Businesses in Prince George and surrounding municipalities who've been impacted by COVID-19 will now have some extra support thanks to a new regional program.
Community Futures has created a Fraser-Fort George Outreach Program through its local branch, with funding from the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) Regional Business Liaison program and Western Economic Diversification COVID-19 contribution.
The year-long initiative is set to reach out to businesses and non-profit organizations within the region to uncover COVID-19 impacts on small-business landscapes.
"The program will provide supports to businesses to build resiliency into operations and plans in order to reinforce economic sustainability and help them flourish," reads a Community Futures release.
"To complete the work, three Regional Business Liaisons will be working on the ground in Prince George, Mackenzie, and the Robson Valley."
It's plan includes asking businesses how COVID-19 changed their context, how did they respond, what supports do they value, and what more can be done.
The information will then help inform future programming and supports for small businesses during and after the pandemic, and the findings will be shared with community partners before being showcased at an open forum earmarked for early 2021.
“The funding from Northern Development Initiative Trust for the Regional Business Liaisons and support funding from Western Economic Diversification, will have significant positive impacts for businesses and non-profits in our region,” says General Manager Susan Stearns in a news release.
“These conversations that they will be facilitating will assist us in developing programming that will support our communities during the recovery phase and build resilient communities with a diversified economy.”
Regional Business Liaisons will start conducting interviews this month and will continue throughout the rest of the year.
Those who would like to share their story with a Regional Business Liaison can visit the Community Futures website.
