Community Marketing Grant returns to southern Alberta

By Southern Alberta Newspapers on January 26, 2021.

It has been one full year since the first case of the novel coronavirus was reported by Health Canada. In this time, we have seen restrictions come into place, lifted and mandated back.

In among the rising and falling COVID-19 cases, our communities and economy have been tested, and in the end we have witnessed the true test of any community – its ability to come together and rise above adversity.

Be local, shop local, support local is not only a movement in words but in action. The fabric of any community is tied tightly with all its businesses. So beginning today, Southern Alberta Newspapers is launching a second series of the Community Marketing Grant to help our local businesses continue on through this pandemic and come out stronger at the end.

SA Newspapers is providing up to $2.1 million of matching advertising funds for locally-owned and operated businesses.

“The vast majority of southern Alberta businesses have experienced the challenges of COVID-19, from restricted capacities, to extra costs by following health and safety guidelines and temporary – or in some cases permanent business closures,” says group publisher Ryan McAdams.

“Our commitment to the communities we serve remains our top priority and we strongly believe that for businesses to successfully emerge from this pandemic they need to re-engage with their customers, new and old – and inform them that they are back in business. This re-engagement comes with an obvious challenge – reduced cash flow due to COVID-19.

“That cash flow challenge is the driving force behind the Community Marketing Grant program; this program will assist locally-owned and operated businesses by providing access to matching advertising grants, for their advertising and marketing needs – as they work towards a more normal business operation.”

Grants are available for a minimum of $300 to a maximum of $10,000 of matching funds each month. The matching dollar grants will be available in February, March and April and the grant must be used within the month.

SA Newspapers is encouraging all locally-owned businesses to apply for the grant. We want to support you. We want to connect you to consumers who want to step up and take action and shop local.

We recognize that when we support locally-owned businesses, we are supporting the community as a whole. Local businesses employ your friends, your neighbours, your family.

When we stimulate our local economy, non-profits see more donations, new jobs are created, local business owners invest further in their community and innovation takes hold.

“Our local business community is fundamental to the growth of our city,” says Kerri Sandford, publisher of the Medicine Hat News. “The Community Marketing Grant is designed to add further supports to local businesses while further cementing the relationship between themselves and their customers. In the end, our city will thrive because of the originality and dedication these local businesses offer at being the best they can be.”

Applications must be submitted via an online form found at medicinehatnews.com/community-grant. Those who apply will receive a response to their application within three business days.

The grant money can be used for print and online advertising between Feb. 1 and April 30. The deadline to apply is Feb. 19.

Southern Alberta Newspapers is a group of daily and weekly newspapers in multiple communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan. For more than 130 years, this collection of newspapers has been and will continue to be dedicated to their readership and advertising clients. We all need support and Southern Alberta Newspapers is proud to offer this fund in all its operating communities.