The Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) and its municipal members are committed to supporting our regional businesses through some of the challenges they are experiencing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We appreciate the hardships that have been endured through the COVID-19 Pandemic and are joining together with the regional chambers of commerce in efforts to assist local businesses navigate the available funding opportunities
On behalf of its member municipalities, the County of Wetaskiwin and the Town of Millet, JEDI is pleased to fund a COVID Business Recovery Grant to provide assistance to JEDI regional businesses located within the County of Wetaskiwin and Town of Millet. JEDI has partnered with the Leduc & Wetaskiwin Regional Chamber of Commerce for the implementation of the program. The Leduc & Wetaskiwin Chamber, together with other neighboring municipalities, have had great success in a similar program and JEDI appreciates the Chamber facilitating this project for the JEDI region.
We are also grateful for the Pigeon Lake Chamber of Commerce’s assistance in connecting with their members and encouraging local business participation. This program is an excellent example of collaboration between regional business support organizations and municipal government to assist the businesses that play an important role in providing services and adding quality of life to our communities.
Several funding opportunities are available to businesses through the Federal & Provincial Governments and lists of these can be found on the JEDI COVID-19 Business Resource page of the JEDI website. However, we appreciate that the funding application process can be daunting to business owners/operators and want to help ease the resource and financial stress that can be associated with the process.
Through the COVID business recovery grant, JEDI is relieving some of the costs of attaining third-party qualified accountants and bookkeepers with knowledge/experience with government support programs. These programs include, but are not limited to, CEWS, CEBA, CERS, SMERG & CUSBRF. Professional service providers will assist businesses in understanding program details, collecting required information, and preparing the documentation necessary to complete and submit applications for funding.
To be eligible to take part in this program, the recipient businesses must be located within the County of Wetaskiwin or Town of Millet jurisdictional boundaries, collectively known as the JEDI Region. If your business already has a professional service provider, you are eligible to continue with that provider for this program. Alternatively, if you do not have an accountant or bookkeeper, the Leduc & Wetaskiwin Chamber can connect you with a local third-party professional service. JEDI will provide funding for accounting or bookkeeping services to a maximum of $600 per qualified recipient. Payment will be made directly to the third-party professional service provider upon the Chamber’s receipt of invoice and completion of a short survey after the services have been provided. This Grant does not relieve any invoices for services previously rendered.
This grant program is open to ALL businesses within the JEDI region, not just Chamber members, and is based on first come, first serve to the first 40 businesses that apply by the deadline of March 31, 2021. We encourage you to act quickly to take advantage of this grant opportunity. For more information and instructions on how to apply visit the Your Chamber Website.
