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Crowdfunding during COVID-19

TED committee has arranged webinar for local small businesses to learn about alternative funding
20200206 Boyle Chamber_HS_04 copy
Interim TED officer Luke Pantin spoke at a Boyle Chamber of Commerce luncheon Feb. 6 about his plans for economic development in the region before the pandemic forced a change of focus. File
ATHABASCA – The Economic Development (TED) Committee, in conjunction with several local partnerships, has been working with Alberta Treasury Branch to present a webinar May 7 for local small business owners. 

There are many resources available to small businesses who may otherwise not qualify for government programs and one of them is the ATB BoostR program. 

Interim TED officer Luke Pantin has been working hard to come up with solid ideas to help local businesses stay solvent through the COVID-19 pandemic that has seen countries around the world close borders and enforce social distancing measures, creating a sledgehammer blow to the global economy. 

“We really want to quickly do something for the business community,” Pantin said. 

He has been working with the Athabasca and District Chamber of Commerce, Boyle Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the Town of Athabasca, Athabasca County, the Village of Boyle, local media and business people to get the needed information into the right hands. 

“The entire thing is for us,” Pantin said. "We have achieved this for the business community through a local partnership of the TED Committee (representing the three municipalities), the Boyle and Athabasca Chambers, and the Advocate.” 

Similar to the popular GoFundMe website, BoostR allows businesses to offer incentives to people who support their startup, but for now ATB has lifted all restrictions on who can apply, when the money is paid out, and removed all fees. 

The webinar will cover crowdfunding strategies, how to gain exposure and create connections, tips to leverage and build your customer base and all the changes ATB has made to the program. 

Kim Smith, a senior manager in Community Partnerships Business & Agriculture with ATB has been working closely with Pantin on getting the webinar rolled out. 

“It's an opportunity for people that just don't have a real great online presence to be able to work very quickly on getting some things up and running and some offerings and rewards available to customers that they can start collecting and even just profiling their business again,” she explained. 

Speakers will include Carly Wells, the manager of ATB BoostR, and Nikki Cloutier, owner of Blue Line Fitness Testing, the only company in Alberta dedicated to physical fitness and abilities testing specific to the law enforcement community. 

Dustin Paisley, the co-founder of Local Laundry, a Calgary-based clothing company with a mission to build communities by donating 10 per cent of their monthly profits back to local charities will also be taking part. 

The webinar will take place May 7 at 2 p.m. and all local business owners are encouraged to take part. Sign up at https://atbcontent.clickmeeting.com/crowdfunding-during-covid-19/register





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