By Ethan Ready

Outreach Program

New program tailored towards supporting small businesses with COVID-19 impacts

Sep 10, 2020 | 4:22 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Community Futures Fraser Fort George has announced the launch of the Fraser Fort George Outreach Program, a new support program tailored towards small businesses and non-profit organization within the region of Fraser For George in order to uncover the impacts of COVID-19 on the area’s small business landscape.

The program is set to last for 12 months with supports being provided to businesses that will help build resiliency into operations and places in order to reinforce economic sustainability and help them flourish.

To complete the work, three Regional Business Liaisons will be working on the ground in Prince George, Mackenzie, and the Robson Valley as they connect with businesses and organizations, collecting key insights by asking four broad questions:

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• How did COVID-19 change the business or organization’s context?
• How did they respond?
• What supports and resources do they value? Which ones are less useful?
• And, what more can be done so that businesses, non-profits, and communities can flourish and evolve?

This program is made possible with funding coming from the Northern Development Initiative Trust Regional Business Liaison program and Western Economic Diversification COVID-19 contribution.

“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. “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.”

The Regional Business Liaisons will be time throughout the year to conduct interviews with business owners and representatives from non-profit organizations.

“We are sharing the stories of our businesses and organizations with our MLA’s, we are sharing it with a variety of different government partners, we are hopefully going to get it into the media, and we’re going to have updates,” states Amelia Merrick, one fo the Regional Business Liaisons. “If your story is heard, there is a greater chance that we are going to be able to shape the conversation, shape the policy, and shape the programs so that Northern communities can thrive, we can thrive to the best of our abilities.”

Merrick says they want to amplify the voices of local businesses and organizations.

“We know that our voices aren’t as loud when there are big cities dominating the discussion, so our goal is that we’re able to amplify the stories here,” says Merrick.

If you would like to share your story with the Regional Business Liaison in your community, you’re asked to visit their website or call the office at 250-562-9622 to schedule an interview.