Chamber 2019 AGM and Conference held in Burnaby last week.

The policies presented were part of the collaborative work done with the joint policy committee for the PQB region. The committee includes three members from each Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, along with Anne Dodson, CEO Qualicum Beach Chamber and Kim Burden, Executive Director Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce.

Jeannie Maltesen, President Parksville Chamber and Meghan Walker, President elect Parksville Chamber joined the Chambers executive, Kim Burden and Anne Dodson to present their polices and vote on behalf of membership on another 70 policies brought forward by the Chamber network.

‘The Thriving Orcas Thriving Communities’ – with input and support from 17 Vancouver Island Chamber of Commerce and the West Coast Fishing Guide Association was submitted with recommendations outlining scientifically verified approaches to enhancing Chinook populations and the Southern Resident Killer Whales without jeopardizing jobs and economic benefits from sport fishing in the waters around Vancouver Island.

In addition, we proposed an amendment to the local Government Act that provides Local Government with a choice to accept land or money during the sub-division approval process for either Attainable Housing or parks. The current act requires land or money acquired during the sub-division process must be for Parks’ said Kim Burden, Executive Director Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce.