Alberta Government Introduces Stabilize Program
Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk
MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville
Alberta’s government has just recently introduced the Stabilize Program. The program is focused on funding organizations that own or operate cultural venues to ensure these venues are maintained to protect Alberta’s cultural identity while protecting the lives and livelihoods of Albertans.
One-time grant funding through the Stabilize Program invests in live experience organizations. From festivals to hockey games to concerts, plays and rodeos – live experiences are critical to our quality of life and the economic recovery.
Non-profits that host rodeos, professional and amateur sports organizations and non-profits that own and operate dedicated performing arts events can apply for this operational funding to offset their financial losses due to COVID-19. A matching donation sub stream will also match dollar-for-dollar private donations to eligible non-profits stating at $250,000 to a maximum of $1 million.
When arts, culture, sport, and heritage thrive, Alberta thrives, and is seen as an amazing place to live, invest, do business, and raise a family.
Alberta’s government is determined to fund organizations that own and operate our cultural venues in order to preserve Albertans cultural identity while protecting both the lives and livelihoods of Albertans.
Last week, Alberta’s government also introduced a new online service to makes trades verification easier. Job creators in Alberta can now access an online service to verify the credentials of trades persons and apprentices with just a few clicks of a mouse.
This service is part of our commitment to reducing red tape and provides employers with streamlined, online access to credentials of trades persons or apprentices.
In 2019, the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Information Line received almost 5,000 calls requesting staff to verify individual credentials. The Trades person Credential Verification Services means employers no longer need to request verification over the phone. Instead, they can now access that information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lastly, I wanted to remind all our small business owners in Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville that as of February 3 new businesses can apply for the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant.
Alberta’s government has paid out over $311 million in Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grants to over 45,000 businesses supporting over 227,000 workers. That is a funding increase of over 450 per cent since December 17, 2020.
