"Shop Local BC" Campaign Program: Launch Date set for late October
Port McNeill B.C. September 14, 2021: Funded by the Government of Canada and delivered through provincial and territorial chambers of commerce, the Shop Local initiative provides grants for programs and campaigns that encourage Canadians to shop local to help businesses navigate through and beyond the pandemic. The federal government is investing $33 million in the initiative across Canada, of which project funds of $5 million are earmarked for British Columbia. The BC Chamber of Commerce will deliver the Shop Local initiative in B.C., ensuring that the program is inclusive, and funds are distributed equitably across the province's seven economic development regions.
Note – This site will be updated regularly as development of the Shop Local BC program progresses. If you have questions, please contact bccc@bcchamber.org
Funded by the Government of Canada and delivered through provincial and territorial chambers of commerce, the Shop Local initiative provides grants for programs and campaigns that encourage Canadians to shop local to help businesses navigate through and beyond the pandemic.
The federal government is investing $33 million in the initiative across Canada, of which project funds of $5 million are earmarked for British Columbia.
The BC Chamber of Commerce will deliver the Shop Local initiative in B.C., ensuring that the program is inclusive, and funds are distributed equitably across the following seven economic development regions:
• Central-Cariboo • Kootenay • Mainland/Southwest • North Coast/Nechako • Northeast • Thompson-Okanagan • Vancouver Island/Coast
Key program dates
The Shop Local BC program will launch in late October.
Funding decisions will be made no later than December 10, 2021.
Funds will be disbursed to successful applicants no later than December 31, 2021.
Applicants will be required to submit post-campaign reports to the BC Chamber of Commerce by January 31, 2022.
BC Chamber of Commerce will report the outcomes of the Shop Local BC initiative to the federal government by March 31, 2022.
Program criteria
The Shop Local BC campaign will:
Be inclusive, and open to organizations that support business, especially in hard-hit sectors like tourism and hospitality:
Chambers of commerce and boards of trade that are members of the BC Chamber of Commerce
Chambers of commerce and boards of trade that are not members of the BC Chamber of Commerce
Other non-profit organizations and Business Improvement Associations
Existing shop/buy local campaigns, that support business
Encourage collaboration across applicants to maximize the benefit of the grant awarded
Encourage local supply chain use
Encourage youth employment
Catalyze the delivery of new Shop Local campaigns or the enhancement/extension of existing campaigns – for businesses, neighbourhoods, communities, regions or the entire province. Example activities that could contribute to a Shop Local campaign are listed here.
Application criteria and process
Applicants will be required to complete a simple online application form – the form is currently being developed – that will capture the following details:
Organization name and contact information
Membership size – if applicable
Reach and population
Partnerships
Previous or current Shop Local activities, if any
New Shop Local activities to be undertaken November-January
Campaign objectives and goals
Campaign outcomes
Capacity to deliver the campaign and report the outcomes within the timeframe set
Timelines
Budget
Payment information
In their submission, applicants will be required to describe the proposed campaign, list the partnerships and expertise they bring to the project, the proposed activities, timelines, metrics and associated costs.
Submissions must also include information that demonstrates how the Shop Local campaign will:
Avoid duplication of effort and overlapping campaigns
Align with the needs and priorities of their local community or region and detail how requested funding is complementary to (and does not duplicate) other funding that may have been made available
Reflect the diversity of the community/region’s populations and demographics, embrace all local businesses and apply a diversity lens in the development and implementation of activities.
Funds allocation, application and disbursement
i. Funds allocation
The Shop Local BC project funds will be allocated as follows:
Activity($) Funding to support Shop Local campaigns delivered by chambers of commerce and boards of trade that are members of the BC Chamber (80%)4,000,000Funding to support Shop Local campaigns delivered by other organizations (20%)1,000,000Total project funding5,000,000Note: If either allotment is not fully utilized funds will be applied based on the discretion of the BC Chamber of Commerce.
Typical grants will range from $20,000 to $100,000, however, higher amounts may be considered based on the following: project rationale, size of the community, strength and reach of partnerships, as well as the scope of the proposal and associated budget.
ii. Funds application
Only one application per community will be considered to ensure full geographic representation
Regional applications encompassing more than one community and multiple partners will be eligible, encouraged and prioritized
Expenses must be part of a dedicated Shop Local campaign and will not be considered if incurred in respect of stand-alone activities
Eligible and ineligible program expenses are set out below and subject to the discretion of the BC Chamber of Commerce:
Eligible expensesIneligible expenses• Salary and wages
• Campaign success metrics
• Partnership development
• Advertising/marketing
• Supplies
• Professional fees related to activities
• Contracting costs related to activities• Business plans / strategic plans / feasibility studies / strategies, etc.
• Inventory costs or existing operating costs
• Laptops, headphones, printers, cables, etc.
• Renovations, rent or capital expenses
• Items purchased for resale
• Recurring subscription fees/services
iii. Funds disbursement
Funds will be:
Disbursed equitably to communities across the province
Released to successful applicants by the BC Chamber of Commerce in two payments:
An initial payment of 80% of the applicant’s approved project value on signing the recipient agreement
A second payment that will represent the release of a 20% holdback of the applicant’s project value, provided the applicant has submitted the necessary project reports to the BC Chamber of Commerce during and at the completion of the local campaign
Campaign metrics
Metrics that applicants can use to measure the success of their campaign include but are not limited to:
Number of local partnerships created
Number of resources developed
Number of social media impressions
Number of participating businesses
Number of local suppliers that received funding/contracts to assist with development and delivery of the campaign
Number of youth employed to help administer the campaign
Number of people reporting awareness of the campaign (based on reach of ad-buys in legacy media and other promotional activities)
Number of people reached through each of the campaign activities (approximation is sufficient)
Number and types of sectors promoted through Shop Local campaigns
Post-campaign report form
The applicant will be required to complete a simple post-campaign report – the form is currently being developed – to capture the following details:
Organization name and contact information
Membership size – if applicable
Reach and population
Partnerships
Shop Local campaign description and goals
Campaign outcomes
Campaign evaluation against pre-set campaign metrics
Lessoned learned
Recommendations for the future
Acknowledgments
Conditions of participation for all eligible applicants
Terms and Conditions of the Shop Local BC program are currently being finalized.
Questions?
This site will be updated regularly as development of the Shop Local BC program progresses. If you have questions, please contact bccc@bcchamber.org.
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