To our valued members, we are proud to work with GPREP to bring the business ambassador team to life. The team is here to support you as you prepare to re-open.
Learn more at gprep.ca/business-relaunch
Media Release
April 28, 2020
GPREP Aligns with Business Resiliency Taskforce to Unify Regional Economic Response to COVID-19
The Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership has formalized an alliance with the regional Business Resiliency Taskforce to strengthen the region’s collaborative approach to economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group is mandated to support business resiliency throughout the COVID-19 crisis, to help ensure local businesses are ready to respond when the province lifts restrictions on operations, and to guide the economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
In line with this approach, GPREP has developed a Business Ambassador Team with the immediate priority to support essential businesses currently permitted by the province to be operational, such as grocery stores, financial services, and pharmacies. The goal of this outreach is to aid businesses in the implementation and education of social distancing measures. The Business Ambassador Team will identify best practices and work with local businesses to develop solutions for logistical challenges that may apply to other businesses in preparation for when the province begins to lift restrictions.
In an ongoing effort to support regional businesses, the Business Resiliency Taskforce, comprised of the Chambers, City, and County, continues with previously announced programs such as the #LoveLocalGP campaign, weekly training webinars for local businesses, and a voucher program that offers grants to businesses for a variety of advisory services.
The Business Ambassador Team continues to connect with local stakeholders to determine the best methods to support local businesses as the province begins lifting restrictions. Any businesses interested in speaking to a Business Ambassador are encouraged to e-mail: business@gprepeoc.com.
Quotes
“A deep understanding of local challenges positions us to better respond to the provincial business relaunch plan when announced by the province. Until that time, our commitment is to support our business community in the drastic adjustment to business restrictions we’ve seen in the last six weeks.”
– Rebecca Leigh, Economic Development Manager for the City of Grande Prairie
“The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency with the unfortunate consequence of a broad impact on the economy and the way we do business every day. We will continue to work with our municipal partners to ensure local businesses are kept informed of the programs available and the changes required moving forward to help with as quick a transition as possible once restrictions are lifted.”
– Larry Gibson, Chair of the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce
“We want to be clear that we jointly recognize the unprecedented hardship businesses are facing. We are in this together, and we will do what we can to support the community. The restrictions are in place to protect lives and reduce the spread of COVID-19. We must not lose sight of that while being as proactive as possible in alleviating the pressures that come along with those restrictions.”
– Chris King, Economic Development Manager for the County of Grande Prairie
