We know the Halifax business community is doing their due diligence and carefully monitoring developments related to the impacts of the Coronavirus. We have gathered a few resource links where you can find more information or speak with a qualified individual on the Covid-19 Information Hotline.
Now more than ever, it's important for us to stay connected. Visit the Halifax Chamber events page to sign up for virtual networking, informative webinars and more.
Need more information?
If you have more questions you can reach the Covid-19 information line at 1-833-784-4397
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5 WAYS TO PREPARE TO REOPEN
Since the beginning of COVID-19, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce has been keeping our members and the business community informed and up to date on available resources and funding programs. We continue to support local business as we approach reopening the economy.
We have assembled the information below to support your business through the next phase of COVID-19. At this point in the pandemic, business owners are expected to maintain flexibility, adhere to public health protocols, and prepare for another potential halt in business if the COVID-19 spread continues in the future. It is important for businesses to check with local, provincial, and federal levels of government as they will also be providing reopening support and guidelines and/or new regulations for businesses to follow.
Read the full Reopening Business in Halifax Toolkit here.
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FEDERAL RESOURCES
- Emergency Community Support Fund
- Expanding & new programs for businesses
- Boost for essential wage workers
- Re-Opening the Economy: First statement
- Coronavirus Global Response
- APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN: Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance
- CMHC: CECRA for Small Business
- The application portal for the federal/provincial rent deferral program will open on Monday, May 25.
Landlords who register for the program can receive a forgivable loan to cover half of the rent in April, May and June, if they lower the rent by 75 per cent over that period.
Application documents are now available on the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s website.
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit
- Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
- Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy
- Small and medium-sized businesses unable to access other support measures
- BDC Support for Canadian businesses
- Rural Businesses and Communities
- Assisting Innovative and Early-Stage Businesses
- Non-profit and Charitable
- Work Sharing program
- Support for Sectors
- Industry Strategy Council
- Wellness Together Canada
- Canada Emergency Business Account. Apply through:
- Creating New Jobs and Opportunities for Youth
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PROVINCIAL RESOURCES
- NEW: Preparing to reopen
- Application deadline extended for Rent Deferral Guarantee Program:
- The deadline for landlords already registered for the provincial COVID-19 Rent Deferral Guarantee Program to submit their application has been extended. In order to be included in the provincial guarantee, landlords must send their full applications to the Department of Business by June 26 to NSRentDeferral@novascotia.ca
- Regional Relief and Recovery Fund
- Reactivation of the Nova Scotia economy
- Bonus for healthcare workers
- Covid-19 Restriction Update
- Business Navigators
- Work Safe for Life
- Small Business Impact Grant: The deadline to apply for the Small Business Impact Grant was Saturday, April 25.
- Worker Emergency Bridge Fund
- Employer Assessment Tool
- Procurement Opportunity
- Red Cross Fundraiser
- Occupational Health & Safety Tips
- Update to the Tenancy Act: Landlords are not permitted to change locks or seize property of businesses who cannot pay rent, if the business closed directly because of COVID-19 public health orders.
- Measures to Help Vulnerable Nova Scotians
- CUA Financial Assistance Program
- Support for Municipalities
- NSCC: Business Support during COVID-19
- Mental Health Well-Being Support
- Volunteer Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Consultant Directory
- Construction Safety Nova Scotia: Covid-19 Safe Work Practices Toolkit
- MUNICIPAL RESOURCES
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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Taylor Printing Group Inc. & Bounty Print Limited - Physical Dividers, Floor Decals & Face Shields
Atlantic Digital Reproductions Inc. - Signage & Plexiglass Dividers
Design Marketing - Disposable Masks, Reusable Masks & Hand Sanitizer
Eco Guardian - Disposable Face Masks (Available through Health Canada - License #12073)
PPE Get Now - Disposable Face Masks, Infrared Forehead Thermometers & Hand Sanitizer
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HOW TO SUPPORT LOCAL
- Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission: Open for Business
- Downtown Halifax Business Commission: Open for Business
- North End Business Association: Open for Business
- Quinpool Road: Open for Business
- Sackville Business Association: Open for Business
- Spring Garden Area: Open for Business
- Halifax Chamber Member to Member Offers and Discounts
- Halifax Chamber: Special Member-2-Member Offers Bulletin - March 28
- Buy local gift cards (Halifax ReTales)
- Local takeout and delivery (Halifax ReTales)
- Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia
- HRM Food & Co.
- The Village on Main
- Nova Scotia Makers (Artisans & Craftspeople)
- Ecology Action Centre: Accessing local food
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CHAMBER AFFINITY PARTNERS
Chambers Group Health Plan / Teladoc: Health plan and virtual doctor's appointments
Grand and Toy: Office products discounts and work from home set-ups
CUA: Financial Assistance Program
TD Home and Auto Insurance: Bundle and save
SONA: Waived Setup Fees and Suspended Monthly feed for E-Commerce Gateway
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CHAMBER WEBINAR SERIES
Recordings of our previous webinars can be found here.
May 22 - 10:00 AM Navigating COVID-19: Business Continuity Planning
May 26 - 2:00 PM Navigating COVID-19: Ask Your Lawyer
May 27 - 2:00 PM Navigating COVID-19: Mindfulness For Mental Health
May 29 - 10:00 AM Navigating COVID-19: Change Management for the New World
June 3 - 9:30 AM Navigating COVID-19: Bring About What You Think About with Eddie Lemoine
- FLOWCHARTS & OTHER RESOURCES
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CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Read and download the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Pandemic Preparedness document.
Canadian Business Resilience Network
- BUSINESS TO BUSINESS SUPPORT
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IN THE COMMUNITY
United Way Halifax Atlantic Compassion Fund
Resetting Your Marketing Strategy:
Thursday, May 28 at 10 a.m
Learn how to reset your marketing strategy to reflect the new way of doing business. Jonathan Duke, vice president of Marketing and Innovation at m5 will share six things to work on now so you can come out swinging when the time is right. REGISTER HERE