Two Port Hardy Small Businesses Win $10k Grants From Canadian Chamber Of Commerce And Salesforce
Two Port Hardy Small Businesses, Kwa’lilas Hotel And God’s Pocket Resort, Win $10k Grants From Canadian Chamber Of Commerce And Salesforce
PORT HARDY – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce announced 62 $10,000 grant recipients from its Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund today, including Kwa’lilas Hotel and God’s Pocket Resort in Port Hardy.
Port Hardy Chamber Executive Director, Elizabeth Aman-Hume says, “we are thrilled to know that two of our local members were successful in this highly competitive process. It proves beyond a doubt that an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in our business community. As a member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce our local chamber is fortunate to have access to this and many other programs that benefit our members.”
Paul Cox
Paul Cox, General Manager of the Kwa’lilas Hotel says, “During the Covid19 epidemic, the information, business support from the Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce and the CBRN grant from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been essential in our recovery efforts. Being awarded this grant will allow the hotel to remain open to cater to essential services, to continue employing key staff, purchase critical protective equipment and aid in executing upon our recovery strategy – We are most grateful for this support.”
God’s Pocket Resort
Antoine Moret & Claus Eckbo, owners of God’s Pocket Resort say, “We are proud to be selected as one of the recipients of this grant. COVID has been tough on eco tourism, and this will enable us to continue to work on ways to help people immerse themselves in the stunning Canadian coast. We want to bring mindful and immersive experiences to the resort and area, in addition to the incredible diving and kayaking. This grant will allow us to create a space and program where we can achieve this.”
More than 1100 small businesses across Canada applied for the 62 grants available. The lucky recipients were those that best demonstrated their financial strain, how the business will use the grant to change or innovate, how the change or innovation will sustain the business’s recovery and allow it to prosper, and how the grant will support the role each business plays in their community.
The fund was managed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and made possible through the generosity of Salesforce (NYSE:CRM). The funding was designed to help small businesses across the country stay afloat and support their recovery efforts, paying salaries, retrofitting their workplaces and acquiring technology to adapt their business model. Salesforce has also provided grants to small businesses in Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, in addition to providing other resources.
“Reviewing the applications was both heartbreaking and inspiring, We saw how seriously small businesses across Canada have been hurt by the pandemic, but we also saw how determined these entrepreneurs are to preserve their employees’ jobs and to serve their customers and their communities. Today is a happy waypoint, not an end point, and we won’t stop finding new ways to help Canada’s businesses reopen and recover. We’ll be with them every step of the way,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber.
“It has been incredible to see the resilience coming from Canada’s small business owners over the last few months. We know it hasn’t been easy,” said Margaret Stuart, Canada Country Manager, Salesforce.
“The applicants have further demonstrated what we at Salesforce already knew to be true – that Canada is rich with innovation and entrepreneurial talent. We’re hopeful that these grants will provide essential support to small business owners as they return to work.”
A complete list of the winners can be found here.