29 June 2020 – For Immediate Release
FREDERICTON, NB – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce announced 62 $10,000 grant recipients from its Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund today, including MOCO Downtown, located on the corner of Regent and King Street in Fredericton – one of only eight recipients in Atlantic Canada.
“No doubt every small business could use a boost like this in times like these. Adapting to the new normal in an ongoing challenge”, said Shawna Foster, co-owner of MOCO downtown. “What an incredible initiative from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Salesforce to help out small, local business. The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce has not only been a backbone of support during these difficult times but also a beacon of light and hope that we will not only survive this but maybe even come out stronger on the other side.”
“A big thank you to the Canadian chamber and the Salesforce for providing these grants to amazing small businesses across the country,” added Krista Ross, Fredericton Chamber of Commerce CEO. “MOCO is such an innovative and community-minded restaurant that is an important part of our downtown food service mix and so deserving of this grant. Now as patrons we have to make sure we get out and support all of our local businesses – grants are appreciated but our community is ultimately responsible to make sure all of our businesses are sustainable in the long-term.”
More than 1100 small businesses across Canada applied for the 62 grants available. The lucky recipients were those that best demonstrated resilience, 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 given their COVID-19-related financial strain, 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. 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.
About the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, a nationally accredited organization with more than 1,000 members, is an active business organization engaged in policy development and advocacy that affects the competitiveness of our members and the Canadian business environment. The Chamber’s vision is ‘Stronger Community Through Business Prosperity’
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For more information, please contact:
Krista Ross, CEO
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
Kristar@frederictonchamber.ca
(506) 458-8006
Shawna Foster, Co-Owner
MOCO Downtown
(506) 292-6889
Phil Taylor, Managing Director, External Communications
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
