Today, the BC Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the provincial government’s Sector Labour Market Partnership Program (SLMP) and with funding provided by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, launched seven regional Resource Guides for Small Business Resiliency.
The Resource Guides are tailor-made to support businesses in each of the seven economic regions of British Columbia as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic on their road to recovery as set out in BC’s Restart Plan.
Designed to house a broad mix of region-specific resources in one spot for easy reference, the Guides have been developed using data from the BC Chamber of Commerce Pulse Check Surveys and with information collected in focus groups and from consultations with different sectors and industries from all economic regions of British Columbia.
The resources outlined in the Guides address core aspects of pandemic recovery including:
- Health and Safety
- Government programming
- Sector-specific initiatives
- Legal and regulatory requirements
- How to reopen, maintain, pivot, or expand your business; and
- Additional small business tools, including diversity and inclusion considerations.
The Guides are a live resource that will be updated throughout BC’s Restart Plan and will not only support businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic but will also be a useful resource during any future crises that require businesses to build and maintain resiliency through challenging times.
“I applaud small businesses across this province for innovating and adapting as we move through challenging circumstances and into a new period of economic recovery and growth,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “It’s been a long road for many business owners. As we work though our restart plan, these guides will be a valuable resource to help people rebuild, recover and be better equipped for a future that is focused on a more sustainable, inclusive and innovative economy for all British Columbians.”
“Throughout the pandemic, businesses across B.C. have needed to adapt their business plan, reassess their operational needs including workforce requirements and create or enhance their online capabilities, all while responding to Public Health Orders and restrictions that changed often as the virus evolved,” said Fiona Famulak, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “It hasn’t been easy, yet they have demonstrated perseverance and resilience throughout. The regional Resource Guides are designed as one-stop-shop manuals that will help businesses access up-to-date and region-specific resources easily, navigate their way to post-pandemic recovery and be prepared for any future crisis.”
The seven regional Resource Guides can be accessed here.
