Useful Links

The Province of BC and the Government of Canada have offered up to $20 Million to support AgriRecovery for agricultural producers. The AgriRecovery Program will support:
• Up to 70% extraordinary feed costs, including transportation to feed livestock during the recovery period,
• Up to $80 per head to re-establish safe winter feeding facilities and general clean-up,
• Up to 70% of veterinary, mustering, transportation and rental of temporary production facilities
• Up to 70% of market value of breeding animals for mortality
• Up to 70% of extraordinary costs incurred by an industry organization and not paid by another agency or government department
• Up to 70% of extraordinary costs required to return to normal crop production, including:
• Critical infrastructure not covered by insurance
• Labour costs to repair private fencing
• Reseeding/ establishment to tame forage and other perennials damaged by fires

Information is also available at Front Counter BC, through Ministry of Agriculture offices and staff, or through calling the AgriRecovery Wildfire Initiative at 1-888-332-3352. Please contact Nicole Pressey, Regional Agrologist for the Cariboo Region with the Ministry of Agriculture at Nicole.pressey@gov.bc.ca regarding agricultural-sector related questions

The BC Economic Development Association has wrapped up their official call-centre hotline supported by FORTIS BC. The BC Economic Development Association have been an amazing support for communities and businesses impacted by wildfires, by tracking impacts and needs of businesses, aligning various agency supports into a single-point-of-contact portal, and providing support information back to the businesses who call the hotline. Information about the BCEDA and the services they provide can be found online.

The CRD has compiled information about resources available for wildfire recovery. The webpage can be viewed at: http://www.cariboord.bc.ca/services/emergency-and-protective-services/emergency-operations-centreeoc/recovery

Property owners who have had property impacted by the wildfire response activities can discuss claims for compensation for property damages. Claims for compensation due to the wildfires during the provincial State of Emergency should include: name, location, contact information, a brief description of the alleged damages/losses, dates in which they occurred (if known); and, the alleged cause or source of the losses/damages. Claims for compensation will be investigated, and assessed in accordance with the Emergency Program Act, the Wildfire Act and/or any other legislation that may apply. Property owners who have had property impacted by the wildfire response activities can contact the Cariboo Fire Centre at cariboofirecentreclaims2017@gov.bc.ca or 250-989-2600

Investlocalbc.ca is a crowd funding platform designed for non-profit organizations by Community Futures Vanderhoof. CF Vanderhoof have made this platform available for non-profit organizations, businesses and arts and cultural organizations experiencing impacts from the wildfires, waiving their standard 5% fixed funding administrative fee. Parties interested to set-up campaigns can access support information on how to build successful crowd sourcing campaigns and also be inspired by seeing other campaigns from across BC, those in progress as well as those where goal targets have been successfully reached. In a creative approach to meeting the needs of businesses and non-profits, the site can be used to garner equity (financial) donations, as well as for non-equity donations, to advertise needs for donated services, materials, or supplies.

The Province of BC has a webpage dedicated to Recovery supports and programs available to citizens, businesses, First Nations and communities impacted by the wildfires depending on their individual circumstances.

The program funds projects by community organizations working towards relief, recovery and resilience-building of those communities affected by the 2017 British Columbia Fires. There is currently no deadline to apply. There is currently no minimum or maximum amount that may be requested, but the amount requested should reflect the amount that is needed. Eligible organizations include municipalities, non-profit organizations, charities, nongovernmental organizations, school boards, faith-based organizations and indigenous peoples’ organizations.

• Emergency relief
• Community strengthening
• Safety and wellbeing
• Indigenous programming
• Disaster risk reduction

Although an indirect support, the Province of BC has committed $200,000 to the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA) to provide tourism recovery supports to tourism stakeholders and businesses in the Cariboo Chilcotin and Central Coast areas. If you have businesses that are concerned about drawing visitors to the area post-wildfires, either through the shoulder and winter seasons upcoming, or into next summer, please encourage them to connect with the CCCTA. An additional $200,000 has been provided to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association (KRTA) for this same purpose in other parts of the province. Destination BC is also currently developing a wildfire tourism recovery plan, and is working with the impacted Destination Marketing Organizations (including the CCCTA, TOTA and KRTA). The CCCTA can be reached at 1-800-663-5885 or at info@landwithoutlimits.com

Small Business BC have compiled a list of excellent FAQs to help direct businesses to supports on a range of topics. Topics include:
• bridge funding and loan guarantee programs for impacted businesses
• advice and counselling supports
• insurance and appealing insurance determinations
• resource links on responding to trauma
• avoiding shady contractors if you need to rebuild
• how to apply for tax relief measures from CRA
• supports for agriculture businesses, including animal supports
• landlord and tenant next-steps for dealing with damaged homes/ businesses

Small Business BC can be reached at 1-800-667-2272 or askus@smallbusinessbc.ca

The program will provide access to up to $5,000 for services such as basic financial analysis, specialized business planning and coaching services. The program also includes the customized B.C. Wildfire Recovery for Agriculture Workbook to help producers with their recovery planning. For more information, please visit the Farm Business Recovery Advisory Services Program website

The Business Recovery Competitiveness Consulting Rebate program provides small businesses (previously ineligible for the CCR program i.e. retail, retail services, tourism operators) in the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Lillooet region impacted by the 2017 wildfires, a 75% rebate up to $15,000 toward the hiring of a consultant to help businesses in their business recovery efforts. Projects which may be eligible include support in the following areas: cash flow and financial management system, process improvement, human resource strategies, marketing, business coaching, inventory management, etc.
Contact your local Community Futures or Northern Development to determine if your proposed project is eligible. Businesses may be eligible for a business loan from Community Futures to help pay the upfront costs of consulting services.

The Competitiveness Consulting Rebate program provides small and medium-sized industrial supply and service companies with a 50% rebate toward the cost of hiring experts to improve a business’ competitiveness. Companies engaged in manufacturing, resource processing, transportation, distribution and innovative technologies are eligible for a rebate of up to $30,000 annually. Qualified projects will focus on and measure increased productivity, revenue, profitability and job creation within Northern Development’s region. Contact Northern Development to discuss your proposed project and obtain an application form. Completed applications for eligible project can be approved within three to five days.

Love Northern BC is a shop local initiative built on a digital marketing platform for locally-owned independent businesses to showcase their products and services to residents, visitors and tourists. Love Northern BC is a movement to change the way people shop ¬– encouraging them to connect with local business owners and reinvest their money in the local economy, supporting sustainability and diversification. Unique, locally-owned businesses can join for a $100 one-time fee, which includes a photo shoot with a professional photographer, a professionally written business profile and stylishly-designed webpage to showcase their business story. Contact Northern Development to confirm eligibility and apply.

In 2018, all small business webinars offered through Small Business BC will be made available at no cost to Love Northern BC and Supply Chain Connector businesses in the Northern Development service area. Upcoming on-line webinars can be found on the SBBC calendar. Before registering contact Northern Development or your local Community Futures for the promo code to access any webinar. Webinars are typically recorded and available for up to seven days following the date delivered.

Contact: Northern Development Initiative Trust
301 – 1268 Fifth Avenue
Prince George, BC V2L 3L2
(250) 561-2525
email: renata@northerndevelopment.bc.ca

The Supply Chain Connector is an online industrial supplies and services database for central and northern B.C. businesses. The public and fully searchable database is designed to increase local procurement and enhance the opportunity for local businesses to become part of the industrial supply chain for major industrial and commercial development projects in northern B.C. Qualified businesses can register on the database at no cost to increase their on-line presence and support their marketing efforts.