BC Businesses are still in need of assistance as we prepare for a more normal summer.

The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce and our economic development partners are hitting the streets to dig deeper into the local and regional recovery needs of area businesses. Through support of the Economic Development Trust (ETSI-BC) the Chamber has hired a Business Recovery Advisor. Long time journalist, broadcaster, communications specialist, and marketing consultant Darren Davidson (darren@discovernelson.com) is taking on the business outreach role for the Chamber and will be knocking on doors and engaging with businesses. Community Futures is providing support through economic development intern Jenna Annett.

Throughout the pandemic the Chamber and our partners at the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership have been diligent with business outreach phone calls, roundtables, business information webinars and literal business survival strategies. The information uncovered and the scope of work developed in our NAEDP COVID business recovery strategy aligns with the ETSI BC Rural Business and Community Recovery program.

“The Chamber Board of Directors and our economic development partners truly appreciate the support of ETSI-BC and the Provincial government for providing these recovery funds for our region. We feel we have been at the forefront supporting businesses through the pandemic and this funding will allow us to provide even more extensive business outreach within our catchment but also into the north and south corridor from Nelson. We believe the resources available and new resources being developed through the BC Chamber we will be able to knock on more doors and assist businesses through to recovery.

The Chamber has been working tirelessly on behalf of businesses and community organizations. When the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, we collaborated with our local economic development partners and utilized the BC Chamber of Commerce, BCMindReader.com  pulse check surveys to gauge the immediate needs of our business community. We have been proud to support business in Nelson and Area by powering decision making from all levels of  government and  influencing fiscal support programs.

More work and more assistance  is required as the slow, fragile recovery continues.

The latest BC MIndreader Pulsecheck released June 3rd, shows businesses were still struggling to survive amid the Circuit Breaker restrictions that were in place through the May Long Weekend.

Province wide impacts on Business

• 36% of businesses report that they are in poor or very poor shape.
• 15% of businesses report that they expect to operate for less than 3 months given current restrictions, support measures and operating costs
• 6% of businesses report that they have closed or that their revenue has fallen by 100%.
• The most common impact continues to be decreased sales volume, reported by 72% of businesses, with 41% of businesses reporting that their revenue has decreased by over 25% since early April 2021.

Government Recovery Plan and Support

• 68% of businesses are using some form of government support program during the pandemic. The most useful program has been the wage subsidy CEWS program at 41%), followed by CEBA (40%), and rental assistance CERA (23%).
• Businesses note that government support programs would be most helpful if they provided:
• Greater tax relief (40%)
• More support for wages (33%)
• More effective cash flow relief (29%)

Long Term Impacts

• Since the beginning of the pandemic, businesses report that the following areas have worsened:
• Cost of doing business (67%,)
• Access to labour (41%, up 9% from previous survey)
• Availability of workers (40%, up 7% from previous survey)
• Cost of the labour needed (40%)
• Skill of the labour pool available (32%)

Expect to hear from Darren Davidson and the Chamber over the coming months.

We want to know what your concerns about the current or future challenges are, your business will face based on the impact of the pandemic such as decreased profitability, debt load, reduced capacities, staffing shortages or rent relief

And any good news or success stories to share?  Did your business in anyway improve? For example, increased staff and/or customer loyalty, improved customer service, on-line/digitalized economy pivots, increased investment in your business and its physical venue, shipping/receiving/delivery, operational procedures, financial management, better business model, improved products/services, supply chain management, management techniques, corporate culture, etc?

View the full report.

Tom Thomson is the Executive Director of the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce

The 6th COVID-19 Impact Pulse Check revealed that while British Columbia continued to roll out its vaccination program, businesses were struggling to survive amid ongoing new and enhanced COVID-19 restrictions, including the Circuit Breaker restrictions that were in place through the May Long Weekend.

Impacts on Business

• 36% of businesses report that they are in poor or very poor shape.
• 15% of businesses report that they expect to operate for less than 3 months given current restrictions, support measures and operating costs (up from 7% in December 2020).
• 6% of businesses report that they have closed or that their revenue has fallen by 100%.
• Impacts on businesses from the pandemic are similar to those reported in previous pulse checks. The most common impact continues to be decreased sales volume, reported by 72% of businesses, with 41% of businesses reporting that their revenue has decreased by over 25% since early April 2021.
• 52% of businesses (higher proportion than in past pulse checks) report increased operating costs, likely due to costs associated with the new restrictions.

Government Recovery Plan and Support

• 68% of businesses are using some form of government support program during the pandemic. The most useful program has been the CEWS program (41%), followed by CEBA (40%), and CERA (23%).
• Businesses note that government support programs would be most helpful if they provided:
  • Greater tax relief (40%)
  • More support for wages (33%)
  • More effective cash flow relief (29%)

Long Term Impacts

• Since the beginning of the pandemic, businesses report that the following areas have worsened:
  • Cost of doing business (67%, up 4% from previous survey)
  • Access to labour (41%, up 9% from previous survey)
  • Availability of workers (40%, up 7% from previous survey)
  • Cost of the labour needed (40%, up 8% from previous survey)
  • Skill of the labour pool available (32%, up 5% from previous survey)

Vaccination Program

• 71% of survey respondents plan to receive a vaccine, 17% are already vaccinated.
• 22% of businesses support a vaccine passport for employees, 35% support a vaccine passport for employees and guests.

View the full report.