UNFAMILIAR AND UNCOMFORTABLE TIMES…MANAGING THROUGH COVID-19 WITH STRENGTH
Join Community Futures for a free webinar as we look at the many ways to find strength and reduce anxiety in such times of adversity. This webinar will provide you with tools necessary to: take care of business, family, community and more; enhance your mindset to allow for decision-making confidence and reduced stress; and to navigate BIG change with more comfort.
Feeling anxious and stressed? Let’s come together to understand how we are responding, recharge our strengths and find momentum during these turbulent times.
Click on the link for immediate access to the webinar.
Join Community Futures for a free webinar as we look at the many ways to find strength and reduce anxiety in such times of adversity. This webinar will provide you with tools necessary to: take care of business, family, community and more; enhance your mindset to allow for decision-making confidence and reduced stress; and to navigate BIG change with more comfort.
Feeling anxious and stressed? Let’s come together to understand how we are responding, recharge our strengths and find momentum during these turbulent times.
Click on the link for immediate access to the webinar.
The Government of Saskatchewan has assembled a Business Response Team to address the economic challenges in Saskatchewan stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Led by the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, the Business Response Team will work with businesses to identify federal and provincial support programs available.
Businesses can contact the team by calling 1-844-800-8688, emailing supportforbusiness@gov.sk.ca or by visiting saskatchewan.ca/covid19-businesses.
The Government of Saskatchewan encourages Saskatchewan businesses, innovators or suppliers to submit their ideas, suggestions or recommendations to help fight COVID-19. Email submissions to procurement@gov.sk.ca.
A website has also been created to provide information on support for workers adversely affected by the current economic situation. Visit saskatchewan.ca/covid19-workers for information.
Government of Canada offers online resource for Canadian Businesses
The Government of Canada has assembled a concise online resource with information and links to support programs for Canadian businesses. Resources for Canadian businesses are available in English and French. Pages are categorized by four key considerations for business:
Led by the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, the Business Response Team will work with businesses to identify federal and provincial support programs available.
Businesses can contact the team by calling 1-844-800-8688, emailing supportforbusiness@gov.sk.ca or by visiting saskatchewan.ca/covid19-businesses.
The Government of Saskatchewan encourages Saskatchewan businesses, innovators or suppliers to submit their ideas, suggestions or recommendations to help fight COVID-19. Email submissions to procurement@gov.sk.ca.
A website has also been created to provide information on support for workers adversely affected by the current economic situation. Visit saskatchewan.ca/covid19-workers for information.
Government of Canada offers online resource for Canadian Businesses
The Government of Canada has assembled a concise online resource with information and links to support programs for Canadian businesses. Resources for Canadian businesses are available in English and French. Pages are categorized by four key considerations for business:
- Support for employees
- Support for businesses
- Business travel and events
- Business in international markets
Service Canada is reaching out to ensure that your community receives important information on how to access benefits. In response to the Covid-19 situation, the government has introduced the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit as part of Canada’s Economic Response Plan.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:
- workers who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.
- workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.
- working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.
- workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
- wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.
Check out the new BID Blog. This is a specific blog for Downtown businesses and organizations to learn something new & hopefully be inspired.
Social Media Support
- Gathering emails. With the trend in social media changing constantly, the best way to connect with your customers and clients is through email. If they sign up for your email, it means that they are interested in what you offer. And what is great is you only have to send out emails when you need to. You have a captive audience that wants to receive your information. I have tried a few different email provider options but I find MailChimp the easiest and it is free.
- Social Media vs. Website: it is important to understand what each option serves. Social Media is to keep your audience up to date with what you are doing and keep your name in the forefront of their minds. A website is the information about your products/service. Your website is where they can find out more about what you do or offer. Your hours of operation, your location, your history about your business.
- For an easy do it yourself website I recommend Weebly. I have used a variety from Wordpress to WIX to designing from scratch and Weebly uses an easy drag and drop designing format that makes creating and updating really easy, I have been using it for years as a basic site, blog and storefront.
- Use Canva for designing everything. Find templates to make whatever you need to post on social media, or create a brochure or event poster. It is so easy!
- Social Media trend- more and more people are leaving Facebook and choosing Instagram. Pay attention to your insights and see where you are connecting with your market.
- On Facebook - schedule your posts, saves you time and you can post at the best time of the day to connect with your customers.
- Creating an event on Facebook? Add Prince Albert Downtown as a co-host and have your event seen by our 4,000 followers.
- Instagram is becoming a popular way to connect in Prince Albert, use Planoly to organize and schedule your posts. It is great because you can do it all from your computer and you can save your hashtags, location and tags. There is a free version or you can upgrade for $100/year. I use the paid version and find the stats and options beneficial.
- Hashtags - use #livingpa #princeabertdowntown to connect with us so we can share your photos.
- Not good with photography? Use PEXELS for free high quality images or hire a photographer - money well spent.